Strengthening student enrollment is particularly important as the number of high school graduates begins to decline and as competition among 4-year institutions for student enrollment increases. IU Fort Wayne must broaden and diversify key strategies aimed at stabilizing and expanding enrollment through improved retention, and attractive and relevant academic programs.

• Objective 1: Expand academic offerings through new or related majors, degrees, certificates and more
  Increase new academic offerings by 50% over the strategic planning period above the current 12 offerings.
• Objective 2: Increase awareness of IU Fort Wayne throughout Northeast Indiana
  Repeat market research study in 2026, increase leading awareness indicators over baseline from the 2021 market research study by 30%.
• Objective 3: Enhance student support services to extend beyond traditional students
  Disaggregated retention rates by demographic (TBD) and establish campus-level retention to that within top 25% of peer institutions.

IU Fort Wayne enrolls a diverse student population commensurate with the diversity of our region, and equity and inclusion undergird everything that we do. It is critical that we continually work to improve equity and inclusion across the student experience. Doing so will benefit all students, and employees, and will be particularly beneficial to individuals from historically marginalized groups.

• Objective 1: Improve diversity among faculty and staff
  Utilizing OEO reporting – Increase employee diversity characteristics to meet or exceed OEO benchmarks across the term of the strategic plan.
• Objective 2: Increase level of IU staff/faculty engagement in campus training programs dedicated to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) needs
  Increase the number of IUFW dedicated DEI focused programs per year from one to at least three.
  Increase staff/faculty participation rate in campus DEI programs by 50% from (TBD).
• Objective 3: Identify and strengthen levels of student participations in DEI related campus programming and service
  Increased levels of DEI program student participation via card swipes at events by 50% from (TBD).

It has long been understood that student success is rooted in an enjoyable and supportive student experience. Engaging student life and an equitable campus experience will form the foundation of our student retention efforts and ultimate level of student success.

• Objective 1: Increase student engagement outside of the classroom
  Increase the annual rate of student involvement in events to 80% from (TBD).
• Objective 2: Increase faculty/staff engagement with campus events
  Increased rate of faculty/staff involvement in events to 85% from (TBD).
• Objective 3: Creation of student-centered space for IU Fort Wayne students
  Increase Sq footage commensurate with SB growth from current level of 28,000sq ft./900 UGSB.

Enhancing retention and improving on-time graduation will strengthen student enrollment, and ultimately support the region’s workforce needs.

• Objective 1: Build a sense of campus identity and belonging
  Via student survey data - Improve survey results in areas of belonging by 25% from (TBD).
  Increase IU student event participation in student government and student lead organizations by 25% from (TBD).
  
• Objective 2: Provide robust student mentoring opportunities
  100% of freshmen and first- generation students offered mentoring.
  Attain graduation and retention rates within that of top 25% peer-institutions.
• Objective 3: Improve early alert system/process
  Establish a PFW to IUFW early warning system or process by Fall 2024.
  Attain retention rates within that of top 25% peer-institutions.
• Objective 4: Develop a bridge program for incoming first-year students to engage at an earlier point
  Pilot a bridge program by fall 2024, building out for all incoming freshman students by 2026.

The classroom environment and learning experience play a critical role in student satisfaction and success. IU Fort Wayne strives to ensure faculty have the resources and knowledge needed to provide a robust and innovative learning experience for all students.

• Objective 1: Improve and increase integration of IPE (Interprofessional Education)
  Increase IPE credit hours by 50% from (TBD).
  Each IUFW student will engage in a minimum of one IPE experience each academic year.
• Objective 2: Broaden available trainings for facultyEstablish/link a minimum of one training program each semester to foster faculty engagement with best practices in curricula, pedagogy, and inclusive teaching practices.
  Increase faculty participation in trainings by 30% from (TBD).

IU Fort Wayne is uniquely positioned to exploit some of the industry’s emerging and best practices regarding high impact experiences. With our focus on degrees in the health professions, IU Fort Wayne will leverage opportunities of inter-professional education, service learning, and cultural immersion.

• Objective 1: Grow Service-Learning opportunities for all students
  Increase Service-Learning credit hours and hours engaged in activities by 30% from (TBD).
• Objective 2: Broaden IPE offerings to engage more students and across more disciplines
  Increase IPE credit hours offered/taken by 25% from (TBD).
  Each student will participate in at least one IPE experience per academic year.
• Objective 3: Enhance professional and cultural immersion for students to broaden their exposure and understandings
  Increase number of available experiences per academic year by 25%.
  Increase number of student hours engaged in related activities by 25% from (TBD).

Student success is often measured through student career outcomes following graduation or their desire to continue to higher levels of education. IU Fort Wayne is committed to positive student outcomes and will work to ensure every student reaches their end goal, be that further education or joining the workforce in their chosen health-related field.

