In the inaugural round of Welcoming Campus Innovator funding, twenty-four projects from units across IUPUI received nearly $500,000 in grants. The projects are currently being developed and will be showcased during IUPUI’s 50th-anniversary year (2018-19). The proposals support Welcoming Campus Initiative themes, which you can see below.
Communicating Who We Are
Projects supporting this theme result in experiences and approaches that foster greater connection with IUPUI through greater understanding of who we are as a campus.
Projects and Innovators
Project description:
Internet 3D technology will allow users to explore the legacy and heritage of exterior campus.
Project members:
- Edgar Huang, Associate Professor, School of Informatics and Computing (Project lead)
- Andrew Townsend, Student, Phi Alpha Theta (Co-lead)
Project description:
Images of student involvement displayed in the Campus Center will communicate and accentuate IUPUI pride and traditions.
Project members:
- Joseph M. Hayes, Director, Campus Center & Student Experiences, Division of Student Affairs (Project lead)
- Andrea Eickhoff Anderson, Former Director, External Affairs & Special Projects, Division of Student Affairs (Co-lead)
Project description:
Student driven skits, narrations, videos, and other performances will allow participants to share their narratives and highlight social issues. Tunnel of Oppression programming will be integrated into classrooms and Indy-based programs.
Project members:
- Amanda Bonilla, Assistant Director, Social Justice Education, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Project lead)
Project description:
Located in the University Library and BS connector hallway, these student-created museum-like displays--both physical and digital--will highlight IUPUI history in audio and video, and strategically placed large-format transparent photos--then vs. now.
Project members:
- Kristi Palmer, Associate Dean of Digital Scholarship, University Library (Project lead)
- Greg Mobley, Archives Specialist, IUPUI University Library (Co-lead)
- Etta Ward, Executive Director of Research Development, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
- Dr. Elee Wood, Director, Museum Studies Program, School of Liberal Arts
Creating a Vibrant and Inclusive Student Experience
Projects supporting this theme contribute to IUPUI’s goals for student success by focusing on ways in which IUPUI can create a more welcoming campus for students and strengthen students’ sense of connectedness and belonging.
Projects and Innovators
Project description:
This mentorship program matches up to ten LGBTQ+ mentors and mentees, promoting their retention and graduation.
Project members:
- Shelly Snider, Chair, IUPUI LGBTQ+ Faculty Staff Council and Career Services Specialist, School Of Engineering and Technology (Project lead)
- Robert Smith, Assistant Director of Onboarding and Career Services, Degree Completion Office, Division of Undergraduate Education
Project description:
This project aims to create more opportunities for students to gain professional development and academic credit when employed in business units of the university; learning outcomes will be developed linked to individual school’s programs.
Project members:
- Mark Volpatti, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Auxiliary Services Administration, Division of Finance and Administration (Project lead)
Project description:
This program is designed to address the needs of students experiencing personal/social concerns, non-clinical in nature (e.g., stress, balancing priorities, homesickness, transition to college), that cause academic struggles. College Success Guides would be advanced graduate students in clinical based training programs at IUPUI (i.e., Social Work, Clinical Psychology, Art Therapy, and Counseling Education).
Project members:
- Kevin George II, Student Success Advisor, Health and Life Sciences, Academic and Career Development (Project lead)
- Julie Lash, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services, Division of Student Affairs
- Mark Minglin, Executive Director, Academic Support Programs, Division of Undergraduate Education
Project description:
This project will expand International House, developing new global learning themes becoming a co-curricular hub for activities that align with International Learning Goals.
Project members:
- Gil Latz, Associate Vice Chancellor, International Affairs (Project lead)
- Jill Jean-Baptiste, International Program Manager, Office of International Affairs (Co-lead)
Project description:
Additional funding for the mission of SAAB--Student African-American Brotherhood to support and enhance student experiences of inclusiveness of undergraduate African-American males.
Project members:
- Eric D. Williams, Program Director, Diversity, Enrichment, and Achievement, University College (Project lead)
Project description:
This project will feature health careers conference for medical students with a focus on 1st year students to expose them to the many variations of “health” careers.
Project members:
- Helen McKuras, Academic Advisor, School of Nursing (Project lead)
- Keely Floyd, Career Consultant, Health and Life Sciences Center, School of Nursing
Project description:
The IUPUI Celebration of Black Graduates is the largest signature program encompassing undergraduates, graduates, professional students, faculty, staff, campus leadership, and members of the community. The event currently draws 600 members of the community, and the Campus Center is limited to 800 guests. Funding would create an endowment account for future financial structure and planning to relocate this annual event to other venues.
Project members:
- David Heard Jr., Director, Office of Career Development, School of Liberal Arts (Project lead)
Project description:
This project would allow people to “check out” a volunteer for 20 minutes to engage in informal conversation with coffee and snacks. Meet individuals unlike yourself and establish cross cultural connections. This interaction encourages participants to recognize and address their own stereotypes, prejudices, or general curiosities about diverse individuals and communities.
