Communications from the University of Indianapolis President

Colleagues,

It is hard to believe that we are already approaching the end of the academic year. It seems like just a short time ago we were gathering for the Faculty/Staff Institute and looking forward to all the ways the year ahead would make us say “UIndy, wow!” This year has certainly lived up to the expectations that we set for ourselves. Your work has enabled us to develop an ambitious yet achievable agenda for UIndy. I am excited about a strong future and look forward to our work together. 

Our recently approved strategic plan “Engage. Enrich. Empower. Transform,” reflects our commitment to excellence and innovation in higher education. At the heart of this plan is our mission to champion lifelong learning through relevant and innovative education, diverse perspectives, service for impact, and a global mindset.

Because we know that the future of work will be defined by lifelong learning as people reskill, upskill and retrain for an evolving world, UIndy must also be the place to help recharge a career, reinvent a career, or change a career. We are committed to being the institution of choice for those who will need lifelong learning, whether they want to finish something they started or start something new. 

We are also committing that every student who graduates from UIndy—whether they are an engineer, financial analyst, historian, nurse or musician—will have participated in demonstrable experiential or work-based learning. We believe that experiential education is not merely a supplement but rather an essential part of the educational journey that prepares students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

We are also committed to becoming an engine for growth on the southside of Indianapolis. As we envision UIndy as a catalyst for positive change, we must also engage with and contribute to the vibrant fabric of our surrounding communities. We believe that we have a unique opportunity to create an ecosystem of growth and prosperity on the southside, an opportunity that is truly transformative for the university as well as the communities that surround it.

I recently shared this update, along with the stories below, with our corporate and community partners. I hope you will take time to read and share the great work that defines UIndy.

Go Greyhounds!

Tanuja Singh
President

P.S. Don't forget that Thursday, April 18, is UIndy Day! We hope you'll join fellow Greyhounds across campus and around the world in supporting our programs and students. Learn more at uindy.edu/uindyday.

Campus Community, 

The semester may only be about a month old, but we have already generated significant positive momentum which began with the announcement of the transformative gift from Laura Strain to expand the impact of the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College. This investment will undoubtedly elevate the academic experience for our students and further enrich our commitment to academic excellence. We extend our deepest appreciation to Ms. Strain for her support and belief in the power of education to shape lives. We are committed to continuing this momentum throughout the year and look forward to sharing more success stories in the coming months.

Our applied approach to education not only differentiates our academic offerings but also positions our faculty and staff as experts on subjects that range from Generative AI to Human Biology to the political underpinnings of presidential primaries. Our faculty expertise garners local, regional and national attention as the media seek their opinions and expertise. University-wide efforts to showcase our faculty and staff have resulted in excellent media coverage for the University and your work in recent months. I encourage you to read these stories in our December and January issues of UIndy in the News. This coverage brings well-deserved recognition to the university and also contributes to the broader intellectual discourse surrounding relevant societal issues. Thank you for representing UIndy through your work. 

At the Faculty Staff Institute last August, I shared data that showed our success is defined not merely by students we recruit but also by the support we offer them to retain and successfully graduate them for purposeful careers and meaningful lives. Retention has obvious tangible and intangible benefits for UIndy–we demonstrate that our academic and support services are designed to make our students successful.  Additionally, strong retention helps improve our rankings as well as our financial goals.  

I am especially pleased to share that our commitment to retention as a key priority is beginning to show significant improvements across all student populations. Our fall-fall retention increased by more than 6% over the previous year while fall-spring retention improved consistently across all categories by 2%-6%. This success is the result of the collaborative efforts of everyone on campus and I thank you for what you do everyday to make this possible. We have an ambitious goal of increasing our first year retention to 85% by 2027. While ambitious, it is a goal we should all strive towards and I am counting on your support to make it a reality. 

Your active participation in our strategic planning process was informative, enlightening and affirming. Overall, well over 250 people participated in conversations surrounding our strategic priorities and the development of our strategic blueprint. They include faculty, staff, students, UIndy Trustees, corporate and government leaders, superintendents and presidents of area high schools, higher education leaders, and many other stakeholders from around town and across the country. I will share highlights of our findings and how it is driving our strategic blueprint at this week’s Town Hall, Thursday, February 22, at noon in UIndy Hall A. 

