President’s Report 2023
Curious. Creative. Committed.
“It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare not venture that things are difficult.”
Those 21 words, attributed to philosopher Seneca 2,000 years ago, provide insight into where Indiana University of Pennsylvania stands today.
We face challenges, but we have a plan, and we are confidently following it to a brighter future. Colleges and universities across the country are facing obstacles not known in generations, and at IUP, we are adapting, staying nimble, and working together. We know that overcoming challenges is usually difficult, but we are not deterred, because we believe in the virtue of our work.
As you will see in this report, IUP is a university filled with curious people. We look at problems in creative ways, and we follow our plans with a commitment to our future and to the students we serve.
We are looking ahead, using our strategic plan as the North Star that will guide us. Using a sevenpoint list of presidential goals as the means to follow the plan, we are making our students, their needs, and their success our top priority, aiming to be an exceptionally student-centered university.
We will not do this passively. Changing times demand bold action, and that’s what we will do at IUP. We will shake up the status quo by disrupting the long-held ways of doing business in higher education while finding new ways to continue the great work we have always done.
We want to expand our offerings to bring more students to IUP for an exceptional academic journey while continuing to offer the in-demand programs we are known for. We want to grow our reputation so those who don’t already know it can see what a historically great university IUP is and the potential it has to change the world—one student at a time. We want to do these things together, with everyone from faculty, staff, and administration to alumni, community members, and elected officials aware of our plan and seeing how they can help.
We must venture ahead, finding new ways of doing things so we can adapt to our challenges and put our students in the best position to be successful. We will continue to face the future with curiosity, creativity, and commitment. Just as we always have, just as we always will.
Michael A. Driscoll President
Presidential Goals
2023-28
1 Keep every student who comes to IUP by being an exceptionally student-centered university.
2 Grow market share in traditional market.
3 Educate other student groups in new markets.
4 Grow IUP’s reputation.
5 Engage the internal and external IUP community in realizing the vision.
6 Find alternate revenue streams to support our work.
7 Focus resources on the highest priorities to ensure a sustainable, thriving future.
“Curiosity is the engine of achievement.”
A solution to a rural problem
Mapping the future
Pennsylvania, particularly its rural areas, is in a health crisis: There simply aren’t enough doctors to handle the overabundance of patients and their myriad needs. In December 2022, IUP announced a plan to help. Using its resources and reputation for research and health programs, IUP is pursuing the establishment of a college of osteopathic medicine, the first of its kind at a public university in Pennsylvania. Studies have shown that students who go to rural medical schools are likely to practice in rural areas, and IUP’s proposed college would help address the shortfall of medical professionals in rural parts of the commonwealth. There is more work to be done before the proposed college opens, but progress is being made, and the first class of students is tentatively scheduled to be admitted in 2027.
In 2023, IUP took a new look at its physical footprint and began revising its Long-Range Facilities Master Plan. As several of the university’s buildings grew older and required more maintenance and funding for upkeep, IUP officials began holding meetings to get input on how the campus could best be used to be financially responsible while also benefiting students and their needs. The result was a revised master plan that identifies and prioritizes campus physical improvements. It contains recommendations on rightsizing the campus footprint, including the phasing, timing, and sequencing of projects that vary from 0 to10 years and beyond.
Since humans first stepped out of the cave and wondered what was over the horizon, being curious has been the basic building block of education. At IUP, we wonder about the people and the world around us. We ask why a lot. We dig into things, because we want to know more. It’s a way of thinking, a way of doing, a way of life.
We are not unique in being curious. But we do excel at it. You could say that at IUP, curiosity is in our DNA. Whether it’s testing zebrafish in our new science facility to learn more about kidney regeneration, unearthing dinosaur bones in the Utah desert, managing portfolios during an internship on Wall Street, or making breakthroughs as student teachers in kindergarten classrooms, we are constantly guided by our curiosity to learn more. For almost 150 years, curious students have come to IUP to be mentored by inquisitive faculty on a campus designed for discovery, and they continue to impress us with their success.
Yet curiosity is only the inspiration. Without the creativity to adapt and try new things, and without the commitment to a brighter future, curiosity does not reach its full potential. But curiosity is the spark to it all.
A structure of support
In the summer of 2023, after an aggressive year of researching and planning, IUP unveiled its new student success infrastructure. This organizational model will bring the university closer to its goal of student centeredness. It provides proactive support by using existing resources while standardizing and streamlining tools and processes to help all students with any problem that may arise as they work toward graduation. And, as the spring 2024 semester began, we already saw some fruits of our labor: Overall enrollment compared to spring 2023 was up 6.5 percent, with a fall-to-spring retention rate of 90.1 percent, our highest in 14 years.
Full steam ahead
The STEAMSHOP in the Robertshaw Building is up and running. It is a dynamic and innovative resource for students across disciplines, integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) to foster creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning experiences. Students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and tools, including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and more, enabling them to bring their ideas to life and to engage in experiential learning. The STEAMSHOP provides a supportive environment in which curious students can explore interdisciplinary projects, experiment with emerging technologies, and develop practical skills that are essential for success in today’s workforce.
