Message from President Pamela Whitten

March 8 marked the end of Indiana’s 2024 legislative session, which saw state lawmakers address a wide variety of issues impacting the Hoosier state. Of the 739 bills filed over the two-month session, 172 passed both chambers, and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed the majority of those into law.

Crucially, Indiana University worked to shape new legislation, respond to lawmakers’ requests for data and insights, and proactively collaborate with lawmakers on proposals that might impact IU’s mission of academic and research excellence. Several bills and amendments passed with IU’s support. These include:

• Preserving the 21st Century Scholarship and Frank O’Bannon Grant to ensure it continues to use its funds strictly for Title IV financial aid programs. (HB 1001).
• Allowing four-year campuses to explore the feasibility of offering associate degrees to students who wish to complete their education at this level (SB 8).
• Highlighting an existing federal site, rather than creating a new database, to help students and families evaluate the return on investment on attending college (SB 48).

Multiple bills passed this year contain various requirements for our state universities (e.g., expanded data reporting). Our legal and government affairs teams are currently assessing the requirements included in the most notable new law, Senate Bill 202, including its language regarding faculty tenure. As we determine a course of action that ensures compliance with state law, we will work collaboratively to seek faculty input. Any steps required for legal compliance will include and affirm our values of intellectual rigor and academic freedom. Our academic processes of review for hiring, renewal, tenure and promotion will continue to be applied.

This year’s legislative session provided us with an opportunity to highlight for our state’s elected officials the extraordinary momentum we are generating in pursuit of our goals—as guided by the IU 2030 strategic plan—to ensure student success, pursue research and creative activity that transforms lives, and strengthen the economic and cultural vitality of our state. In the weeks and months ahead, we are determined to increase our partnership with our elected officials, both statewide and federally, in making Indiana more prosperous, healthier, safer, and more secure.

We have made it clear that our contributions to the State of Indiana are as robust and impactful as ever, and I am tremendously optimistic that IU and Indiana will remain firmly on a path of innovation, progress, and transformation.

Pamela Whitten

President
Indiana University