Bloomington Leader

Indiana University (IU) is making a $75 million investment to enhance its engineering academic programs at IU Bloomington. This initiative aims to create new degree programs, upgrade facilities, and hire faculty, focusing on fields such as computer engineering, robotics, bioengineering, nanoengineering, and microelectronics, among others.

IU President Pamela Whitten commented on the investment, stating, “The significant investment we are making to expand our engineering offerings will prepare our students for high-paying jobs while also creating talent pipelines that fuel innovation and drive economic growth.” Whitten emphasized the university's ongoing evolution to meet student and state needs.

The Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering plans to introduce these new programs alongside existing degrees in intelligent systems engineering, with some available as soon as next year. At least 10 new faculty members will be recruited within a year, as part of IU’s Faculty 100 initiative, with further faculty hires planned. IU Bloomington will provide new wet labs and computer labs to support the expansion.

IU Bloomington's Provost Rahul Shrivastav stated, “This milestone is just the latest in our relentless pursuit of academic excellence, which is at the heart of everything we do at IU Bloomington.” Shrivastav stressed the necessity of evolving programs to meet the demands of an ever-changing world.

The programs, pending approval from the IU Board of Trustees and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, will emphasize hands-on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration, with industry partnerships playing a key role. Joanna Millunchick, dean of the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, noted, “We are redefining technology and innovation by keeping humanity firmly at the center of everything we do.” She highlighted the integration of emerging fields with strengths such as artificial intelligence and digital humanities, equipping students with vital skills to address global challenges.

The initiative is part of IU's broader strategy to adapt its academic offerings in line with student interests, following the introduction of 11 new degrees across various schools in 2024.