Indiana University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis) – a forward-thinking institution embodying Indiana University’s (IU) commitment to becoming one of the nation’s premier urban research universities – is seeking an executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost with vision and integrity, one who will continue to enhance the institution’s distinction as a leader for innovation in public higher education.

IU has long played a critical leadership role in Indianapolis, and IU Indianapolis’s growth will build upon the successful legacy of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), whose dedication to outstanding teaching and learning, resourceful innovation, community engagement, groundbreaking research, and efforts to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion has been nationally recognized and has anchored IU’s presence in the capital city for over five decades. In June 2023, the IU and Purdue University Board of Trustees approved a definitive agreement to formalize separation and realignment of the campus into two distinct entities: IU Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis effective July 1, 2024. The vast majority of academic programs at IUPUI, along with nearly 4,000 full-time faculty, 5,000 full-time professional and support staff, and 92% of all current IUPUI students (approximately 23,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students), will transition to become part of IU Indianapolis, creating a robust foundation for future growth.

University leadership, led by IU President Pamela Whitten and Chancellor Latha Ramchand, IU Indianapolis’s inaugural chancellor, is fueling the campus’s already significant momentum by supporting and investing in key initiatives in Indianapolis. The following examples build on an array of initiatives that will collectively shape the future of IU Indianapolis.

Drawing on dedicated funds appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly, the university will invest $60 million to significantly expand and renovate research and laboratory space and up to $10 million to attract 30 new STEM faculty. The university will also establish a Science and Technology Corridor in Indianapolis to serve as a focal point of Indiana’s science and technology ecosystem. The SciTech corridor will leverage expanded research programs, new laboratory space, and robust STEM degree programs to attract faculty talent and grow enrollment in key disciplines, bolstering the talent pipeline for Indiana employers and fostering new industry collaborations. Aligned with these efforts, the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering – the nation’s first school of informatics – has expanded from IU Bloomington to IU Indianapolis with plans to double Indianapolis enrollment in the school.

The School of Nursing will also be doubling its instructional capacity, which will allow for a 50% increase in the school’s enrollment. In addition, the integration of the IU School of Science with the IU School of Medicine and other allied health science schools, is being enhanced, for instance through the new Pathway to Medicine program at IU Indianapolis. These efforts will expand the number of students who will be prepared for health science-based careers, improve the pipeline of doctors and nurses, and keep more graduates in the state.

IU Indianapolis, located in the state capital of Indianapolis—the 16th largest city in the country – is a core campus of IU and includes two regional education centers in Fort Wayne and Columbus (named IU Fort Wayne and IU Columbus, respectively). IU Indianapolis, the 6th largest employer in Indianapolis, is home to the largest medical school in the country, one of the nation’s largest nursing schools, the state’s only dental school, and the world’s first school of philanthropy.

IU has defined a clear and ambitious vision for its campus in the state’s capital city: IU Indianapolis will be one of the nation’s leading urban research universities and will increase the number of graduates to service the state in an innovation-led economy, fuel economic growth in the region and the state, and enhance service to the Indianapolis community and beyond. Aligned with the university-wide strategic plan, IU Indianapolis 2030 is organized around three central pillars, each with defined goals, objectives, and metrics: Student Success and Opportunity, Transformative Research and Creativity, and Service to Our State and Beyond. IU has a longstanding tradition of collecting and reporting progress made toward institutional goals, which is presented in annual reports.

With a population of approximately 890,000, Indianapolis, is home to several major league sports teams, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Headquarters, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, White River State Park, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and numerous other museums and cultural attractions. Indianapolis was recently recognized as one of the top 100 places to live by U.S. News. The state legislature and many companies – including Eli Lilly, Roche Diagnostics, Elevance Health (formerly Anthem), Elanco, and Corteva – are headquartered in the city, creating a rich ecosystem for collaboration and partnership. CNBC recently ranked Indiana as the fifth best state for infrastructure, specifically noting the state’s strategic geographic location, investments in rail lines, access to key ports, good condition of roads and bridges, and widespread access to broadband.

The executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost is the intellectual leader for IU Indianapolis and is responsible for providing academic leadership for the campus and regional education centers (IU Fort Wayne and IU Columbus) and for contributing to the academic excellence of IU. The executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost facilitates the highest quality faculty and fosters a culture of educational excellence by providing direction in matters related to academic programs, quality, and policies; campus academic initiatives; promotion and tenure; faculty recognition; faculty and student recruitment and retention; student success; and campus outreach. The executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost promotes a campus environment of expansive inclusivity, rigorous intellectual inquiry, and compassionate engagement with the city of Indianapolis, state of Indiana, and beyond.

The executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost reports directly to the IU Indianapolis chancellor and is the chief academic officer of the campus and regional education centers and works with all academic and administrative units to meet both the campus and university strategic goals. The provost has budgetary responsibility for more than $14M annually. All campus deans and several directors of administrative units report directly to the provost.

Additionally, a distinguished professional record is a requirement for the position including:

• A record of excellent research, commitment to teaching, and an appreciation of service to the community;
• Senior administrative experience in an academic institution;
• Demonstrated understanding of the academic enterprise including the different ranks, roles and responsibilities of faculty, staff, and students;
• A track record of recruiting, mentoring and retaining outstanding faculty and staff that aligns with IU’s mission;
• Experience in articulating and defending academic values, particularly academic freedom and shared governance;
• A deep appreciation for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment and a demonstrated record of building such an institutional culture;
• An appreciation of the culture and values of higher education as represented by an outstanding public research university founded in the liberal arts and sciences and encompassing strong professional colleges and schools;
• A record of financial responsibility and fundraising success; and
• The demonstrated ability to cultivate and sustain relationships with diverse stakeholders.

11/01/2024

IU-100842-2024