вÊÍø

University employees gathered in the Screaming Eagles Arena this morning for the annual University Fall Meeting.

• Though Dr. Ronald Rochon, вÊÍø's fourth president, started his new position at the California State University, Fullerton in July, he shared one last farewell message with employees by way of a pre-recorded message.
• Interim President Steve Bridges addressed leadership changes that have recently happened at вÊÍø, including his appointment as Interim President. Division of responsibilities that went into effect with Bridges' appointment include:
  • Aaron Trump, Vice President for Government Affairs and General Counsel, will oversee Human Resources and Public Safety.
  • Kindra Strupp, Vice President for Marketing and Communication, will oversee Sodexo Food Services.
  • Jeff Sickman, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Administration, will oversee Procurement Services and Risk Management.
  • Mary Hupfer, Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration, will oversee Foundation Accounting.
  • Facility Operations and Planning, Internal Audit and Information Technology will remain under Bridges’ purview.

• Other items Bridges touched on in his address to employees included:
  • The order of authority on campus in his absence.
  • Priorities for the upcoming year at вÊÍø
    • Filling interim positions and retaining employees
    • Continuing to build enrollment at вÊÍø
    • The University Capital Campaign, with more information coming soon from the вÊÍø Foundation
    • Continuing the core mission of вÊÍø to provide quality education while maintaining affordability
  • The Biennial Budget Plan
    • Bridges shared key dates for the upcoming Indiana biennial budget. A more detailed update will be provided by Aaron Trump at the University Spring Meeting—
      • October 10: presentation to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education
      • Early December 2024: presentation to the State Budget Committee
      • January 2025: presentation to the House Ways and Means Committee
      • March 2025: presentation to the Senate Appropriations Committee
    • Campus construction projects
      • Phase four of the work on the Health Professions Building will begin soon and involves work on the entrance facing University Boulevard. Fencing will be up soon, closing the right lane closest to the building during work. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.
      • Planning and assessment has begun in the Wright Administration Building as the University addresses what updates can and need to be made to the building.
      • The fire alarm project in the вÊÍø Housing and Residence Life buildings has been completed, connecting the buildings to the Public Safety communication systems.
      • New building plans for Creative and Print Services are currently being drafted.
    • Finally, Bridges touched on the search for the fifth president of вÊÍø. In this update, he shared the Board of Trustees is finalizing selection of a search firm the University will work with during the search. Also, individuals across the вÊÍø community will soon be identified and asked to serve on the Search Committee. Employees can expect to hear from вÊÍø Trustee Chris Ryan, Chair of the Search Committee, about a timeline for the search.
    • Troy Miller, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management, and Dr. Michael Dixon, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, both provided positive updates on undergraduate and graduate enrollment, respectively, at вÊÍø.
      • Fall 2025 recruitment will begin on Thursday, August 15.
    • Interim Provost Shelly Blunt provided employees updates on various upcoming items important to вÊÍø:
      • Work on the University’s Strategic Plan continues as departments across campus strive to continue important development on key goals:
        • Improving student success by focusing on retention and graduation rates of full-time undergraduate students; retention and graduation rates of at-risk and underrepresented students; adult learners completing degrees; and providing two or more high-impact experiences for students
        • Fostering impactful engagement through various activities and community-based or service-learning activities
        • Elevating visibility and reputation
        • Strengthening financial viability
      • Blunt reported that leadership will propose to the Board of Trustees that the strategic plan goals remain the same for upcoming year.
      • вÊÍø has seen success in the last academic year by increasing the student retention rate. In the 2024-25 academic year, the University will be developing various student success initiatives as a way to continue to improve retention numbers.
        • These initiatives include expansion of first-year experiences; exploration/development of second-year experiences; a review of the Academic Probation and Dismissal Policy; and creation of online forms for students through Slate.
      • вÊÍø will be working on submitting for reaccreditation with the Higher Learning Commission over the next two years. A part of this work includes a self-study, which is set to begin in November 2025.
      • Monica O’Neil, Director of Service Learning, and Dawn Stoneking, Executive Director of Outreach and Engagement, are working on the application for renewal of вÊÍø’s Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Community Engaged classification. It is due in April 2025.
      • The annual UNIV 101 trip to Historic New Harmony will be on September 10 (Fall Engaged Learning Day).

• Finally, this year, employees will be offered a вÊÍø umbrella as a gift from the University. Be on the lookout for an email soon to indicate your interest in receiving this gift.

Thank you to everyone for attending the annual University Fall Meeting! Here’s to a wonderful and successful 2024-25 academic year!