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Distinctives
of Indiana Wesleyan University
1. Christ-Centered
University Experience
To imitate and learn from Jesus Christ
- this is the goal of every course, lecture, service and activity
at IWU.
Jesus Christ is at the heart of IWU. IWU’ mission statement
attests to its commitment to Christian higher education: "Indiana
Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered academic community
committed to changing the world by developing students in character,
scholarship and leadership." All of IWU’ faculty and staff
are committed Christians desiring to use their God-given skills,
experiences and passions to help IWU provide a high-quality
Christian education to men and women of all ages.
No matter what the degree program, be it undergraduate or graduate,
site-based or online, or traditional or adult course material,
faculty lectures and subject matter are selected, presented
and discussed based upon the Christian worldview.
All traditional freshmen take a course that outlines the Christian
faith from an evangelical perspective, and engages them in Christian
service projects.
Outside the classroom IWU promotes Christlikeness through:
- regular worship, chapels and special speakers
- Summit Week, a week dedicated to spiritual renewal
- prayer sessions and Bible studies
- local, domestic and international mission trips
It is IWU’ leadership desires that its students apply the Christian principles
they learn to their professional and personal lives to the glory
of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
IWU’ Residential Campus
- All freshmen take World-Changer course
- All freshmen attend Summit Week services emphasizing
spiritual renewal once each semester
- Surveys of first-time freshmen indicate the number
one reason for choosing IWU is the spiritual atmosphere
- Required chapel services meet MWF and feature faculty,
students and nationally-known speakers such as John Maxwell,
Josh McDowell and Ken Davis.
IWU’ Adult Programs
Chaplaincy
program meets spiritual needs of adult students
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2. Academic Excellence
Scholarship at IWU is more than distinguished
academics; it is the high quality of work that is expected
from students and faculty members.
IWU is continually analyzing the world students will be entering
after graduation to determine what enhancements must be made
to the overall academic experience to better prepare its graduates
to be "world changers." Thinking critically, communicating
effectively and writing persuasively are skills all IWU students
must learn to accomplish great things in their profession for
Jesus Christ.
IWU is committed to providing its students with the solid academic
foundation they need to excel in their chosen vocation. IWU
faculty are highly qualified, annually receiving national and
international recognition for their research, writings, creativity
and performances. Many hold leadership positions in their discipline’
national association.
IWU provides more than 70 undergraduate and eight graduate degree
programs. IWU is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission* and is a member of the North Central Association.
Several specific programs are accredited by
separate agencies, including the following:
- Education: National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Music: National Association of Schools of Music
- Nursing: Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education
- Athletic Training: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- Social Work: Council on Social Work Education
- The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Also, the baccalaureate degree in nursing program is approved by the Indiana State
Board of Nursing and The Indiana Professional Standards Board certifies state
licensure for graduates of IWU’ education programs.
With a student-faculty ratio of 17:1 and small class sizes in
our APS programs, IWU is committed to giving its students the
individual attention they require to excel. Faculty members
set a standard of knowledge and critical thinking that is above
other schools, and works with their students to develop thinking
processes that are necessary to
change their world for Jesus Christ.
*Higher Learning Commission:
http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org or call 312-263-0456.
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3. Life Calling and Leadership
At IWU, students discover their purpose
and calling in life, not just a career. A life calling that
is part of God’ greater purpose for His creation.
Life Calling is a larger issue than selecting a major, choosing
a job, determining an occupation, or planning a career. It is
more than just an external knowledge of career assessments and
paths. It is a clear understanding that who and what a person
is forms the very purpose God created that person. This, then,
becomes the foundation for making life decisions…such as
a choice of major or a career.
IWU’ newly-formed Center for Life Calling and Leadership provides
students with biblically-based "life coaching" that
leads them through a life-calling discovery process that helps
them with:
grasping what life calling really means
discerning their life calling
knowing they have a purpose and understanding where they are going
taking steps appropriate for this level of their lives
being effectively trained to flourish in a career consistent
with their life calling
developing the life tools necessary to continue exploring
and making decisions concerning their life calling, and continuing
the process for life
At IWU, leadership is equated with serving - a leader is one
who uses his God-given abilities to serve and develop others.
Positional leadership must be preceded by personal leadership…a
strong character base that allows the person to lead from the
foundational value of servanthood. The true leader is self-aware,
authentic with others, and operates from a basis of truth, integrity
and ethics.
At IWU’ Center for Life Calling and Leadership
qualified staff help students discover that who and what they
are forms the very reason for their existence. Armed with this
awareness and an understanding that as Christians they are to
follow Christ’ servant leadership example the students are
poised to develop their leadership skills.
Every person has the capacity to lead. Each possesses unique
gifts to be used in serving others. Some have the capacity to
lead large groups, while others possess the ability to connect
with a person who will only grow if they receive individual
attention. No matter the number of followers or wherever God
places them each person is called to use his
or her skills, experiences and passions to lead others.
