Whitten: ‘We are more than ready’ for IU Indianapolis launch
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe president of Indiana University says they are in a great position as the launch of IU Indianapolis draws near.
IU and Purdue University just under a year ago approved the split of the downtown IUPUI campus into two institutions: IU Indianapolis and Purdue in Indianapolis.
“Even though we’re realigning, we will continue to look for those opportunities for our two great universities to collaborate as we move forward,” Pamela Whitten said. “Meanwhile, we are IU Indianapolis, and we are we’re very ,very clear about it; we are going to be the best urban public research university in the country, bar none.”
In an interview for next week’s episode of the Business & Beyond podcast with Gerry Dick, Whitten said the bar regarding expectations.
“The first step will be to formally be established as an R1 institution, and that simply means that you’re a university that performs at the highest level of research,” she said. “The city of Indianapolis deserves a freestanding, fully accredited R1 university, and we’re very close. We think that we’ll get there very soon, and then we have a number of activities related to really standing that up and supporting that as well.”
IUPUI will officially split into the two institutions in July after more than 50 years as a combined campus in downtown Indianapolis.
IU Indianapolis is putting a premium on STEM education and innovation, building a new science and tech corridor which adds up to a more than $250 million investment in health and life sciences.
Whitten is also placing a priority on using IU Indianapolis to increase partnerships and collaborations with Hoosier businesses.
“With this will come startup companies, will come entrepreneurial activities for our students, will become partnerships with the industry that’s here, and really an opportunity for us to lean into recruiting new industry to the city of Indianapolis as well.”
In addition to the transition for IU Indianapolis, Whitten talked about IU’s 2030 plan and more on the Business & Beyond podcast, which will be available Monday morning.
Meanwhile, our partners at the IBJ recently took a dive into Purdue’s plan for its presence in Indianapolis. you can read the full article from Mickey Shuey by clicking here.