Relevance, innovation, focused partnerships, experiential learning, access, and international opportunities were among the themes that emerged from this conversation. After careful analysis of the input we received, we have developed the following “pillars” that will support, and be supported by, the rest of the strategic plan for the University:

• We will be a modern university defined by relevance for the learner in all our academic programs to support skills-based, experiential learning through curricular and co-curricular offerings.

• We will be a gateway for social mobility for our students and aim to be a college that changes lives.

• We will be locally rooted with a global reach and impact.

• We will serve as partners to all learners—delivering relevant education in multiple modalities, formats, and modules that are congruent with the learning preferences of our audience

• We will be a community anchor not an island, developing strong partnerships and engaging with important communities in Indianapolis and beyond. 

I hope to offer a glimpse into our strategic blueprint and some of the work that has already begun, at the Town Hall on Thursday. 

Together, we are building a future for the University of Indianapolis that is both exciting and full of promise. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work are the driving forces behind our success. 

As we build a culture of celebrating our people and our successes, one of the very first steps is to get to know the people who make UIndy a welcoming, vibrant and aspirational place. Beginning with this newsletter, we will feature an employee of the University who makes UIndy a welcoming place. I am pleased to share this month’s star attraction, Alonzo Ross, Director of First Year Programs and Retention Strategy in the Office of Student Affairs. Please head over to YOUIndy to get to know him!

Sincerely,

Tanuja

Dear Campus Community,

As we embark upon the month of February, I want to take a moment to reflect upon the significance of Black History Month and why it holds such importance for our campus community. This month is not merely a time to acknowledge the historical contributions of Black Americans; it is also an opportunity for all of us to engage in meaningful conversations, foster understanding, and work collectively towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

Black History Month serves as a reminder of the profound impact that Black individuals have had on shaping our nation's history, culture, and progress. Recognizing their accomplishments is not only an acknowledgment of the complexity and richness of our collective history but also a call to action for continued progress. While we celebrate the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans, we must also recognize that our promise of developing an equitable world is far from complete.

Black History Month provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the struggles still faced by the Black community, and to appreciate the strength, resolve and perseverance that have emerged in response to these struggles. It is a time for us to recommit ourselves to listen, learn, and support one another in fostering a community where every individual feels seen, heard, and valued.

I especially ask that we remember our distinguished alumni who exemplify the spirit of changemaking and progress. Ray Crowe ‘38 and George Crowe ‘43  left an indelible mark on the sports world and beyond. George, a trailblazer in professional baseball during a time of racial segregation, demonstrated not merely resilience but leadership, breaking many barriers for future generations. Ray, led the 1951 Crispus Attucks basketball team to be the first all-Black school to win a state-sanctioned championship in the country. He was also a renowned scholar and educator who devoted his life to promoting diversity, inclusion and representation in education. Thelma Flowers ‘61, another trailblazing alumna, dedicated her life to advocating for social justice and equality, as the first Black nursing student to attend Indiana Central College.

We are grateful to alumni like those who used the transformative power of their education to create a lasting impact on our society that was felt well beyond Indiana. As learners, scholars, and advocates, our students, faculty and staff have the power to be changemakers, advancing progress and fostering a world that embraces and celebrates all our differences.  In an increasingly divided world, this work takes on a new significance. We have not merely the opportunity but also the responsibility to foster a community that values, supports and celebrates the unique gifts that every individual brings to this world. There are several opportunities for you to engage with these ideals throughout the Black History Month and I hope that you will take advantage of these opportunities.

Let this month be a catalyst for ongoing dialogue, education, and action. And, even as we commit to these ideals, let us also remember that Black History Month is more than just a month dedicated to the ideals of a better world, it is indeed a call to build a better world.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tanuja Singh
President

Colleagues,

I hope that you had a restful and rejuvenating holiday season and that you have been staying warm! Personally, I am taking great pride in claiming that the Midwesterner in me loves this weather, but with much of winter still remaining I may be speaking too soon!!