Project members:
- Andrea Copeland, Associate Professor, School of Informatics and Computing (Project lead)
- Stefany Boleyn, Student, School of Informatics and Computing (Co-lead)
- Rebecca Denne, Student, School of Informatics and Computing (Co-lead)
- Travis Faas, Lecturer, School of Informatics and Computing (Co-lead)
- Lauren Freeman, Student, School of Informatics and Computing (Co-lead)
- Gina Sanchez Gibau, Associate Professor, School of Liberal Arts (Co-lead)
- C. Thomas Lewis, Lecturer, School of Informatics and Computing (Co-lead)
- Shelby Phelps, Graduate, SOIC / Indianapolis Public Library (Co-lead)
- Caitlin Pollock, Digital Humanities Librarian, IUPUI University Library (Co-lead)
- Samuel Russell, Graduate, School of Informatics and Computing (Co-lead)
- Steven Thompson, Technology Coordinator, School of Informatics and Computing (Co-lead)
Project description:
This project will integrate IUPUI Intergroup Dialogue into the academic curriculum, creating a more inclusive environment through communication and gaining skills/expertise in civil discourse, intercultural communication, conflict resolution, and leadership. Participants will include students, staff, faculty and campus leaders.
Project members:
- Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, BSW Program Director, Associate Professor, School of Social Work (Project lead)
- Daniel Griffith, Conflict Resolution and Dialogue Programs, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Co-lead)
- Corinne Renguette, Assistant Professor, Technical Communication, School of Engineering and Technology (Co-lead)
- Ron Sandwina, General Studies Program Director, School of Liberal Arts
- Kim White-Mills, Communications, School of Liberal Arts (Co-lead)
- Tamra Wright, Director, Division of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, School of Public and Environmental Affairs (Co-lead)
Project description:
This project specifically aims to welcome low income and first-generation students, providing a welcome day and welcome apps. It will also include a faculty/staff professional development program, programs to improve customer service across campus, and training for student mentors and welcoming team.
Project members:
- Godwin Charles Ogbeide, Associate Professor, Department of Tourism, Convention & Event Management, School of Physical Education and Tourism Management (Project lead)
- Lisa Angermeier, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Physical Education and Tourism Management
- Amanda Cecil, Associate Professor, Department of Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management, School of Physical Education and Tourism Management
- Andrea Engler, Executive Director, Student Transitions and Mentor Initiatives, Division of Undergraduate Education
Designing an Accessible, Inspiring Urban Campus
Projects supporting this theme promote pride and engagement through activities and enhancements to IUPUI’s physical space, such as improving campus navigation on and off campus, developing campus art fund, and identifying ways for students to have more interactions with faculty, staff, and administrators.
Projects and Innovators
Project description:
This project will expand access to IUPUI public art collections. It includes the development of a web-based app that will provide digital curated walking tours and descriptions of art around campus. It also will feature two residencies--each a month long--that will bring two artists to IUPUI to create two site-specific public artworks for campus. Finally, it will focus on public art created by Herron students.
Project members:
- Jason M. Kelly, Director, Arts and Humanities Institute, School of Liberal Arts (Project lead)
Project description:
This project will create an exhibition focused on IUPUI history in the east hallway of first floor Science & Engineering lab on Blackford Street. This exhibition will celebrate people that have lived in the immediate area of the building.
Project members:
- Simon Rhodes, Dean, School of Science (Project lead)
- Greg Mobley, Archives Specialist, IUPUI University Library
- Dr. Paul Mullins, Professor of Anthropology, School of Liberal Arts
- Dr. David Russomanno, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology
- Stephen Towne, Associate University Archivist, IUPUI University Library
- Dr. Elee Wood, Director, Museum Studies Program, School of Liberal Arts
Project description:
This project addresses environmental issues on campus. Infusing sustainability into the student experience, it will strengthen the sense of connectedness to the IUPUI, community, and global environments. It will also focus on how to live a sustainable lifestyle, including waste diversion, water use reduction, and energy conservation. Finally, the project will assess current outdoor waste bins – including type, aesthetics, placement, and usage – and work with the University Architect's Office to identify and propose a new outdoor waste bin standard in order to provide uniform trash and recycling infrastructure across all of IUPUI’s campus.
Project members:
- Jessica G. Davis, Director, IUPUI Office of Sustainability, Division of Finance and Administration (Project lead)
- Jim Walsh, Building Operations Manager, IUPUI Campus Facility Services (Co-lead)
Engaging and Integrating with the Community
Projects supporting this theme foster connections within IUPUI and the broader community through events and activities that promote engagement.
Projects and Innovators
Project description:
This project will establish four competitive awards for student-led, diversity-related projects designed by graduate-level students from Social Work and two from Philanthropy. It will also create a year-end event to recognize the Dynamic Diversity students and to share information about their projects.
Project members:
- Beth Wahler, MSW Program Director, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work (Project lead)
- Kathi Badertscher, Director of Master's Degree Programs, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (Co-lead)
Project description:
The next frontier in technology. Living labs to work on mutual problems with local companies. Provide state-of-the-art expertise benefiting local companies. Integrate this high tech area into engineering curricula and create job opportunities. Provide better collaboration between faculties from different IUPUI schools and attract better qualified faculty. Addressing brain drain.
