Warm and Inviting

Something is brewing at Washington and Schick

Central Grounds, Indiana Tech’s new coffeehouse, was set to open this spring on the first floor of Summit Hall, but COVID-19 had other plans. Nevertheless, Warriors will have a warm and inviting atmosphere to hit the books or meet up with friends when they return to campus in the fall.

Indiana Tech has partnered with Utopian Coffee as its supplier for Central Grounds. Utopian Coffee is a local coffee roaster that has a social justice impact with coffee growers throughout the world. In addition, Central Grounds will feature a menu of pastries, including fresh-made cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls, muffins, smoothies and protein shakes.

On display inside Central Grounds are coffee mugs from community partners, employers of graduates and hosts of internships for our students. If you are interested in having your company’s mug displayed in Central Grounds, please contact Amy Trosper in the Career Center at ALTrosper@indianatech.edu.

Indiana Tech Magazine

Positioned Well for the Future

WHEN YOU ASK DR. TOM KAPLAN, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, AND DR. SCOTT LIEBHAUSER, ASSOCIATE VPAA, ABOUT THE FUTURE OF INDIANA TECH, THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM RATCHETS UP AND THE CONVERSATION BECOMES MORE ANIMATED.

THEIR REVERENCE FOR THE ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE THEY HAVE INHERITED AT INDIANA TECH AND THE LEADERS WHO HAVE HELPED CREATE IT IS UNMISTAKABLE.

THEIR DESIRE TO APPLY RUBBER TO ROAD IS UNSTOPPABLE.

THEIR OPTIMISM FOR INDIANA TECH IS PALPABLE.

Launched in 2018, our health science degree program has become a successful draw for students to our university. It’s another way that Indiana Tech is meeting the needs of today’s marketplace.

here is an openness to try things here that is very rare. Having been at a handful of other institutions, our willingness to innovate is far greater than most institutions,” said Dr. Kaplan, who worked at three other universities prior to coming to Indiana Tech in 2018. “Frankly, Indiana Tech has thrived over the past couple of decades because it has embraced the nontraditional. We did things that we probably shouldn’t have been able to do in the competitive marketplace of early online ed, but leadership had a big-growth mindset and was willing to take risks.” “T

“Thoughtful risks,” added Dr. Liebhauser, who also has been with Indiana Tech for nearly two years. “Organizations afraid to take risks never advance, and the fact that we are not afraid to take risks, I think, is a huge advantage moving into the future.”

As a result, Indiana Tech finds itself in a much better position than some other universities to deal with the challenges all of higher ed is facing these days.

So, from the perspective of the Office of Academic Affairs, this is what is Indiana Tech is doing very well:

WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MARKET

Part of taking thoughtful risks is making sure bad ideas don’t get “false momentum,” as Dr. Kaplan puts it. Indiana Tech can’t afford to waste energy on bad ideas. It also can’t bring programs to market that are not going to draw students.

“When looking at a new program proposal, we have to identify what need we are trying to fill and whether that need exists. If it does, what is the best way to meet the need? This is where you need to do market research into the needs of industry and students. And can we create a compelling offering in the landscape of competition that will bring in students,” Dr. Kaplan explained.

“If a program can go through that assessment and positively answer those questions, guess what, we push it through. It doesn’t take five years. We push it and we see what happens, and I think that’s actually one of our strengths,” Dr. Liebhauser said. “If you look at our LAMPRO partnership, that’s a big risk, but it’s also something that if you get the right people together, now you’ve got a major success story in the making.”

LAMPRO stands for Latin America Magister Program, a group of academics and entrepreneurs based in Santiago, Chile, who have a deep understanding of South American higher education and confidence in their ability to recruit students there. LAMPRO began marketing Indiana Tech’s Master of Business Administration degree in Chile this spring; the first student application arrived the first week of March.