One of my mentors and close friends, a successful individual and a great philanthropist, once told me that his work brings him satisfaction while service to the community brings him joy because it allows him to combine his skills and passion with his life’s purpose. That description has stayed with me as I have thought about how we use our skills and passion to have an impact beyond our immediate work,

At UIndy, we are particularly fortunate to offer service opportunities to students, staff, and faculty as they explore their passion to serve the community in meaningful ways. From political science students organizing voter registration drives, to the College of Health Sciences partnering with hospital systems to provide healthcare resources to those in need, to the School of Business teaching financial literacy to underserved groups, the work that the UIndy community does is demonstrably impactful. Our commitment to service guided by our focus on equity, inclusion, and social justice has led to UIndy being recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a leader in community engagement.

If you want to explore how you might use your skills and passion to serve, I encourage you to attend one of our upcoming Community Partner Fairs (January 23 from 11 to 1 PM in the Schwitzer Student Center, January 24 from 11-1 in the Health Pavilion) to learn more about the many opportunities that exist in our community. You can also visit HoundsConnect to learn more.

As we begin the new year with a renewed sense of purpose, I am pleased to share that work on the strategic plan is progressing extremely well. To date, we have received input from nearly 250 faculty, staff and students, UIndy’s Trustees, as well as a number of external stakeholders who include many of our alumni and local and national thought leaders. We are currently analyzing and assessing the data, and finalizing our priorities, goals and initiatives.

As we look to the emerging landscape for higher education, it is important that we remain focused on core innovations, adjacent innovations and transformative innovations to guide our thinking, planning, prioritizing and implementation. We will continue to share details of our emerging strategic blueprint with the UIndy community in the coming weeks and months. Thank you to all those who have provided valuable input to shape our thinking. I also want to emphasize that our strategic plan is a living document—it is a blueprint that will evolve and change over time even as it remains true to our core vision.

As I have previously shared, a comprehensive and coordinated focus on student retention and success should be elemental to anything and everything we do. A successful student retention and success strategy requires a cross-functional and campus-wide commitment involving both academic and support services to ensure that we are preparing all learners to succeed. In fall 2023, we created the President's Task Force on Student Retention and Success. This cross-functional group, led by co-chairs Chris Plouff and Amber Smith, held its first workshop on January 11. The group had in-depth discussions on current university-wide retention initiatives and best practices in higher education. It also identified gaps in our current approach. The Task Force is developing a comprehensive student retention and success plan with measurable deliverables and time-line.

I especially want to thank the following members of UIndy community for volunteering to serve on the task force: Katie Boucher (College of Education & Behavioral Sciences), Marianna Foulkrod (Center for Service Learning & Community Engagement), Riley Gibb (School of Business), Abigail Hale (Institutional Research), Karl Knapp (School of Business), John Kuykendall (College of Education & Behavioral Sciences), Amanda Miller (Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences), Travis Miller (Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences), Alonzo Ross (Academic Success Center), Gregory Smith (Institutional Research), Elizabeth Turner (College of Education & Behavioral Sciences), and Jim Williams (Strain Honors College).

I am encouraged by the progress we are making towards clearly defining our vision and our place in this rapidly changing world which requires us to be rooted in our values and remain relevant for today and beyond. I am grateful for your commitment of time and talent as we work mindfully to ensure UIndy remains an institution guided by purpose, relevance and impact.

I am sharing just a few of the many stories that remind me of the power of a UIndy education and how proud I am to call myself a greyhound.

Go Greyhounds!

Tanuja

Colleagues,

I hope your holiday season is off to a wonderful beginning. The celebrations have certainly begun on campus. I would like to thank UIndy TV General Manager Rick Dunkle and several of his students for helping produce this month's holiday message. We are so fortunate to have such talent here on our campus!

