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 Brand
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Myles Brand
President, Indiana University
For generations of college students (students at other universities, of course), battling bureaucratic red tape has been an unpleasant part of the whole higher education experience.
Of course, it doesn't have to be that way. At Indiana University, we believe that meeting the needs and answering the questions of students and their parents is simply the right thing to do.
Put academic excellence together with courtesy and efficiency, add in an improved marketing effort, and you have a formula to bring more well qualified students to IU, and to make their stay here more successful.
There is ample evidence that's happening. This year's freshman class is up by more than 10 percent in Bloomington, to a record level. Total enrollment at IUB is the second highest in the university's history.
Overall enrollments are up significantly at IU Southeast, IUPUI and IU South Bend. Freshman enrollments are up at several of our regional campuses.
Enrollment at IU Northwest, facing intense competition from local institutions and for-profit distance education carriers, is down.
But the overall picture is a most positive one.
IU has a growing academic reputation. Our year-long marketing campaign, built around the theme "Quality Education, Lifetime Opportunities," helped bring in more qualified applicants. At Bloomington and other campuses, our applications office did an excellent job following up with prospective IU students. Our orientation office made the experience of coming to IU more welcoming and less intimidating.
That's a considerable list. The list of IU employees who contributed, however, runs much longer.
Here's an E-mail I received from the mother of a sophomore at IUB from California:
"There is something about IU. I think it is the common sense. Working with the bursar's office, admissions last year, insite (INdiana Student Information Transaction Environment: http://insite.indiana.edu/), the housing department, the parking department, whatever -- it seems to be easy and do-able. We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have our daughter there. The faculty and staff have been hospitable, kind and professional."
That comment -- and I have received many others like it -- reflects the most basic values of our university community. Just as respect for the ideas of others is fundamental in academic dialogues, respect for the needs of others is every bit as important outside the classroom.
But IU's faculty and staff members fully understand that already.
What's on your mind? E-mail President Brand at pres@indiana.edu.
Visit President Brand's homepage at:
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