“Creativity is the language we use to communicate the urgency of our dreams for a better future.”
Navigating college
A facility to foster discovery
As part of the student success infrastructure, IUP created new positions called navigators, who help all IUP students, undergraduate and graduate, by providing personalized support and guidance throughout their academic journey. Navigators serve as mentors, helping students reach campus resources, understand academic requirements, and find extracurricular opportunities. Through regular communication, navigators offer advice, share insights, and foster a sense of community and belonging. Students receive individualized support tailored to their needs, gaining confidence in their ability to succeed, which, in turn, enhances student retention, academic success, and overall well-being at IUP.
Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open IUP’s newest academic facility on November 2, the 142,000-square-foot Kopchick Hall stands as a testament to collaborative vision and innovation, representing a milestone in the university’s commitment to excellence in science and research. Designed with input from IUP faculty, students, alumni, and administrators, Kopchick Hall embodies state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge resources to meet the evolving needs of scientific inquiry. As a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and discovery, it will elevate IUP’s reputation as a center for scientific excellence in the region.
Curiosity leads us to wonder why. But creativity demands that we ask,“Why not?” Sometimes, solutions aren’t easily found. Sometimes the problem seems so insurmountable that doing nothing gets equated with trying something. But at IUP, we use our imagination to solve problems. We do not run from challenges. We lean into them, because that’s the only way we know.
We know that problems evolve and so should our solutions, so we must continue to look at things from all angles and use curiosity and creativity to find answers that will not just solve the problem, but will put us on stronger ground.
Using input from all parts of the IUP community, we seek solutions that are forward-thinking and attainable. But that doesn’t mean we look at only the possibilities. We do things that are hard, because the easy way is rarely the best way. We get creative in our solutions, inspired by curiosity, and committed to a better tomorrow.
Restructuring for student success
IUP embarked on an academic restructuring project in 2023 to enhance educational quality, streamline operations, and better align programs with student needs and market demands. Through this initiative, IUP reorganized academic departments, revised curriculum offerings, and optimized resources to promote efficiency and effectiveness. Beginning in the fall of 2024, the new academic structure will better prepare students for success in their chosen fields and equip them with the relevant skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Ultimately, the project seeks to enhance the overall educational experience at IUP, ensuring that students receive a high-quality, relevant education that meets the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Clusters of community
As part of the Long-Range Facilities Master Plan, “academic clusters” have been identified to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and resource optimization by strategically grouping related academic departments and programs on the 374-acre campus. By clustering these areas of study, IUP aims to create dynamic learning environments that encourage cross-disciplinary exploration, preparing students for success in an increasingly interconnected world. This approach not only enhances academic offerings, but also promotes a sense of community among faculty, students, and staff, ultimately enriching the overall educational experience at IUP.
“Commitment is an act, not a word.”
Enrollment on the rise
Finding the founding dean
In fall 2023, IUP celebrated an increase in overall enrollment for the first time in 11 years. The increase of 422 students was the highest among all schools in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The increase can be attributed to a combination of factors, including reduced tuition, targeted recruitment efforts, and enhanced scholarship opportunities.
Amid great anticipation, IUP announced the appointment of Miko Rose as the founding dean of its proposed college of osteopathic medicine. With a distinguished background in healthcare leadership and medical education, Dr. Rose brings more than two decades of experience as a practicing physician and administrator. Her passion for innovative curriculum design and her commitment to holistic patient care match the mission of the college. She began her new post on November 20.
Agoal without a timeline is just a dream. To succeed, one must be committed to the goal by making a plan. That plan must be flexible in its makeup, but direct in its result.
At IUP, we are committed to our students, their success, and our brighter future. That may sound like a tagline, but it’s more than a 14-word statement of our values and goals. It’s an action plan, and we work every day to ensure our work is applied to it. Our students are our lifeblood. We are committed to ensuring they have an exceptional educational journey when they come to IUP, which we do by supporting their needs, by offering the kinds of programs and classes that prepare them for a career, and by creating a safe and fun environment to thrive in.
From creating an infrastructure that helps students stay on track to offering services that support their work to providing opportunities for them to learn outside the confines of a classroom, IUP is committed to student success.
A gift for the future
During an evening honoring IUP alumni for their contributions to their professions and to society, one Distinguished Alumni Award recipient announced a $1 million gift for the university’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine. Rich Caruso, a 1983 graduate, announced his donation during the April 22 gala, in which he was honored for his distinguished career in accounting.
Making IUP more affordable
Following a reduction in tuition for in-state undergraduate students and then a similar cut for out-of-state undergraduate students, IUP announced a nearly 20 percent tuition reduction for international students starting in fall 2023. This move continues the university’s commitment to making an IUP education affordable for all students. With this reduction, IUP aims to attract a more diverse pool of international talent, enriching its campus community and fostering global perspectives.
