Susan Sciame-Giesecke.Faculty and staff across Indiana University campuses have been actively working on individual campus plans in support of the seven-year strategic plan that unites around a vision to provide broad access to an education for all students; pursue world-class research, scholarship and creative activity; and improve the health, economic, social, civic and cultural development of our state and beyond.

Alongside the work underway at Bloomington and IUPUI, the regional campuses are thoughtfully incorporating prior planning efforts into the IU 2030 strategic plan focus. Thanks to robust input from faculty and staff, they are well on their way toward the March target for completed plans.

In many ways, it has been a seamless transition, since the priorities in existing regional campus plans already focused on key elements covered in the three pillars. I’ve been especially impressed, but not surprised, by how our faculty and staff are accounting for current campus diversity-related priorities, weaving them into the pillars in a way that emphasizes how diversity is not an isolated activity but an inherent aspect of our mission.

The timing for the IU 2030 work has been ideal given the work we have already accomplished to align enrollment goals with the demographic shifts that indicate most institutions of higher education need to prepare for fewer students pursuing traditional degree paths in the coming years. Fortunately, we have already taken critical steps to serve future students by collaborating on courses and degree programs, making programs of study accessible regardless of where the student lives. Just a few examples:

• In the fall, faculty members piloted three courses that allow enrollment on multiple campuses. Yoshiko Okada Green from IU South Bend offered Japanese to students online at IU Southeast. James Hollenbeck from IU Southeast offered Methods of Teaching Secondary Science to three regional campuses online, with Karen Koelm from IU Northwest leading Methods of Teaching Secondary Math to students at four campuses online.
• All regional campuses have been collaborating on online programs, with these programs growing in enrollment by 19% from spring 2022 to spring 2023.
• Finally, we look forward to continuing collaboration on in-person programs by taking advantage of remote learning technology. This allows students to begin a major not offered on their home campus, ultimately transferring to another regional campus offering the program — an important advantage for IU students.

I have appreciated staying in touch with campus leaders as their planning continues and look forward to visiting each campus in February, when I’ll join various committees and work groups. Look for specific updates to regional plans on their respective websites, and see comments from our leaders about their plans on the IU 2030 site.

Susan Sciame-Giesecke is vice president for regional campuses and online education.