“We feel very optimistic about this relationship because LAMPRO has a really strong marketing presence in South America that would be difficult for any other U.S. institution to recreate on its own,” Dr. Kaplan said. “And, LAMPRO will have strong products—our accredited degree programs—to attract students. These are our degree programs—programs that our faculty have built and believe in, translated to be delivered

What’s more, LAMPRO’s market research suggests that demand for an accredited American MBA, especially one that is accessible online, is highly desired in Chile and other South American countries. Indiana Tech is an early mover into these markets where few universities have been able to gain a foothold. The fact that our MBA is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) should make our degrees even more alluring.

Another way Indiana Tech makes sure it is giving students relevant programming is by maintaining close relationships with the business community. Through frequent interactions in the community, we are able to identify prevailing industry trends and stay on top of the skills our students need to succeed.

“In the College of Business, we’re out interviewing leaders at places like Sweetwater, Brotherhood Mutual, Parkview and other firms to find out what they are looking for from new hires,” Dr. Liebhauser said. “That gathering of intel is something Indiana Tech is doing very well, because when we connect our students to their first big career, we want them to be well prepared for what they’re walking into.”

In addition to the LAMPRO collaboration, the College of Business soon will introduce

Students of Indiana Tech’s electrical engineering technology degree program get $600 worth of laboratory equipment that allows them to do experiments at home. undergraduate and graduate degrees in analytics, as well as “a multitude of projects in the pipeline,” Dr. Liebhauser said. “These are projects that are going to be fruitful one day and it’s going to be great to see.”

WE ARE GOOD AT OUTSIDETHE-BOX THINKING

Much like the university did years ago when it first dipped its toe in the online education marketplace, Indiana Tech is finding new ways to create quality and convenient educational experiences that meet student needs, wherever they are.

At the beginning of the school year, the College of Engineering launched an associate degree program in electrical engineering technology that is delivered fully online, bucking a notion that engineering coursework—specifically lab work— isn’t effective in the online format. It’s the first program of its kind in the region to be offered fully online.

The new program will prepare students for a wide range of technical careers, while providing employers with exceptionally qualified, highly sought staff for key positions in advanced manufacturing, engineering, electrical, computer systems, electronic and related operations.

To reinforce the learning experience, students are given sophisticated electronics lab kits so they can perform lab work at home. Indiana Tech will also hold regular, in-person immersion events on its main campus in Fort Wayne that will provide students with additional access to hands-on learning, team project work, career services and networking opportunities.

“We are sending students a $600 lab in a box, so they are able to do all the experiments,” Dr. Kaplan said. “We’re not telling our students ‘just go here and read these articles.’ We’re actually giving them the ability to experiment and build things in the vision of the faculty who built the program.”

In offering immersion events for this online degree program, the College of Engineering is borrowing a learning component that has become an integral part of our Ph.D. in Global Leadership student experience.

“On paper, those may look like completely different types of education—how could one help the other?” Kaplan asked. “Well, a good idea is a good idea, and if it can be modified to meet another program’s need, that’s how they help each other. Every student wants to put what they are learning into practice.”

Beginning next school year, the College of Engineering will offer associate and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering technology (see the College of Engineering Academic Roundup on page 30). Like the EET program, students will be able to achieve the associate degree fully online, complemented by on-campus immersion opportunities.

In addition, Indiana Tech continues to partner with businesses of all kinds to educate and train their workforces.

In January, four faculty members from the College of Business successfully designed and delivered a three-day professional development workshop to 23 Parkview Health employees at the request of the Fort Wayne-based health system (read more about this initiative on page 26).

And, as an ongoing strategy, the university continues to pursue educational partnerships with employers and industry groups through its College of Professional Studies.

“We have a long history of working with employers to customize programming that fits their specific needs,” said Steve Herendeen, Indiana Tech vice president for enrollment management. “Not only do employers look at these partnerships as a way to improve their workforce, they see them as a benefit they can offer to attract and retain excellent talent.”