I would also like to congratulate Facilities for winning the Christmas Wreath decorating contest and Engineering for a close second place. Our winner of the "Festive" Sweater competition is Rebecka Fee, project assistant in the Center for Aging & Community! Gwen Russell, custodian on our Facilities team, and Dana Jones, senior project coordinator in CELL, were our runners up!

Our holiday gathering last week was such a delight and I was pleased to see so many of you. May you continue to have a blessed holiday season.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tanuja Singh
President

Dear Colleagues,

As we move into the holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving next week, I am truly thankful for the opportunity to serve our students, faculty, staff and alumni and ensure that the University remains rooted in its values as well as relevant for years to come.

I am thankful to work alongside all of you every day. All of you, as our talented faculty, staff and administrators, support our students both professionally and personally. I have heard numerous stories of the impact of your commitment on this institution in large and small ways. You have my deepest appreciation.

I am equally indebted to our alumni and other supporters whose financial support helps us fulfill our mission. I am also grateful to members of the larger community that includes businesses, government, not-for-profit organizations and more. They offer our students opportunities for experiential learning that include internships, clinical placements, project participation, and more.

While I know we all try to practice this attitude of gratitude all year long, there is something about this time of year that brings it to the forefront of all of our minds. That's part of what makes these winter holidays so special. I just celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights for over one billion people throughout the world. The essence of this beautiful festival is an inherent belief that light always conquers darkness no matter how long the journey and how dark the path. And it is in the same spirit that we will celebrate one of my favorite holidays—Christmas. Personally, for my first December in Indiana, I am hoping for a snowy Christmas!

I invite you to share your enthusiasm at the December 8 Faculty/Staff Holiday Breakfast in UIndy Hall. We are going to turn this breakfast up a couple notches this year by adding some festive activities, including an ugly sweater contest and a holiday wreath decorating contest. Everyone at the breakfast will have the opportunity to vote for both contests, and we will award prizes. The award winning wreath and the ugliest sweater of all will feature in my next campus newsletter. This is your opportunity to get creative! More information on the breakfast and contests will be coming soon.

Another holiday tradition at UIndy that I understand isn’t to be missed is our music department’s annual Christmas Celebration Concerts taking place on December 8 and 10 in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center. I’ll be one of their many fans in the audience and I hope you'll join me.

Lastly, let us always remember that while we are celebrating, others may be in need. School of Nursing Service Learning Practicum students are leading a campus-wide food drive to restock the UIndy Food Pantry as we head into the winter months. You can find drop-off locations as well as find out what items are most in need. The drive lasts until December 7th. Also in December, UIndy will host its annual drive to support the United Way of Central Indiana and help those community members most in need. More information from the United Way committee will be arriving soon.

Once again, thank you for all you do to make UIndy such a special place. I hope you are able to relax over the Thanksgiving break and enjoy time with those who are important to you.

Warm regards,

Tanuja

Dear Colleagues,

UIndy, Wow!

Over Homecoming weekend, our football and volleyball teams achieved two decisive victories, attendance exceeded all expectations, a record number of our junior nursing students earned their white coats, our Board of Trustees members expressed their enthusiastic support of our emerging vision, and our Art & Design department celebrated its centennial with an exhibition, reception, and ceremony. And, that was just the first week of the month! Here is a link to some of the pictures you may be interested in viewing.

At the fall Board meeting, I shared seven major priorities for UIndy with the Trustees. They are enthusiastic about our emerging vision and the way we are thinking about the future. I have promised the Trustees that I will share a preliminary version of our strategic plan with them at our March 2024 meeting. They are looking forward to contributing their thoughts in the ongoing conversations about our strategic plan. I invite all of you to participate in conversations about our future. Your input matters. You will have an opportunity to share your views through campus conversations, in small group sessions, through surveys and other outlets. 

On October 5, we celebrated our largest White Coat Ceremony for our junior year nursing students. I am grateful to Dr. Toni Morris, associate professor of nursing, and Dr. Laura Darnell, interim undergraduate program director and assistant professor of nursing, for their tireless work with our students and in creating a very meaningful ceremony. I’m also grateful to Franciscan Health for their sponsorship of the event. 