Project members:
- Mohamed El-Sharkawy, Professor, School of Engineering and Technology (Project lead)
- Mangilal Agarwal, Director, INDI Center, School of Engineering and Technology (Co-lead)
- Rebecca Bartlett Ellis, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing (Co-lead)
- Josette Jones, Director, Health Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing (Co-lead)
- Dongsoo Stephen Kim, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology (Co-lead)
- John Lee, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology (Co-lead)
- Lin Li, Associate Professor, Earth Science, School of Science (Co-lead)
- Shuning Li, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, School of Engineering and Technology (Co-lead)
- Xiao Luo, Assistant Professor, Computer Information Technology, School of Engineering and Technology (Co-lead)
- Felipe Perez, Fellowship Program Director, School of Medicine (Co-lead)
- Maher Rizkalla, Associate Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology (Co-lead)
- Ken Yoshida, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology (Co-lead)
Project description:
E-Sports @ IUPUI student group invites talented high school students to compete in online games awarding conditional scholarships to IUPUI. Provides an opportunity for students to be involved in a way that no other college in the mid-west offers.
Project members:
- Noah Pumphrey, Student, School of Informatics and Computing (Project lead)
Project description:
Multidisciplinary Immigrant Youth Mentoring Program; design a year-long program beginning with an intensive week-long camp. Pair SPEA students with local immigrant youth to assist in adapting to their home and school environments.
Project members:
- Dona Sapp, Senior Policy Analyst, IU Public Policy Institute, School of Public and Environmental Affairs (Project lead)
- Silvia Bigatti, Associate Professor, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health (Co-lead)
- Rachel Thelin, Senior Policy Analyst, IU Public Policy Institute, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Investing in Faculty and Staff
Projects supporting this theme demonstrate strategies and approaches that can foster ongoing commitment by employees to IUPUI as well as by IUPUI to its employees.
Projects and Innovators
Project description:
Develop hybrid online 1-hour workshops for faculty and staff in STEMM to address climate for equity and inclusion concerns for women and underrepresented minorities. Train campus facilitators to sustain efforts over time.
Project members:
- Peggy Stockdale, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, School of Science (Project lead)
- Evava Pietri, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, School of Science (Co-lead)
- Mary G. Austrom, Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs, School of Medicine
- Karen L Dace, Vice Chancellor, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Thomas J. Davis, Dean School of Liberal Arts
- Margaret R. Ferguson, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Office of Academic Affairs
- Gina Sanchez Gibau, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Academic Affairs
- Kathleen Surina Grove, Director, Office for Women
- Anne L Mitchell, Director of Survey Research and Evaluation, Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support
- Mathew J. Palakal, Executive Associate Dean, School of Informatics and Computing
- Simon J Rhodes, Dean, School of Science
- David J Russomanno, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology
Project description:
Develop a staff mentoring program: Mentoring as an Engagement Mechanism is the central purpose of the program with professional and personal development serving as the drivers in peer networks, employee satisfaction, institutional engagement, and career development.
Project members:
- Juletta C. Toliver, Senior Human Resources Director, Director of Financial Services, Division of Finance and Administration (Project lead)
Project description:
The ultimate goal of this project was to educate faculty and staff about issues around career education and work experience for underserved student populations, including the strengths they bring to the professional work and the challenges they may face in career development. We also completed a needs assessment for what is now Paws' Closet and established an annual networking event for students.
Project members:
- Brandi Gilbert, Director, Life-Health Sciences Internship Program, Division of Undergraduate Education (Project lead)
- Nawara Abufares, Life-Health Sciences Internship Program, Division of Undergraduate Education
- Angel Anderson, Coordinator of Upperclassmen and RISE Initiatives, University College
- Macy Ballard, Student Employee, Life-Health Sciences Internship Program, Division of Undergraduate Education
- Jenna Corcoran, Assistant Director, Student Employment and Assessment, Division of Undergraduate Education
- Tytishia Davis, Assistant Dean of Students and Director, Office of Student Advocacy and Support, Division of Student Affairs
- Daniel Griffith, Director, Conflict Resolution and Dialogue Programs, Office of Intercultural Literacy, Capacity and Engagement, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Kathy Hursh, Associate Director of Career Services, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
- Charlie Johnson, Director, Scholar Support Services, University College
- Michael Kendall, Program Coordinator, 21st Century Scholar Success Programs, University College
- Willow King-Locke, Director, Pre-Professional and Career Preparation, School of Science
- Janna McDonald, Director, Office of Student Employment, Division of Undergraduate Education
- Matthew Rust, Director, Career and Advising Services, Division of Undergraduate Education
- Robert Smith, Career Consultant, Degree Completion Office, Division of Undergraduate Education
- Kate Thedwall, Director, Gateway to Graduation, University College
- Jennifer Thorington-Springer, Interim Associate Dean, Student Affairs, School of Liberal Arts
- Latoria Thomas-Lee, Assistant Director, Career Advising, Pre-Professional and Career Preparation, School of Science
- Eric Williams, Director, Diversity, Enrichment, and Achievement Program, University College