• Objective 1: Identify and strengthen employment/further-education rates amongst graduates
  Via “First Destination Survey” or other tracking method, attain job placement rates greater than that of top 25% of peer institutions.
• Objective 2: Improve licensure and certification rates
  Maintain licensure and certification exams pass rates within those of top 25% of peer institutions and greater than or equal to state/national averages.
• Objective 3: Integrate community engagement and service learning into academic programs
  Each IUFW graduate will have a minimum of three community engagement/service-learning experiences over their academic career.

IU Fort Wayne, in its current state, is primarily dedicated to undergraduate education. To be relevant in our market and to attract students, we need to expand our graduate offerings. This will also expand our ability to meet workforce needs at another level.

• Objective 1: Add additional graduate programs that support the academic mission of the campus
  Add a minimum of three new graduate programs in alignment with workforce needs during this strategic plan period.
• Objective 2: Develop infrastructure to support future graduate programs
  Establish staff positions to support graduate study commensurate with the number of programs and graduate student body.

Community-engaged research highlights the relevance of collaborative scholarly endeavors. With the focus on health professions education, IU Fort Wayne is uniquely positioned to collaborate with community partners and contribute to studying and addressing identified community public health issues.

• Objective 1: Engage in research regarding critical community public health issues that are aligned with the expertise of faculty at IU Fort Wayne.
  Based on community needs, complete and disseminate, one to three research studies over the term of the strategic plan period.
• Objective 2: Cultivate relationships with community stakeholders to promote public dissemination of scholarly activities
  Establish at least three mechanisms of dissemination across varied stakeholders.
• Objective 3: Enhance interdisciplinary work and collaboration across schools related to research projects
  Establish at least one new or continuing interdepartmental collaboration project per year.

The expansion of faculty development and support in research fosters enhanced scholarly contributions from not only faculty, but also students. Through building an outstanding research reputation, IU Fort Wayne will attract and retain exceptional faculty and students.

• Objective 1: Increase faculty professional development opportunities
  Meet with faculty no less than annually to review and guide needs and opportunities; each faculty member will have an individualized development plan.
• Objective 2: Identify and develop support for faculty to increase research skills and engagement
  Meet with faculty no less than annually to review and guide needs and opportunities; all applicable faculty will have an individualized research plan.
  Increasing number of completed and ongoing research studies aggregated across the campus by 25%.

High-impact transformational research has the potential to impact current understanding and practices. Research related to best practices in well-being, health care, and health education will strengthen the impact of IU Fort Wayne’s research on the members of our community and beyond.

• Objective 1: Develop research related to best practices for the enhancement of the health and well-being of Northeast Indiana
  Increase number of research programs related to best practices by 20%.
• Objective 2: Establish the Boyer model as a framework to promote the scholarship of teaching and learning research
  Increase number of pedagogical research initiatives by 20% from (TBD).
  Increase IUFW grant applications for educational research by 20% from (TBD).

Efforts to improve health research for diverse populations open up a broader range of perspectives, approaches, and research initiatives. Increasing DEI research at IU Fort Wayne will expand research areas and impact a broader range of the population.

• Objective 1: Increase research initiatives focused on DEI related to healthcare or campus environment
  Increased number of projects/studies focused on DEI related issues by 20% from (TBD).
  Increased number of women and underrepresented persons with internal/external research funding by 20% from (TBD).
  Maintain Campus Climate Survey results in areas pertaining to DEI at or above stated benchmarks.

In order for institutional research activities to flourish, appropriate infrastructure is vital. To cultivate a robust research program, IU Fort Wayne must enhance the availability and use of information technology and develop physical space for the purpose of research.

• Objective 1: Improve research productivity of faculty by promoting awareness and providing appropriate IT resources where required
  Via survey, increase IUFW satisfaction with internet and IT responsiveness related to research needs by 20% from baseline (TBD).
  Increase number of grants, publications, and presentations by 30%
• Objective 2: Build/procure new infrastructure to connect existing faculty research and scholarship communities to expand research opportunities
  Identify faculty needs for space to support research and scholarship.
  Create IU research and support space and expand commensurate with increasing research activity.

Translating research into practice results in benefits to people. Establishing partnerships for product development and entrepreneurial ventures will afford IU Fort Wayne the opportunity to put research into clinical practice.

• Objective 1: Identify sources of funding and expertise to support translation of bench and pre-clinical health research
  Expand number of partnerships, collaborations, products developed by 15%.
• Objective 2: Provide education opportunities for faculty on the process of innovation (I), translational research (TR) and entrepreneurship (E)
  Increase the number of faculty education opportunities by 25%.
• Objective 3: Develop educational course offerings for students focused on biomedical innovation (I), translational research (TR), and entrepreneurship (E)
  Increase number of student courses (or components) related to research by 50%.
• Objective 4: Support faculty entrepreneurship through partnership with area universities and businesses
  Expand the number of partnerships, collaborations, and products developed through entrepreneurship by 10%.

