IU Indianapolis is inextricably connected to the world around us. Our campus covers more than 534 acres within the city of Indianapolis but our reach goes deep into the community.
Our commitment to community engagement can be seen in almost everything we do, whether we’re helping students succeed in the classroom or working to increase the well-being of our city, country, and world.
We’re here to facilitate these activities, creating and nurturing partnerships between campus and community in ways that matter.
72%First-year students participated in High-Impact Practices
68.1%student voting rate in 2020
39%students completed a course that focused on global trends or issues
59%faculty who encourage practices that connect learning to societal problems or issues
53.4%Faculty who engaged in a collaborative research project with community partners
638Classes using High-Impact Practices
78%Seniors increased their ability to contribute to the well-being of their community
81% Alumni feel IU Indianapolis prepared them to work with people from different backgrounds
$2.3Bcontributed to the region, supporting 30,551 jobs
We work with partners across the Indianapolis area to make our communities stronger, help our neighbors stay healthier, and better prepare our workforce for the future.
How? By making the right connections between community organizations and IU Indianapolis schools, departments, faculty, and students.
Our students, faculty and staff are engaged with the community in key issues that impact families, such as K-12 education.
Learn more about how we partner with local schools and other community organizations to invest in the success of students long before they ever step foot on campus.
Our work in the community is possible through our community partners.
For more than 40 years, IU Indianapolis has been engaged with our neighbors in the Near West, a vibrant and diverse community located just west of downtown and across the White River from campus.
For generations, the Martindale-Brightwood community, located northeast of downtown Indianapolis, has defined itself by resilience, pride, and strong community connections. IU Indianapolis has stood alongside Martindale-Brightwood, not as an occasional visitor, but as a consistent partner in the neighborhood’s work to shape its own future.
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What is the secret to helping youth who are new to the United States successfully transition from school to the workforce? A recent study confirms it is about much more than just job training. It is about “barrier-busting”—a holistic approach that addresses a person’s fundamental needs to create a stable foundation for career growth.
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This summer, 50 middle school students from across Marion County experienced college life at IU Indianapolis Kids College! For two weeks, students explored STEM, arts, healthcare, community leadership, and more, supported by IU faculty, staff and student counselors.
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Three IU Indianapolis Office of Community Engagement staff members—Silvia Garcia, Director of Research and Assessment; Latosha Rowley, program manager; and Jim Grim, former director of community and school partnerships—embarked on a project to develop the Partner Survey, a tool that captures community voices and perceptions of engagement outcomes, allowing the community to define what matters in community-university partnerships.
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At the annual Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence, IU Indianapolis recognized faculty, staff, and partners whose work exemplifies the campus mission. Among the many awards presented, several specifically honored outstanding community-engaged work, celebrating those who build meaningful partnerships, foster student learning beyond the classroom, and strengthen quality of life in Central Indiana and beyond.
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Through the Level Up with Literacy program at Christamore House Family & Community Center on Indianapolis’ near west side, students served as tutors and mentors this spring, supporting K-12 learners and their caregivers in the Haughville Strong neighborhood. The program, part of the IU Student Success Corps and supported by a grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, helps expand educational access and strengthen community partnerships.
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2025 Last Lecture with Susan Hyatt, Professor Emerita of Anthropology
IU Indianapolis Campus Center Theater - 420 University Blvd Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Susan Hyatt, Professor Emerita of Anthropology in the School of Liberal Arts, has been selected as the 2025 IU Indianapolis Last Lecturer.
2025 Last Lecture with Susan Hyatt, Professor Emerita of Anthropology
IU Indianapolis Campus Center Theater - 420 University Blvd Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Susan Hyatt, Professor Emerita of Anthropology in the School of Liberal Arts, has been selected as the 2025 IU Indianapolis Last Lecturer.
2025 Last Lecture with Susan Hyatt, Professor Emerita of Anthropology
IU Indianapolis Campus Center Theater - 420 University Blvd Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Susan Hyatt, Professor Emerita of Anthropology in the School of Liberal Arts, has been selected as the 2025 IU Indianapolis Last Lecturer.
