For Indiana University East the past year has brought many celebrations and accomplishments including the installation of the campus’ sixth chancellor, continued record-breaking enrollment and many events connecting the campus to the community. Here’s a look in review at the most memorable moments from 2013 for IU East.

This fall, IU East celebrated its 17th consecutive term of enrollment growth with a record-breaking 4,456 students enrolled for courses, representing a 6.5 percent increase compared to fall 2012. Since fall 2007, the campus has 96.6 percent more students attending classes on campus and online.

With the continuous enrollment growth, IU East needs more space for classrooms, offices and events. In August 2013, the campus launched its community-wide “Save My Seat” program to raise the remaining funds for the Student Events Center. With all the funding now in place, the project was approved by the Board of Trustees at its October meeting and campus officials hope to break ground on the project in fall 2014.

The campus launched its public campaign, “Bold Aspirations: The Campaign for the Student Events Center,” in October 2012 to raise the remaining money needed for the project.  The facility will promote student success through a comprehensive offering of co-curricular opportunities and be the home of Red Wolves athletics, host a variety of events and programs throughout the year, academic offerings, recreation, student life, and cultural programs.

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences opened a new gallery space in downtown Richmond to house an art gallery, individual studios for faculty and students, and a classroom. IU East announced the creation of the gallery, Room 912, in the fall and will provide an opportunity for the university and community to continue to develop partnerships and to launch community-based initiatives that focus on the arts.

Community partnership and involvement is a primary focus at IU East. One example is the “One Book, Many Voices” project to foster a campus and community discussion about themes in and ideas inspired by a common text in an effort to develop camaraderie, inform knowledge, and inspire action towards positive civic engagement and improvement. This year’s project focused on the book Wine to Water by Doc Hendley, who visited Richmond in November to speak with the community on global water issues and positive action to make a difference.

IU East partnered with the Positive Place Initiative brought over 250 people together from the community for BOOST (Building On Our Strengths Together) in January to create and BOOST the community conversation about taking action and creating a more vibrant community. The Positive Place Initiative is one of several projects that have grown out of the Richmond Mayor’s Council on Economic Vitality. The group is composed of business, community, and political leaders to identify the area’s best opportunities for economic advancement and find solutions to problems that stand in our way.

In February 2013, IU East and Indiana University announced the selection of the campus’ sixth chancellor, Kathryn Cruz-Uribe. Chancellor Cruz-Uribe started her duties July 1, 2013. Previously she was the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Monterey Bay. She and her husband, Gene, who is a professor of History at IU East, live in Richmond.

Chancellor Cruz-Uribe began her first days on campus meeting with students, faculty, staff and those in the community to develop a shared vision for the university with the goal to keep the enrollment trajectory moving forward as well as focus on student success and to develop a plan that will keep IU East ahead of the changes coming in higher education.

Also in February, IU East announced the addition of its 11th National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) varsity program. The women’s basketball program officially begins with the 2014-15 school year but recruitment by head coach Tiffani Selhorst has been ongoing through the summer and fall. In November, the Red Wolves announced the first 11 signees to the program. The team includes two current IU East students and nine high school seniors with another commitment expected in December.

At the start of March, IU East announced its second spring concert. The university and the Student Activity Advisory Team presented the Neon Trees in concert April 11 at the Richmond High School Tiernan Center. The nationally-known band has found success with hit singles “Animal” and “Everybody Talks.”

IU East was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in March 2013. The honor roll, by the Corporation for National and Community Service, designates the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. IU East’s programs with the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County, Girls Inc. of Wayne County, and Conversations with Seniors as part of the “One Book, Many Voices” project and in collaboration with the Area 9 Agency were recognized through the award. There were 775 IU East students who engaged in academic service-learning or community service programs in 2012.

In May, the first IU East Academy for Cultivating Talent completed its first program “Carry It Forward: Creating Networks and Pipelines for Women Leaders.” The program focused on creating pipelines for women to leadership positions in business and civic engagement and working with professional women in mid-level or senior-level positions who are poised to make a difference in their organization and community. The program was established with a grant by the Indiana University Women’s Philanthropy Council. The academy is a part of the Center for Leadership Development under the School of Business and Economics.

The 42nd Commencement Ceremony brought a record-breaking number of diplomas awarded at IU East. The awarding of the degrees was a significant increase for IU East and marked the most awarded in the school’s history.  The Class of 2013 received 560 bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The highest number of Honors Program graduates were also awarded degrees. During commencement, the first graduating cohort in the Master of Science in Management program received their diplomas.

The online degree completion programs at IU East are attracting students across the region, state, nation and internationally. The online program offers students the opportunity to earn a high-quality Indiana University degree at the convenience of the student’s work and family schedule.

An exciting partnership between IU East and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) was announced in August during the Western & Southern Open tournament held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Ohio. IU East and the WTA agreed that the university is the primary provider for baccalaureate online degree completion programs for WTA players. IU East is a leader in the delivery of high-quality online programs, offering 10 options for students who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree online.

In September, IU East was named as a Military Friendly School by Victory Media Inc., the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2014 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus. IU East also helps its veteran students through the Student Veteran’s Organization which assists student service members in all areas of potential difficulty, particularly those related to academic success, the transition into civilian life and continuing military obligations.

IU East’s Homecoming 2013 in October brought together the campus and community during several events. Traditional events were held on campus as well as new events held in Richmond’s Historic Depot District including IU East’s first parade and a Block Party following the Installation Ceremony of Chancellor Cruz-Uribe. The Installation Ceremony was held at the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot. The theme of the ceremony, “A Steward of Place,” symbolized the university’s deep commitment to the community and region it serves. The event marked the first time in the nearly 200-year history of Indiana University that the inauguration of a president or installation of a chancellor has not been held on a campus.

IU East was named a Five Star NAIA Champions of Character institution for the sixth consecutive year. IU East has been named a Champions of Character institution every year since joining the NAIA.

The celebration continued in November as the Red Wolves had student-athletes competing in two national tournaments. The volleyball team played in its fifth consecutive National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Championship Opening Round. The Red Wolves lost to Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, in the opening round held November 23.

Two men’s cross country team members advanced to compete in the NAIA Cross Country National Championships Nov. 23. Seth Prince and Collin Burris traveled to the national tournament held at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan. Prince matched the fourth-fastest time in school history.