With a new academic year underway, Indiana University Fort Wayne is celebrating important and exciting new developments as it strengthens and amplifies its mission of developing the next generation of health professionals. These developments include growing enrollment numbers for the Fall 2023 semester, with a total undergraduate enrollment of 965 students – a 5.7% increase from 2022.

In addition to overall enrollment growth, IU Fort Wayne’s ongoing, intentional efforts in enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in student enrollment and retention are helping generate desired results. For the fall semester, students of color make up 33% of the student population, an 18.3% increase from the previous academic year.

IU Fort Wayne is the only university in Northeast Indiana with a singular mission to educate and develop highly qualified health professionals for high-demand roles through exceptional and inclusive educational opportunities, with an organizational focus on health equity. 

IU Fort Wayne Assistant Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Operations David Chappell said, “We are proud to highlight IU Fort Wayne’s positive trajectory and will continue to focus on developing highly qualified health professionals. In a region where healthcare is the second-largest employment sector in the region, IU Fort Wayne’s mission and role as a pipeline for skilled health careers is vital to the region’s continued growth and success.”

Dr. Deborah Garrison, who became Inaugural Vice Chancellor and Dean of IU Fort Wayne in July 2022, said, “There are so many reasons to be excited about the future of IU Fort Wayne, beginning with this academic year as we continue to chart the way forward for health and wellness in Fort Wayne and beyond. From the beginning, it’s been inspiring to me to see how IU Fort Wayne’s mission and vision align with the significant healthcare needs of Northeast Indiana. I am thrilled about how we will continue to expand our reach to meet the needs of this amazing city and region.”

Shortly after assuming the role of vice chancellor, Garrison conducted an extensive listening tour that gathered input from more than 250 constituents including faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners. The input formed the foundation of  IU Fort Wayne Forward and ultimately the IU Fort Wayne 2030 Strategic Plan which prioritizes student success and opportunity, transformative research and creative activity, and service to the state of Indiana and beyond.

“While established in 2018, IU Fort Wayne is built on the IU tradition of excellence that spans more than two centuries,” Garrison added, “which is why we are dedicated to being a constant partner in visioning for growth, embracing our community, and educating the next generation of health professionals for our region.”