WE MAKE SURE OUR NEW HIRES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH OUR CULTURE

Students learn early at Indiana Tech that experience is increasingly becoming more of an entry-level expectation when it comes time to search for that first big job. As such, everyone here works hard to equip students with the skills and tools that will allow them to bring immediate value to an organization.

This culture permeates through the recruiting and admissions process and is reinforced by the internship opportunities secured for our students by Indiana Tech’s Career Center. It’s strongest reinforcement, however, comes from the careerfocused, hands-on curriculum developed and delivered by our faculty.

“With every faculty hire, we are looking to fill those spots with people who are both great teachers and experienced professionals,” Dr. Kaplan said. “We have many newer hires who were brought here explicitly to be program builders, and that’s more than just being a great teacher. These are people who get up in the morning wanting to build something fantastic— Indiana Tech’s new biology degree program includes a unique combination of biology, chemistry, physics, math and social sciences coursework, supplemented with science communication, leadership and professional development opportunities to produce exceptionally well-rounded students.

they want to recruit students, they want to take care of their students, they want to be out in the community looking for internships, they want to build projects into their classes.

“So those are the kinds of questions we ask— ‘Is this the type of job you want and how can you make our team ?’

“We focus a lot of our energy on making sure if somebody comes in, they’re going to be a team player who cares about our students and cares about working with other faculty. We want hardchargers who are going to take hold and go after it,” Dr. Liebhauser said. “That’s a huge part of what we’re doing. There’s no stagnancy in any of our approaches. It’s all very forward looking.”

WE ARE CREATING IMPACTFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS

Late in 2019, nearly 1,600 square feet of dedicated state-of-the-art laboratory space was unveiled within the Zollner Engineering Center for students in our new health science degree program. There, they can focus on clinical science work related to human health.

“Students will be looking at biopsies, performing diagnostic testing and learning anatomy and physiology to prepare for jobs in a hospital health care setting,” said Dr. Robert Badeau, director of Indiana Tech’s health science program.

And, within the next couple years, the university plans to renovate the remainder of the 40,000-square-foot engineering building and significantly expand the Zollner Engineering Center. The updated and expanded spaces will include new labs and classrooms for current and new programs, updated equipment and modernized student engagement spaces to better facilitate collaborative learning.

Some of the new labs planned for the Zollner Engineering Center include: • Cybersecurity/networking complex • Engineering innovation design lab • Robotics lab • Power and controls lab • Fluid mechanics lab • Digital forensics lab • Biomedical engineering lab • Organic/analytical chemistry lab

“This is not just renovating an existing building. Every room in the Zollner Engineering Center will have a story and a purpose tied to the future of our current and new programs,” Dr. Kaplan said.

It comes at a great time as the rapidly changing employment landscape for careers in STEM fields will rely on technology skills and demands that did not exist a decade ago. This project will significantly enhance Indiana Tech’s ability to provide students with powerful experiential learning opportunities that will prepare them for successful careers after graduation.

This is What Outside-the-Box Thinking Looks Like

Indiana Tech’s proven ability to evolve with the times—to stay ahead of them even— is unmatched. Our agility ensures our students are prepared for tomorrow’s jobs in our rapidly evolving world and workplace. “That’s the way we’ve always done it” is not in our vocabulary. “Tech Yeah” is.

