New industry-leading Kelley co-op to link students with Indiana’s premier companies

The Kelley School has done it again.

The state’s top school of business is launching an innovative way to earn an undergraduate degree from our Indianapolis campus that will change the landscape for students and the state of Indiana.

Beginning next fall, the Kelley School of Business at IU Indianapolis will launch an undergraduate co-op program where students will combine traditional classroom learning with onsite work experience at Central Indiana’s leading companies. While traditional co-ops often take five or more years for students to complete, students in the new Kelley Indianapolis Business Plus Co-op can graduate in four years, get a jump start on their career and contribute to a growing pipeline of top business talent.

Reflecting IU’s commitment to student success and the economic vitality of our region, the new co-op also demonstrates how IU continues to evolve to meet the needs of our students and our state.

Students in the program will alternate semesters between course work and full-time paid work. They will apply what they learn in real time through hands-on, real-business experiences, including consulting projects, job shadowing, and internships. By identifying high-performing students earlier in their college careers, Central Indiana businesses will be introduced to top business talent, reducing the time and resources needed to attract and train permanent employees.

The co-op joins Kelley’s rich array of program offerings and national distinctions, including the elite traditional programs at our flagship campus in Bloomington and online degrees. Not only does U.S. News rank Kelley’s undergraduate program at IU Bloomington first in the state, but eighth nationally. This is in addition to the Kelley online MBA degree and Master of Science in Business program ranking first in the nation by U.S. News, while the Kelley Direct Online MBA program is ranked first in The Princeton Review.

With the city as its campus, Kelley Indianapolis has a rich history of engaging industry partners. This co-op program is yet another example of how IU is preparing students for rewarding careers and partnering with the state’s leading businesses to build a robust and reliable workforce pipeline that truly positions Indiana as a global economic powerhouse.

Pamela Whitten

President
Indiana University