Creating opportunities through Indiana's 21st Century Scholars program

August 31, 2021

At Indiana University, we know every student's potential is limitless. Our ongoing partnerships with the state reflect our collective commitment to higher education, creating opportunities for students across Indiana to attend and thrive at IU. 

Across our campuses, we've enrolled more than 7,000 students this fall as 21st Century Scholars, putting the dream of a college education within reach. Eligible students in the state-funded program receive financial assistance and academic resources that support them on their educational journey and keep them on track to graduate. 

They are students like Marco Bravo at IU Northwest, who was recently accepted to the IU Police Department-Northwest cadet program; IUPUI senior Easter Day, whose goal is to become a physician assistant and make a difference in the healthcare field; and Jalynn Waites, a junior who is on the pre-med track at IU Bloomington and plans to earn a degree in biology with minors in chemistry and nutrition.

Our commitment to these students and to improving opportunities to earn an IU degree are better achieved when we work toward the same goals with our state and local community partners and remain unyielding in our desire to improve. 

While the state's 21st Century Scholars program provides funding for tuition, scholars at IU South Bend are also getting a boost through the new 21st Century Scholars Success Initiative. Developed through a partnership with the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, the initiative seeks to increase the number of students from low-income households who achieve employment by completing post-secondary degrees.

At IU Bloomington, 21st Century Scholars can take advantage of the new Connect & Thrive initiative, which connects students to mentorship, community and support through a mobile-app-supported program. The 21st Century Scholars Covenant, a supplemental financial aid award, takes the program even further by covering the cost of books, room and board, and other expenses. 

These vital partnerships and our unwavering commitment to educating, mentoring and preparing our students for careers during their time at IU are strengthening Indiana's workforce and empowering our students to reach their full potential. 

I'm looking forward to building on this work and getting even more creative about how we can unlock opportunities to make an IU education even more accessible for all Hoosiers. 

Pamela Whitten

President 
Indiana University