Since 2004, when the Missing Persons: Minorities in the Health Professions Report of the Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce was published, there has been a national emphasis on the importance of increasing the diversity of the healthcare workforce to reflect the diversity of the population receiving care. Inequalities in healthcare are recognized in Healthy People 2020 through the social determinants of health. IU Fort Wayne is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of the diverse populations we serve.

• Objective 1: Embrace a strong culture of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) to attract and retain students, faculty, and staff
  Incrementally increase campus diversity by 10% over term of this strategic plan.
• Objective 2: Partner with community-based organizations to enrich student experiences aligned with healthcare disparities and social determinants of heath
  Via DEI Taskforce, quarterly recommendations for new, continued, or enhanced community relationships will evolve.

Northeast Indiana is a growing region, and the Fort Wayne metropolitan area has been the fastest growing in the Great Lakes/Midwest region over the past two years. The population is growing as a result of domestic migration from other areas and has a strong history of attracting immigrants and refugees. From 2011-2016, 24.7% of the population growth was attributed to immigrants. These individuals add to the fabric of a region that was founded by European immigrants, thus adding to the richness of our population, and underscoring the need for cultural competence, awareness of determinants of health, and a global perspective at the local level.

• Objective 1: Strengthen campus-wide understanding of social determinants of health, explore how these concepts are at play across Northeast Indiana, and focus curricula and programming to increase health and well-being
  Increase number of students, faculty and staff participating in learning opportunities related to social determinants of health by 25% over current level (TBD)
• Objective 2: Identify and serve unique needs of rural, urban, domestic, and international students at IU Fort Wayne
  Increase rural practicum/internship sites and affiliation agreements by 20%.

• Objective 3: Promote and advance cultural understanding throughout the IU Fort Wayne campus
  Increase/link number of cultural understanding learning opportunities made available by 25%.

IU Fort Wayne seeks to lead in the education of health professionals for the Northeast Indiana region. Healthcare is the second largest employment sector in the region with significant gaps between the need for health professionals and the supply of educated and credentialed individuals. Evidence demonstrates that awareness of the multiplicity of health careers is not evident to students. Additionally, students tend to make career decisions based on what they know in middle-school, and because an emphasis on a college preparatory high school education with a strong science and math basis is required for post-secondary education in the health professions, IU Fort Wayne is dedicated to partnering with the K-12 public and private school systems to promote the health professions as a career choice.

• Objective 1: Increase IU Fort Wayne visibility and presence in, and enrollment from, public and private K-12 school corporations in Northeast Indiana
  Incrementally increase enrollment from NE Indiana regional high schools by 5% or more over the current enrollment number (TBD).
• Objective 2: Develop partnerships and/or initiatives between IU Fort Wayne programs and K-12 educators
  Increase number of collaborations/activities with K-12 entities by 10%.

The health outcomes for the State of Indiana are in significant need of improvement. The Centers for Disease Control demonstrate that the age adjusted deaths for Indiana from the 10 leading causes of mortality are greater than the rate for the United States as a whole, and the infant mortality rate is 6.75 per 1000 births, with only eight states with worse outcomes. IU Fort Wayne, as a leading educator of health professionals, is positioned to address the health and well-being of our region.

• Objective 1: IU Fort Wayne will serve as a leader by graduating increased numbers of health professionals to serve Northeast Indiana and beyond
  Increase graduation rate to rival top 25% of peer institutions.
  Increase annual size of graduating undergraduate classes by 5% year over year from our 2022 volume of 160 students.
• Objective 2: IU Fort Wayne will emphasize the advancement of health and well-being through co-curricular activities and programming
  Increase number of impactful programs offered to the community related to health and well-being by 50% over the current number of four per year.

Healthcare is the second largest employment sector (behind manufacturing) and a significant shortfall in supply is present currently and is projected to worsen over the next decade. IU Fort Wayne, as a leading educator of health professionals, is positioned to address this workforce need. Factors have been found that impede this capacity, including lack of awareness of IU Fort Wayne’s status since the 2018 realignment of Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). The creation of a new health professions university continues to need amplification so this institution of higher education can reach its potential to contribute to this significant shortfall of health professionals.

• Objective 1: Optimize the visibility of IU Fort Wayne to foster growth and serve the Northeast Indiana region
  Navigate barriers to external signage showing IU Fort Wayne’s presence on the campus.
  Install signage at strategic locations to assure evidence of IU Fort Wayne’s presence on campus.
• Objective 2: Create more opportunities for students to advance the Indiana workforce in the health professions through educational pathways
  Expand the number of new or emerging partnerships/pathways by 25%.
• Objective 3: Develop focused opportunities, and marketing and outreach plan to non-traditional students, including non-degree continuing education programming
  Incrementally increase enrollment of non- traditional, adult, second career and second-degree students by 5% over the 2022 base of (TBD).
  Offer a minimum of one Continuing Education program per year.