For Indiana University East the past year has brought many celebrations, accomplishments and memorable moments.  As the new year begins, IU East reflects on 2017.

Memorable Moments, Events and Celebrations
IU East continues to be an innovative leader in online education. In June, a book collaboratively written by 42 faculty members, across 25 disciplines, was released to share the wealth of experience and knowledge IU East faculty have gained in designing and instructing online courses. The book, “Best Practices in Online Teaching and Learning across Academic Disciplines,” was released in August. The book continues to gain attention. This November, Inside Higher Ed published a book review on the text.

The Indiana East School of Nursing and Health Sciences was granted continuing accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) through spring 2025 for its baccalaureate programs. The ACEN visited IU East for its site review on February 8, 2017. The school received notification of the decision in August.

Assistant Professor of Physics Wes Tobin talks about the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21.

As the start of the fall 2017 semester began, IU East faculty, students and the community had an opportunity to participate in a rare event – the Total Solar Eclipse – on August 21. Wes Tobin, assistant professor of physics, lead a viewing event on campus and livestreamed the eclipse for others to watch. Additionally, he provided educational for the community through a Q&A and talked with local media to help provide education and resources to learn more about the event.

In April, IU East hosted the IU Board of Trustees monthly meeting in the Student Events and Activities Center on Lingle Court.

Renovations on Whitewater Hall Lobby started May 30 to enhance the space, improve the energy efficiency and technology. Through the renovations, vestibules were added to the main entrances to help maintain the temperature. The glass windows and doors lining the lobby were replaced with double-pane insulated glass and LED lights were installed to help cut costs and improve energy efficiency. The First Bank Richmond Tech Zone is a new addition that features a 13×9 foot IQ-Wall, a large display of tiled flat screen monitors. The wall was installed by IU East University Information Technology Services (UITS). The project was completed by Whisenhunt Construction, Inc., this December.

Two new online degree programs in informatics and applied health science were added to IU East’s portfolio in June. The degree programs are in collaboration with Indiana University Online, and jointly includes IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend and IU Southeast.

Record Breaking Numbers
The 46th Commencement Ceremony held in May was a milestone for IU East. The campus conferred 811 bachelor’s and 65 master’s degrees, a significant increase for IU East and marked the university’s highest number of graduates in a given year. During the ceremony, IU East presented its 10,000th diploma.

Enrollment for the fall semester also presented record breaking numbers for the campus. Census for the fall semester was announced in September. IU East maintained a strong enrollment with a fall headcount enrollment of 3,490 students. IU East set increases in enrollment figures in certain demographics, such as a record number of graduate students enrolled and the campus set a record enrollment for students of Hispanic/Latino, Asian American and two or more races.

Gifts
Through the year, IU East received generous support from the community, alumni, faculty and staff.

Most recently, IU East announced a $375,000 gift from First Bank Richmond during the Chancellor’s Medallion held November 3. The gift provides support for the IU East arts program, Red Wolves’ athletics, scholarships, Campus Life programs and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The gift will also continue First Bank’s tradition of providing a matching gift on IU Day.

In recognition of First Bank Richmond’s support of the campus, IU East will dedicate the First Bank Richmond Community Room in Whitewater Hall on January 9, 2018.

Paul Kriese

First Bank Richmond also showed its support of campus on IU Day in April by providing a $10,000 matching gift opportunity for alumni and friends of the campus. IU Day is a 24-hour, binge-watching, social-sharing, IU-wearing, online celebration of Indiana University and the people who make IU possible. The 2018 IU Day is slated for April 18.

In February, IU East announced the largest gift from a member of the faculty to the campus and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Paul Kriese, professor emeritus of political science, endowed a $625,000 gift to fund scholarships for the Honors Program; Criminal Justice and Social Sciences programs; the Paul Kriese Scholarship for Service Engagement; and the Paul Kriese Humanities and Social Sciences endowed fund. Kriese taught at IU East for over 30 years, all the time emphasizing equality, justice and achievement. The gift is his way to continue that legacy.

A community partnership with IU East and Richmond Parks and Recreation led to the dedication of Kyle Tom Courts this year. The newly renovated tennis courts at Glen Miller Park were dedicated April 15. Tom, a native of Richmond and realtor with Lingle Real Estate, said the gift was a way to give back to the community and help support the local attractions and city assets. The courts were named in recognition of the philanthropist’s generosity to the university and community. Tom’s donation allowed for the courts to be resurfaced, new windscreens were installed and the parks departments repaired the outer fence, removed old storage buildings and added new signage.

Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe and Gene Cruz-Uribe created the “Gloria & Joseph Allwarden and Lillian & Antonio Cruz-Uribe Scholarship,” a $100,000 endowed scholarship. The gift was announced in April and honors the support of their parents, who instilled in them the belief that higher education is the key to a better life. In addition to recognizing the encouragement they received from family, the Cruz-Uribes are honoring their heritage by supporting the spirit of immigration that is so central to American values. They believe this is achieved through higher education because it leads to a stronger future for individuals and their communities.

The Cruz-Uribes previously announced a $50,000 gift in August 2016 in support of the Student Events and Activities Center. To recognize their generosity, the campus dedicated the Chancellor Kathryn Cruz-Uribe and Eugene Cruz-Uribe Interactive Classroom located in Springwood Hall in September.

Rob and Nancy Tolley endowed a $30,000 gift to establish the Anne Szopa Scholarship to recognize how instrumental she was in developing the Women’s and Gender Studies and Sociology programs at IU East. Szopa passed away in November 2013. She was an associate professor of sociology. Tolley, now retired, was a senior lecturer of Sociology and Anthropology. The Tolley’s wanted to support students through scholarships and programs by establishing the scholarship.

Greg Braxton-Brown, dean of Southeast Indiana Programs and a professor of management, endowed a $25,000 gift to IU East to establish a scholarship in the name of Tim Scales, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, director for the Center for Economic Education and senior lecturer of business administration for the School of Business and Economics. The gift, announced in April, will support scholarships for undergraduate and/or graduate students interested in entrepreneurship.

In September, the former alumni director for the campus and alumna Bette Davenport announced a $25,000 gift in recognition of IU East’s mission and to encourage others to give. The Bette G. Davenport Alumni Scholarship was established to enable students to complete their education without the financial stress.

IU East announced that Terry Wiesehan, alumni director, endowed a $133,000 gift to create three scholarships: the Terry Hawkins Wiesehan Women’s Athletics Scholarship; the Hawkins-Wiesehan Memorial Scholarship for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; and the Terry and Rick Wiesehan International Travel Scholarship. Wiesehan is an alumna of IU East and feels a close connection with the university and its alumni.

This December, IU East dedicated the Reid Health Wellness Zone. The dedication held December 4 was in recognition of Reid’s support of the campus and the Student Events Center. The $100,000 gift supports the campus’ health and educational services that are vital components of maintaining a good quality of life.

Remembering legacy and leadership
IU East mourned the loss of Professor Emeritus of History George T. Blakey, Jr., Ph.D., who passed away October 9. Blakey was granted tenure with IU East when the campus was established in July 1971. He was the first faculty member at IU East to reach the rank of full professor.

Along with the late IU East Chancellor Emeritus David Fulton, Blakey helped draft the first faculty constitution for the faculty senate. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Campus Library archive collection. He was the first recipient of the IU East Alumni Association Award in 1977 and the first IU East faculty member to earn an IU system-wide award, the IU Distinguished Teaching Award in 1981. Blakey was also a 2001 Chancellor’s Medallion recipient. A memorial service for Blakey was held in Vivian Auditorium in November.

Dorothy Thorman

A longtime friend of the university was remembered for her contributions to campus. Dorothy Thorman, a longtime supporter of Wayne County youth and higher education, passed away in August. Thorman established the Graf Recreation Center in Springwood Hall in remembrance of her parents, John and Corinne Graf, and the John and Corrine Graf Professorship at IU East. Her contributions to IU East were in honor of her parent’s active support of local youth and she felt that education was the best memorial. Within the same week, IU East announced that Rosalie Aldrich was appointed to the John and Corrine Graf Professorship. Aldrich joined IU East as an assistant professor of communication studies in fall 2011.

Accomplishments and Recognition
The campus celebrated its fifth Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) graduate. Sloane Stephens was presented with her Bachelor of Science in Communications degree at IU East’s Student Events and Activities Center. Stephens is one of 18 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) players enrolled at IU East through an educational agreement between the campus and the women’s professional tennis organization. IU East and the Women’s Tennis Benefits Association have an agreement that establishes IU East as the primary provider for baccalaureate online degree completion programs for WTA players.

IU East Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe and Executive Director of Academic Affairs Michelle Malott present Sloane Stephens with her B.A. in Communication Studies degree.

