The 2006-2007 academic year marked a change in academic leadership at IUPUI as physicist Uday Sukhatme stepped into the role of Dean of the Faculties. Spearheaded by Dean Sukhatme, the campus launched an
academic plan that promises to yield rich benefits to IUPUI students, the state, and the nation. In the works are enhancements to our nationally recognized first-year experience, service learning programs, and international opportunities; new initiatives to improve student learning and achievement; and continued development of cutting-edge academic and professional programs aimed at meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce in Indiana and nationwide, especially in the biosciences.
The year also saw modest improvements in retention and graduation rates, as initiatives started in previous years began to reap benefits. With numbers of applicants reaching record highs, entering qualifications of new students continued to improve. Ongoing development of new buildings and facilities, including the Campus Center—slated to open in early 2008—promise dramatic enrichment of campus life and the learning environment. Particularly exciting is the rapid expansion of opportunities for students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to gain international experiences through study abroad, international service learning, and on-campus programs and facilities that bring the world to IUPUI.