UIndy faculty and staff do important and impactful work and I want our Trustees to know more about them. At the October Board meeting, Trustees heard from two of our faculty. Dr. Karl Knapp, interim associate dean and associate professor of business administration, shared the excitement as well as concerns surrounding Artificial Intelligence and its impact on our lives. Trustees were also impressed with plans our School of Business has to incorporate Artificial Intelligence content across the curriculum. Dr. Stephanie Miller, chair of our Krannert School of Physical Therapy and program director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, presented her groundbreaking research and work on Parkinson’s Disease, especially her research investigating the importance of the role of boxing training in improving lives of people fighting this life altering disease. 

I also would like to congratulate associate dean and director of the R.B. Annis School of Engineering Dr. Ken Reid on his election to the IEEE Education Society Board of Governors for a four-year term. 

This month we also celebrated another special occasion–the 100th anniversary of the Art & Design Department– in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center with a showing of faculty and student art. Homecoming was the perfect time to invite our community to see their newly renovated spaces and the work of our students and faculty. As Thomas Merton said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and to lose ourselves at the same time.” Kudos to our UIndy artists!

While many of our staff operate behind the scenes, our entire community benefits from their hard work. From event planning to security operations to food services and more, they ensure that our events and operations look and feel Best in Class. I was reminded of their commitment to excellence as I witnessed carefully planned events around campus this month. Please know that I am grateful for your work and your love for UIndy. Thank you!

I am also pleased to note that in addition to my monthly updates, we are getting ready to launch a newsletter that will go out to our external stakeholders and supporters, informing them about the impactful and innovative work happening at UIndy. We have much to celebrate and I would love to hear more about your success and accomplishments. 

Yet, with all of the excitement on campus, we also must acknowledge that we live in troubled times. Our Celebration of Flags last week represents how our community comes together to find strength in our differences. Every mind that we broaden and enlighten becomes a potential force for good in our world. I believe that higher education today is even more crucial than ever and all of us have a responsibility to advocate for a just and equitable society and a better, more peaceful world.

As we now move into the second half of the fall semester, I thank you for your dedication to UIndy, and I wish you all the best. 

Warm regards,

Tanuja

Dear Colleagues,

I am grateful that our community has had a successful return to campus. It’s great to be here with you as the fall semester begins. This past weekend, our friends of the Jewish faith celebrated Rosh Hashanah, and I wish them a happy new year!

We clearly hit the ground running during the past few weeks. Thank you for attending last month’s Faculty Staff Institute and for your responses to our mission statement. The conversation about our mission statement is crucial because it will help us understand who we are and who we want to be. While I have heard that some of you may be thinking of it as a contest, let me assure you that it is not. It is a discernment–asking critical questions about our identity and our future is one of the most important exercises one can undertake, and I am grateful for your thoughtful responses. If you have not sent in your comments yet, there’s still time, and you may submit your mission statement comments here.

As promised at the Faculty/Staff Institute, I want us to be fully informed about the work we are doing together. I will be sending you monthly emails that I am calling “Moving Forward Together.” These emails will contain significant updates on successes, challenges, activities, and engagements that we are undertaking. I have learned much from my informal and formal conversations around campus and in the community in my short time here. I also hope that you will continue to share your thoughts and insights with me.

One of our goals for UIndy is to strengthen and grow our connection with each other and with the local, national, and international communities. September is celebrated as Hispanic Heritage Month, and our students and the Intercultural Engagement Center are planning a variety of activities, including thoughtful discussions on inclusivity in a university setting and the appropriate nomenclature surrounding Latinx, Latino, and Latine, as well as movies, trivia, and music nights. I encourage you to experience these events. They promise to be both enlightening and fun.

I am also pleased to share that as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Indy Eleven soccer organization honored our new general counsel, Cyndi Carrasco, with the Campeones de la Comunidad Award. This award is bestowed each year to peer-nominated leaders across a variety of civic and industry categories. Cyndi received her award at the club’s annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration game at IUPUI Carroll Stadium on September 2, which I was able to attend. They won 1-0 over Miami FC. Congratulations, Cyndi and Indy Eleven!

