Indiana University East received the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce Achievement of Excellence, Non Profit, Growth and Expansion award at its annual dinner held Jan. 24, 2014.

“I am both delighted and honored that IU East was selected for this award,” said Chancellor Kathryn Cruz-Uribe. “We are proud that we are graduating record numbers of students at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. With more than 80 percent of IU East graduates remaining in our service region, we have a tremendous impact, and it is an honor to receive recognition for our efforts.”

The award recognized IU East’s continuous enrollment growth since fall 2007. IU East has increased enrollment by 96.6 percent, bringing the campus to an historic enrollment of 4,456 students this past fall.

The award also recognized IU East’s development of a Master of Science in Management program. Two cohorts have graduated since the program was established, providing graduate degrees to 37 M.S.M. professionals throughout the region. The campus now have five graduate programs including the M.S.M., Master of Science in Education, Master of Social Work, Master of Science in Nursing, and the recently added Master of Arts in English.

In 2013, IU East graduated a record 550 IU bachelor’s degree graduates, compared to 150 bachelor’s degree graduates in 2005.  More than 80 percent of IU East graduates remain here in eastern Indiana and western Ohio to live and work.

The award also acknowledged the campus’ plan for a new Student Events Center addition to Springwood Hall and its successful fundraising campaign.  The facility will promote student success through a comprehensive offering of co-curricular opportunities and be the home of Red Wolves athletics, and it will host a variety of events and programs throughout the year, including academic offerings, recreation, student life, and cultural programs.

In 2013, the Chancellor Installation Ceremony of Kathy Cruz-Uribe, the sixth chancellor of IU East, took place in Richmond’s Historic Pennsylvania Railroad Depot building. The event, themed “A Steward of Place” to symbolize the university’s deep commitment to the community and region it serves, was the first time in the nearly 200-year history of Indiana University that the installation of a chancellor was held off campus in the community.

IU East is an economic engine for eastern Indiana as a 2012 report conducted by Tripp Umbach, a leading economic development impact analysis firm, showed. According to the annual economic report, IU East’s impact on the region is $52.9 million through employment, contributions and volunteer service within the community.

Part of IU East’s mission is to contribute to the cultural and economic development of the communities it serves. IU East recently opened its new downtown art center, Room 912, which includes an art gallery, classroom, and studio space. The center, located at 912 East Main Street, opened to the public on January 31, 2014, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a live carving of an ice wolf sculpture as part of Richmond’s “Meltdown Winter Ice Festival.”