the fall of 2019, Indiana Tech’s agility and its ability to evolve were put to the test when Fort Wayne’s leading health system reached out in need of some specific professional development for a leadership group within its organization. You know Indiana Tech accepted the challenge. It’s the Warrior way. Does this story have a happy ending? “Tech Yeah” it does! Parkview Health isn’t Fort Wayne’s leading health system and one of the region’s most recognized brands because of luck. Instead, this organization has made its ascent by harnessing the power of and empowering those who bring great ideas, strategic importance and value to the organization—leaders it has assembled to comprise its Elite Team. Members of this internal think-tank come from all across the system from all departments and, because of that, many of them lack the tools to build effective business proposals for their ideas. Parkview recognized this and reached out to several universities for help. Dr. Kathleen Watland, dean of Indiana Tech’s College of Business, assembled Dr. Scott Liebhauser, associate vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin, associate professor of marketing and management; and Lisa Brown, associate professor of accounting, to work with the health system to develop a needs assessment. From there, the trio developed and presented a stellar proposal, which earned them the opportunity to teach Parkview’s Elite Team. “They wanted us to base our training off the Harvard Business Review’s ‘Guide to Building Your Business Case,’ ” Liebhauser said. “Staci, Lisa and I did an in-depth study of the publication and broke the material into three pieces that we delivered over three half-day sessions.” In Presenting to their strengths, Liebhauser focused on the basics of building a proposal, Brown focused on integrating financial data into the presentation and Lugar Brettin showed how to pull everything together to develop a compelling pitch. The sessions were conducted in the Keene Building’s Corporate Engagement Center on three consecutive Wednesdays in January. In all, 23 Elite Team members went through 15 hours of training, culminating in an overwhelming success. “It was a very well-planned and well-executed collaboration,” said Michal Havison, Enterprise Project Portfolio Management director. “The goal was achieved: to help our leaders tell a compelling story that will lead to the allocation of budget and resources. Scott, Lisa and Staci provided the depth, breadth and application of business case development that one needs to make prudent investment decisions, and they kept the classroom energized with topics and stories to support the three half-days of curriculum.” Anne Badowski, Enterprise Project Portfolio Management coordinator, added, “The collaboration was fantastic. The Indiana Tech staff was able to bridge the learning gap that Parkview was feeling as it pertains to business plans and presentations. The staff provided the Harvard Business Review guide information in a very relatable way.” “You’re dealing with medical professionals and community partners, you want the relationship to grow and cultivate— so we all took this collaboration very seriously. Even though it was only three half-days of instruction, we’ve been working on this for about six months,” Liebhauser said. “We were a little bit nervous getting ready for these sessions, but in the end we were very pleased with the results. We got excellent feedback and everything came together even better than expected.” The Indiana Tech staff was able to bridge the learning gap that Parkview was feeling as it pertains to business plans and presentations.

On the final day, the Elite Team members gave presentations in front of their colleagues before earning certificates during a lunch presentation hosted by President Karl W. Einolf.

“When they presented, all of their colleagues took it very seriously as if it was an actual proposal in the system. Some received very tough questions, almost like a dissertation defense,” Liebhauser said. “As a result, they are now equipped to present in a real proposal situation.”

For Marita Dwight-Smith, director of Francine’s Friends, Parkview’s mobile mammography unit and Elite Team member, the time at Indiana Tech was time well spent.

“The instructors were very engaged and passionate about their topics,” she said. “They understood the Parkview mission and vision, and knew how to assist so our presentations would fully align with Parkview’s business plan. I left with a completed presentation I feel confident about.”

More members from Parkview’s Elite Team will participate in the training later this year. Liebhauser knows Indiana Tech will be ready to meet their needs, as well as the needs of future corporate partners.

“We have a template now, so we could present this material to any organization. Plus, we have the experience to tailor the content to cover whatever material a company identifies, whether it be related to management, leadership or presentation skills,” Liebhauser said.

Lugar Brettin is also excited about the potential of this initiative and she is happy dean Watland added her to the team.

“Dr. Watland has created an opportunity where we can continue to evolve in ways that allow us to use our education, our instructional design and our creativity in the classroom, not only for our in-class student learners, but also for learners outside the university,” she said. “It demonstrates that we at Tech are capable of growing and advancing knowledge of our community members in really important ways.”

“Experience has taught me that partnering with organizations provides value to everyone involved; without question, we found that was the case in this instance,” Dr. Watland said. “We are honored to be chosen by Parkview as its academic partner. Parkview serves the community with its focus on health— Indiana Tech serves the community with a focus on organizational health.”