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4. Qualified and Caring Faculty
IWU’ faculty are committed to providing their students with the highest quality Christian higher education possible. They go beyond teaching and advising to mentoring and discipling. Year after year, students say the combination of academic excellence, Christian commitment and caring attitudes of IWU’ faculty made their education priceless. The majority of IWU’ approximately 200 full-time faculty have earned doctoral degrees. IWU faculty are recognized as some of the best in their respective disciplines, including:
- authors ranging from technical textbooks to children’ literature,
- national conference speakers,
- an acclaimed illustrator,
- Carnegie Hall vocalist, and
- the co-inventor of the heart defibrillator.
On the IWU campus faculty go beyond teaching the prescribed course material. IWU faculty believe in their students’ potential. They are committed to bringing real-world principles into the classroom. The 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio enables IWU’ faculty to work with their pupils individually, encouraging them to excel and mentoring them into leaders. IWU’ Adult & Professional Studies program has recruited more than 1,000 faculty members to teach life changing, career preparatory courses. Each facilitator brings to bear his or her personal experience in their teaching, transforming theory into practical real-world skill development.
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5. Innovative Culture
IWU has the creative people, financial resources and visionary
leadership to take advantage of the opportunities created by
our fast-changing world.
Possibly the trait that sets Indiana Wesleyan University apart
from other Christian universities the most is its strong commitment
to innovation. God has brought to IWU’ creative faculty and
staff the financial resources that allow them to "push
the envelope" in delivering college courses to learners
from many walks of life.
IWU leadership is committed to maintaining an environment where
creativity and forward thinking flourish. Faculty and staff
are encouraged to not only critically evaluate how the school
is currently performing, but are also rewarded when they develop
innovative approaches to teaching and service.
Traditional faculty are encouraged to try new and creative ways
of accomplishing course objectives. Through grants, sabbaticals
and incentives resources are available to faculty to develop
new and better ways of keeping students abreast of the latest
trends, techniques and research.
The success of IWU’ Adult & Professional Studies program
has made IWU the model many Christian and secular universities
work to imitate. Curriculum, course delivery and student services
have all been specifically assembled with the adult student’
needs in mind.
IWU is a leader in higher education in providing effective new,
unique delivery systems. IWU’ new delivery systems make it
possible for more students to take college courses without becoming
a resident student (see 7. Diverse Delivery Systems).
IWU offers an innovative learning assistant service. Through a software
package created at IWU potential college students are able
to evaluate the degrees universities in their community offer,
and apply, register and enroll online.
In another program IWU has partnered with local, state and federal
agencies to help "at-risk youth" prepare for
college life while still in elementary and high school. Through
federal grants, IWU has fully staffed and managed two
programs, "Upward Bound" and "Academic Enrichment,"
which identify high school and fourth-grade students, respectively,
who are likely to not go on to college. IWU secondary education
majors tutor these students weekly in their own schools, and
provide at no charge activities and educational opportunities
on IWU’ campus during summer months that prepare them for their
transition into college life.
Another program, "Vision Athena," uses technology to connect high school students in various locations to live IWU classrooms. This program allows current high school students to interactively experience college coursework while remaining in their current setting.
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6. Outstanding Facilities
and Learning Environment
The university’ visually striking 300-acre main campus in Marion is located near Interstate 69, about an hour from both Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. Classes are taught at other Indiana education centers in Columbus, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis (north and south), Kokomo, Merrillville and Shelbyville. The university also has three education centers in Ohio (Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton) and two in Kentucky (Lexington and Louisville).
During the past two decades, $200 million in new construction and renovation have transformed IWU into a debt-free, ultra-modern, student-focused, high-tech university. Since 1987, 46 construction projects have been completed, including 20 residence halls, 16 academic/administrative buildings and 10 adult and professional studies structures. The following crowning facilities on the Marion campus represent the university’ commitment to holistic student formation:
- Jackson Library, the academic heart of the university, houses more than 110,000 bound volumes, 200,000 micro formats, and 650 journal subscriptions. The library’ impressive two-story rotunda is home to the university’ "Society of World Changers," where busts of inductees are displayed. Focus on the Family founder James Dobson is the most recent world-changer to be honored.
- Williams Prayer Chapel, the spiritual soul of the university, provides a peaceful, aesthetically appealing sanctuary for personal prayer, reflection and meditation.
- The Student Center, the social hub of the university, offers a full range of student life services and features including a cinema, coffee house, entertainment center and dining options. In the fall of 2006, a $16 million expansion was completed that renovated 20,000 existing square feet and added 66,000 square feet of new space.
- A multi-purpose Recreation and Wellness Center, the physical core of the university, features multiple gymnasiums, weight rooms, a swimming pool, climbing wall and other personal and corporate conditioning amenities.