As the new face on the block, I am making it a priority to connect with business and civic leaders, community partners, our alumni and other supporters. I have already met many leaders, and I intend to continue that commitment. After all, you only get to be the new president for a few months, and I’m looking to maximize UIndy’s visibility as part of these conversations. 

It is also wonderful to see the footprint we have in the service learning area. Recently, our Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement hosted the Community Partners Fair. I had the opportunity to speak with the participants, and they were extremely grateful for our partnership, which is a testament to the value that our students bring to the organizations.

Finally, I am really looking forward to our Homecoming/Family Weekend taking place October 6-7, which will give us an opportunity to celebrate and showcase UIndy in many different ways. I hope to see you there too, and I wish you a productive and enjoyable semester. As always, please feel free to contact me at president@uindy.edu.

Warm regards,

Tanuja

Dear Campus Community, 

I write today to share our sadness and grief about the recent shooting in Jacksonville, Florida. While the violence took place in another city, it profoundly affects our community. At UIndy, we are committed to supporting and developing an environment that celebrates diversity, prioritizes equity, and embraces inclusion. It is at times like these that our resolve must be even stronger and we must come together in support of each other. We must also reaffirm our commitment to a society free of hatred, prejudice, and violence. We offer our sincere condolences to all those affected by this tragedy and offer our prayers to the entire Jacksonville community. 

We also recognize that these aren’t just isolated events, but evidence of the broader challenges facing our society. These tragic events also challenge our campus community to continue to strengthen our resolve to promote a world where diversity is a strength and where people from all backgrounds grow and thrive.

We also want you to know that we are here to support each of you during this time. Listed below are the many resources that UIndy offers. Please reach out to any of these offices to seek help. We know that we all have our own ways of dealing with grief and these resources will support you in whatever way you prefer.

Counseling Center:

If you are feeling overwhelmed, need a space to process, or need third-party support please reach out to the counseling center. Individual Counseling available by appointment. You can schedule an appointment with the Counseling Center through the online scheduling portal, by calling 317-788-5015 sending an email to studentcounseling@uindy.edu.

Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE):

OIE will be hosting a conversation on Thursday, August 31st at 11am in Schwitzer 203. Please feel free to join others from the campus community to connect with each other during this time. 

UIndy Police Substation:

Located in The Phil and Janet Terry Center for Campus Connections, Schwitzer 208B. Always feel free to stop by if you have any questions or concerns. 

As a reminder, the University of Indianapolis does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age in its programs and activities. View UIndy’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. 

Learn about bias incident reporting and protocol at UIndy. If you ever want to discuss a specific concern, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Amber Smith directly. We are here for you.

UIndy remains committed to upholding a welcoming and inclusive campus environment in which all voices are important, valued, and supported. We believe that our institution is only complete when we embrace the cultural differences and diversity within our student body and workforce. When any person or group is targeted for mistreatment or violence based on their backgrounds, identities, beliefs, or faith traditions, we are all impacted. And so, we must stand together against such acts.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tanuja Singh
President

Dear Colleagues,

Since my arrival on campus last month, you have both welcomed me and shown me the well-known and highly regarded UIndy spirit. You are an engaged, intelligent, caring, and fun set of colleagues, and you continue to impress me each and every day. Thank you for making me feel so welcome; for that, I am grateful.

As for myself, I am now becoming acquainted with our lovely campus and the faculty, administrators, students, and staff that comprise our community. While I have met with all of the academic deans, as well as with various other leaders around campus, I realize that this is just a start. Please give me time - I will continue to reach out in the following weeks and months.

Now a special shout out to UIndy’s participation in this summer’s Indianapolis Corporate Challenge, where you demonstrated your collegial (and competitive) strengths. Congratulations to all of you, especially to Garrison Carr, our associate vice president for communications, who placed first in both the 10K and 5K runs! It was a fun day, and the Greyhound spirit was visible on the field. 

