A transformational investment for Indiana State University and the State of Indiana

In the early hours of April 28, the Indiana General Assembly passed the 2023-25 State Budget; it contained $66 million of capital funding for the renovation of the Technology Annex Building in the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology.

This is the largest capital project funded by the State of Indiana in University history.

The project will result in several modernized upgrades, including state-of-the-art instructional and laboratory space for the College.

Construction and renovation are anticipated to begin in the summer of 2024. The project should take about two years to complete.

Indiana State University is in the process of soliciting responses to a request for qualifications/proposals for architectural and engineering services for the project. Once an architect/engineer is selected, several months of design work are ahead.

The Technology Annex Building was built in 1980.

“This much-needed facility will provide a tremendous long-term return on investment for the State of Indiana. If we don’t provide that workforce pipeline to fill high-paying STEM jobs, other states and countries will. ISU is now better positioned to do what we do best: educate students in critical fields like technology and engineering who are likely to remain in Indiana to live and work,” ISU President Deborah Curtis said.

Like many educational institutions across the country, Indiana State University is adapting to the changing workforce in the United States.

ISU officials carefully considered several buildings across campus for this repair and rehabilitation project plan. They factored in critical areas like growth for university programs that align with state workforce priorities.

“Thank you to our legislators and the Indiana General Assembly for believing in us. This is a historic day for Indiana State University and the State of Indiana,” Curtis added.

Dr. Christopher Olsen, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs: “We are so grateful to the State of Indiana for its investment in our Bailey College of Engineering and Technology. Their generous support will ensure that our students have the most up-todate, world-class facilities. The education they receive in these critical, high-demand fields will be vital for the economic development of Indiana and beyond for the next several decades.”

with Indiana State’s largest individual donation ever

On December 9, 2022, Indiana State University announced its largest individual donation ever — $8 million from Steve and Gloria Bailey — and the ISU Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology (BCET).

The gift reflects ISU’s dedication to STEM education, the strength of its engineering program, and its support of the state of Indiana’s workforce goals. The donation created scholarships, faculty fellowships, and a Dean’s fund, with a goal of attracting even more great students and faculty.

“We are deeply grateful to Steve and Gloria Bailey for this historic gift,” ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said. “It shows great confidence in the mission of Indiana State University and generous support for our tremendous faculty and students. As an alumnus, Steve built upon his experience at ISU to become incredibly successful in business. With this gift, Steve and Gloria will impact more lives than we can imagine and leave a lasting legacy.”

Steve Bailey is a 1970 alumnus of ISU who graduated with a degree in automotive technology and went on to lead Diesel USA Group as CEO until his retirement in 2019. He serves on the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology Dean’s Advisory Council and the ISU Foundation Board of Directors.

Gloria worked in interior design and human resources before her retirement in 2014. In 2020, she helped ISU Interior Architecture Design students redesign and furnish the atrium in the John T. Myers Technology Center.

The Baileys, who live in Naples, Florida, and Louisville, Kentucky, are loyal supporters of ISU and have been heavily involved in the advancement of engineering and technology students through their generous donations. In November 2022, the Baileys were honored as

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March On! Award recipients in recognition of their philanthropy to ISU.

“Gloria and I are so impressed with the direction of Indiana State under President Curtis’ leadership,” Steve Bailey said. “We have seen firsthand the great work being done to provide first-generation college students with a high-quality education through mentorship, curriculum, and experiential learning. We feel passionately that the three prongs in this gift — the student scholarships, the faculty fellowships, and the Dean’s fund — will positively impact the lives of engineering and technology students for years to come.”

Said Gloria Bailey: “Every facet of Indiana State, and this gift, excites us because we know how much of an effect it can have on students. Steve attributes much of his success in his career to his time at Indiana State. We are hopeful that this gift will be the best investment of our lives.”

The Bailey College of Engineering and Technology earned the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation for its engineering program in August 2022. The college currently holds 13 ABET accredited programs. ABET accreditation verifies that programs provide the quality standards of the profession that’s being taught.

“This is an exciting time for engineering and technology students, faculty, and staff at Indiana State,” said Dr. Jim Smallwood, Interim Dean of the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to amplify our programs and recruit more gifted students thanks to the Baileys’ belief in our mission.”

The gift will be used for three funds. The first will create Bailey College of Engineering and Technology Scholars for incoming freshmen majoring in a program within the college. The $3,000 scholarships are renewable for up to two years. Fifty such scholarships will be offered in Fall 2023, the inaugural year.

The second fund will be the Bailey Faculty Fellowship Fund, a $10,000 award to five outstanding faculty members. The fellowships, renewable for up to three years, fund activities such as research and conferences, but do not supplement salaries. The fund will not only recognize high-achieving faculty members already at ISU, but will help the University recruit new faculty to the BCET.

The third fund provides support to the Dean of the College. The gift will dedicate $50,000 to the Dean’s Fund for Excellence for the first three years of the donation. The fund will assist the dean with new industry partnerships, expanding existing partnerships, and recruiting students.

The gift implements a new vision to adjust and restructure current BCET programs to meet everchanging industry needs and prepare students for careers using applied learning. The altruism of the Baileys paves the way for the creation of additional opportunities in the BCET by funneling funds in support of students, faculty, and programming.

“Steve and Gloria Bailey are the embodiment of joyful giving,” said Andrea Angel, Vice President of University Advancement and CEO of the ISU Foundation. “They have been boldly supportive of our institution by volunteering their time, dedicating their resources, and creating experiential learning opportunities for the betterment of our engineering and technology students. Their recent gift is transformational, and I am humbled by their generosity and faith in the mission of Indiana State University.”

Dr. Christopher Olsen, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, announced in March that Dr. Divya Choudhary had been selected as the new Dean of the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology after a national search.

Choudhary, who starts at ISU on August 1, will lead the college during an exciting time.

Last year, the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology received accreditation for its engineering program from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

“I am just delighted that Dr. Choudhary is joining us as Dean of the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology,” said Provost Olsen. “She has a wealth of experience with programs in engineering and technology at institutions that align well with Indiana State. It’s an amazing time to be in the Bailey College as we launch the Bailey Scholars and Bailey Fellows programs, and I am eager to see the impact of Dr. Choudhary’s leadership on the entire college. We are ideally positioned right now to take the college to the next level of success.”

Said Choudhary: “I am looking forward to joining Indiana State University’s exceptional faculty, students, and staff on campus as the new Dean of the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology. The generous gift of donors Steve and Gloria Bailey presents an incredible opportunity to take the College to the next level by expanding its quality programs and creating new initiatives to address the demand for engineering and technology professionals in this region and beyond.”

Since March 2022, Choudhary has been Dean of the College of Business, Engineering, and Technology at Texas A&M University at Texarkana. She was also a Professor of Electrical Engineering.

She led a college with 1,000 students, with responsibility for new programs, student success, new building development, enhancing engagement with faculty and students; annual evaluations of faculty; advisory boards, and developing relationships with the local businesses and community. She also had responsibility for the Electrical Engineering program on a satellite campus in Bryan, Texas.

From 2010 to 2022, Choudhary was at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. She served in positions including Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Electrical Engineering.

Choudhary was the founding director of Christian Brothers’ STEM Center for Women and Diversity. The Center hosted summer camps and workshops to encourage girls and minorities in high school and middle school to pursue STEM majors.

Choudhary earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of Mumbai in India. She earned her master’s degree and doctorate in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Memphis.