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Visitors to Bloomington will soon have an open door on the Indiana University campus. Opening of the soon-to-be-completed visitors' center in Carmichael Center is expected during April.
"I see us as being the front door to the first impression of the university, and the first impression is a lasting impression. I believe that the center will convey the mission and image of the university," said Carol Stokes, newly appointed director of the visitors' center.
Stokes, who has worked in the IUB Admissions Office for eight years,
explained that the center will not be in competition with the Monroe
County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Rather, they will complement each
other.
"We really want to work in concert with the Visitors' Bureau. I did some shadowing of the staff at the Visitors' Bureau, and Valerie Pena's staff was very helpful," said Stokes.
The spirit of cooperation between the two centers for visitors is imperative, added Perry Metz, assistant vice president for external affairs.
"We have a good and long-standing relationship with the Monroe County Convention and Visitors' Bureau," he said. He explained that the new center at Carmichael Center has been planned for about two years. "The campus in consultation with the Budgetary Affairs Committee has wanted to provide a more welcoming atmosphere for students, their families and those unfamiliar with the campus," said Metz.
What will visitors find at the new center? There will be information on current events, connections to information resources and people, brochures, maps, Web access and videotapes.
Tours of the campus will be an important part of the resources, according to Stokes. In fact, before the doors have been opened there are already three tours scheduled.
"We will have third graders from the Southside School in Columbus, students from Indian Creek at Trafalgar and another group, Evans Day School in Evansville," she said.
Metz said the new visitors' center will be operated under the aegis of the IUB Admissions Office personnel "to take advantage of their expertise and assist in their efforts."
Initially, the office will be open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stokes will be recruiting student assistance from the Student Alumni Association. "I see them as ambassadors, not just tour guides," she added.
The phone number of the new center when it opens will be 812-856-GOIU, and the E-mail address will be IUVIS@indiana.edu.
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