I had the pleasure of meeting many of our new students and their families at New Hounds Day earlier this month, and they are excited to begin their studies here with us. Now that August has arrived, more and more students will begin arriving on campus and I look forward to meeting them all. 

I have also started meeting alumni and members of the Board of Trustees as well as corporate and civic leaders in and around Indianapolis such as Tony Denhart, the executive vice president for talent and workforce of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. All of them tell me how much they want the university to flourish and are eager to partner with us in making it happen. Connecting with our community to share our story as well as our plans for the future will remain one of my top priorities. 

Starting in October, we will begin hosting a series of small group conversations to explore our aspirations for UIndy and our thoughts on our differentiating value proposition. These conversations will help define our strategic plan as well as our priorities. I’ll share details about these plans at the Faculty/Staff Institute on August 22. 

With about three weeks until the fall semester officially begins, I hope you are able to find time to rest, relax, and dream of the great times ahead of us.

Warm regards,

Tanuja

Dear UIndy Students,

As I begin my service as president of the University of Indianapolis today, I am filled with gratitude, excitement and hope. UIndy is a great institution that is deeply embedded in the community, with a reach that extends across the nation and around the world. 

For those of you who are new to UIndy, like me, you will soon experience your first day at the University. This is an exciting time in both of our lives, filled with joy and the promise of what the future holds. For those of you returning to campus, I look forward to becoming part of the Greyhound family and getting to know you.

We care about you, and we want to see you succeed both in the classroom and in life. You have my commitment that I will work tirelessly toward enhancing UIndy as a highly respected and valued institution that delivers excellent outcomes for our students, and where we value and support our community members. Together, we will build the future – one defined by innovation, academic excellence, ethical leadership, and a commitment to making this world a better place.

While I met some of you when I was on campus in March, I hope to see as many of you as possible over the next year. We are planning events and activities for our Greyhound family, including my inauguration this fall. Keep a look out for future announcements.

When we come across each other on campus, please stop to say hello and introduce yourself. I am eager to hear about your experiences, thoughts, concerns and aspirations for UIndy. Your opinions matter to me. I also want to hear your story, what makes you love UIndy, and why it is such a special unique place to learn, grow and dream.

In addition, please share with me fun facts about the University and the city, as well as how to become a true Hoosier. Share your unique UIndy insights with me.

Best wishes for a restful and rejuvenating remainder of your summer.

Warm regards,

Dr. Tanuja Singh
President

Hello UIndy! 

Last week, I had the opportunity to be on campus, and I was truly energized by what I saw. From faculty and staff being recognized for their exceptional work at end of year events, to celebrating our alumni who give back in so many ways, to seeing the students preparing for their graduation, the excitement on campus was palpable and contagious. 

This time on campus also made me reflect on the journey ahead and what it means for all of us. We have a strong foundation that is necessary to thrive in today’s fast changing and interconnected world. I am confident that we have the necessary skills to be at the leading edge of innovation as we reimagine our place in the world of higher education. 

As I was driving around Indianapolis, I noticed signs of growth and promise everywhere. As you probably know, the Indianapolis area grew more than neighboring cities like Chicago, Cleveland, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Detroit in 2022. I am excited for us to be active participants in this growth. We want to ensure that UIndy is one of the key providers of talent to support this growth in all sectors of our economy. In speaking with business, government and community leaders in Indianapolis, I was extremely impressed by their eagerness to engage with us to create and foster partnerships that will benefit our students and our community.

We know that higher education today functions in a highly competitive and fast changing environment where it must respond to the needs of the world and the learner. As our city and the community around us change, we too must respond by ensuring that our students are well prepared for the world they are entering. We must ensure that our graduates have the skills, knowledge and commitment to transform lives and make a positive impact on the world they live in.

To the class of 2023, congratulations on your remarkable achievements! I know that you will accomplish great things. You will always have a home at UIndy and I hope to see you back on the campus to inspire those who come after you. To everyone at UIndy, I look forward to seeing you soon as we embark upon a journey to build an inspirational future together. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Tanuja Singh
President-elect