She is one of five WTA players to graduate under the agreement. Also graduating this December is Katalin Marosi with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. IU East alumnae include Venus Williams, Alla Kudryavtseva and Irina Falconi. Stephens was presented with her diploma by IU East Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe and Executive Vice Chancellor Michelle Malott.

This August, IU East faculty member Steven Petersheim received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to teach at Belarusian State University through December 2017. Petersheim, an assistant professor of English, is the second faculty member at IU East to receive a Fulbright scholarship. He is one of more than 800 Fulbright Scholars conducting research, teaching or providing expertise abroad during the 2017-18 school year. The scholars are considered unofficial ambassadors for their nations.

In September, Indiana University inducted David and Marilyn Fulton, Charlie and Jeanetta Nelms, and Bill and Felicia Quigg to the IU Presidents Circle on September 1. They were inducted by IU President Michael A. McRobbie and IU Foundation President and CEO Dan Smith in recognition for their philanthropy, strong support and dedication to IU East and IU at the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington, Ind. There were 161 individuals inducted into the prestigious donor recognition society, which honors individuals whose lifetime giving to IU has reached $100,000. New members were presented with a personalized medallion cast with a portion of the original carillon bells that once rang in the IU Bloomington Student Building. In addition, their names were added to the honor wall in the Indiana Memorial Union.

This November the Chancellor’s Medallion recognized three individuals for their service to the university and within the community. This year’s Chancellor’s Medallion honorees – Greg Crider, Angie Dickman and Shaun Dingwerth – rendered distinguished service to IU East.

Also during the Chancellor’s Medallion dinner three individuals were inducted into the IU East Alumni Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates the outstanding alumni of IU East. Inductees were Don Day, Timothy R. Frame and Regina McConnell. Inductees to the Hall of Fame are alumni who have typified the IU East tradition of excellence and brought credit to the campus through their personal accomplishments, professional achievement and leadership and humanitarian service and citizenship.

Red Wolves Athletics
Both IU East basketball teams won River States Conference tournament championship games on February 28. The women beat Indiana University Kokomo 71-59 to cap the first season on the Red Wolves’ new Lingle Court. The men won 78-69 at Indiana University Southeast – the program’s first NAIA-era wihttp:// http://www.iueredwolves.com/article/4164.phpn at IU Southeast.

March brought several accomplishments for the Red Wolves.

On March 4, Seth Reynolds became IU East’s first track and field All-American with a sixth-place finish in the 60 meter hurdles at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Johnson City, Tenn.

The women’s basketball team reached the Sweet 16 at the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship with an 85-80 victory against Purdue University Northwest. It was the Red Wolves’ first win at the national tournament. The game was held March 9.

The men’s basketball team reached the Elite Eight at the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship for the second consecutive season on March 10. IU East is one of just two NAIA Division II programs in the nation to reach the Elite Eight at the national tournament in each of the past two seasons.

The women’s tennis team reached the River States Conference tournament championship match on April 29.

The volleyball team won the River States Conference tournament championship on Lingle Court this November.

The men’s tennis team received the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team Award, the NAIA “national championship” for sportsmanship and community service. The award was announced June 7.

The first-year men’s soccer team earned its first win with a 4-1 decision at Lincoln Christian University on September 2. The Red Wolves finished 9-9-2 in the program’s debut season.

The first-year women’s soccer team defeated the University of Cincinnati Clermont College by a 3-0 score at Centerville High School for the program’s first victory on September 7. The Red Wolves earned wins or draws in 10 of 17 matches in the program’s first season.

The women’s golf program concluded back-to-back tournament championships with a victory at the Earlham College Fall Invitational on October 1.

The men’s soccer team earned a 2-2 draw at then-No. 3 University of Rio Grande on October 5. The result ended a 33-match home winning streak for Rio Grande that extended back to 2014.

The men’s golf team took first place at the River States Conference Fall Preview in Union, Ky. on October 10.

The volleyball team won the River States Conference tournament championship on Lingle Court to earn its sixth trip to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The match was held November 11.

Ashley Toschlog and Cole Dudley represented IU East at the NAIA Cross Country National Championship in Vancouver, Washington, on November 18. Toschlog ran five of the top eight times in school history during her sophomore season, including a school-record time at the national meet.

IU East women’s basketball senior Tia King appeared in the “Faces in the Crowd” feature of Sports Illustrated magazine on December 4. King was recognized for becoming the first Red Wolf basketball player with 2,000 NAIA career points.