- The Phillippe Performing Arts Center, the cultural center of the university, seats 1,200 for chapel, concerts, recitals and theatrical performances. This acoustically engineered building was awarded the Gold Citation for exceptional architectural design.
- New Academic Building: Indiana Wesleyan University’ newest Academic Building is a three-story,
state-of-the-art facility that provides 65,000 square feet of learning spaces.
The first and second floors are home to the Division of Modern Language, Literature, and Communication. The first
floor is dedicated to Communication Arts facilities, including IWU’ radio station, WIWU-FM; The Sojourn, IWU’
award-winning campus newspaper; theatre and digital media classrooms; and WIWU-TV 51, serving the IWU and Marion
communities.
The second floor is home to the MLLC division offices, and language and literature centers, complete with computer
labs, writing center, reading center and modern language labs.
The third floor houses faculty offices and classroom facilities for the Division of Behavioral Sciences. This floor also features a counseling lab complex and a psychology lab.
This $12.5 million facility provides 17 classrooms, six specialty learning labs, two lecture halls, two computer
labs, and 50 faculty and staff offices, spaces where IWU students can gain academic knowledge and professional
skills, pursue scholarship, experience fellowship, and prepare to influence the world.
In addition to new construction, the stately John Wesley Administration Building, built in 1894, has been completely restored and stands as a symbolic connection to the university’ rich past.
The following buildings have been either constructed or renovated since 1987:
Residence Halls (20 structures)
Cox Court (1990)
Phillippe Court (1990)
Eastburn Court (Razed 2000)
Carmin Hall (1992)
Evans Hall (1995)
Hodson Hall (1997)
Townhouses - 5 Structures + Community Center (1998-99)
Reed Hall (1999)
Kem Hall (2001)
Scripture Hall (2001)
New Hall (2004)
Student Lodges - 3 structures (2005)
Townhouse (2006) - In Progress
Academic / Administrative Buildings (16 Projects)
Beard Arts Center (1992)
Graduate Counseling (1994) - Razed 2005)
Phillippe PAC (1994)
Student Center (1994 Renovation)
Alumni Center (1997)
Maxwell Center (1998)
President’ Residence (1998)
Recreation & Wellness Center (1999)
Burns Hall (2000 Renovation)
Prayer Chapel (2001)
Student Center (2001 Renovation)
Jackson Library (2003)
Goodman Hall (2003 Renovation)
John Wesley Administration Building (2003 Renovation)
Student Center (2006 Renovation)
Academic Building #1 (2007)
APS Projects (10 Buildings)
STAR APS (Renovated 2001)
AGS Administration Center (2005)
2 Indianapolis Education Centers
Fort Wayne Education Center
Kokomo Education Center
Cleveland Education Center
Shelbyville Education Center
Louisville Education Center
Cincinnati Education Center
Merrillville Education Center
Greenwood Education Center
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7. Diverse Delivery Systems
IWU is focused on meeting the learning needs of America’ diversified student population. As the American culture changes, adults’ life-styles limit their ability to fit secondary education into their full daily schedules. Accessibility and convenience have become major factors in an adult’ decision about whether and where they go to college. As a result IWU has successfully implemented two major degree delivery systems which have made IWU one of the fastest growing universities in America.
Since 1920 IWU has been providing quality, Christian education to traditional students on it campus in Marion, Ind. God has blessed the school with record enrollment for the past 18 years in IWU’ traditional semester-based format.
In 1985 IWU enrolled it first students in a new program specifically designed to meet the life-style needs of working adults. During the next 20 years IWU’ adult programs rapidly expanded to 9,000 students in more than 90 locations throughout Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
In 1996, IWU began offering degrees and courses on-line. Today, more than 2,000 students are enrolled in online programs.
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8. Service Oriented
Serving means showing Christ-like compassion towards others
-- a focus that is exemplified by IWU faculty and staff and
promoted among its students.
Because serving is an integral part of Christianity, each year
IWU students, faculty and staff serve others in the local community
and around the world.
During the 2000-2001 school year IWU students contributed 15,000
hours to Grant County area programs. Approximately 100 IWU employees
are involved in their communities, volunteering in 33 different
programs.
IWU offers many programs to help within its community. For example,
the Graduate Counseling Clinic provides free counseling service
area residents including the Thornburg
House, a maternity and mentoring home for young mothers in downtown
Marion.
Beyond our local community during the 2001 summer break IWU students, faculty, and staff went on nine different mission trips. Through IWU the love of Christ and the Gospel reached
people groups in Alaska, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Honduras, Malawi,
Mozambique, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Ukraine and along the Gulf Coast of the U.S.
In recognition for how well IWU has consistently blended athletics
and the Great Commission through outreach efforts both locally
and abroad the National Christian College Athletic Association
gave IWU’ Athletic Department in recent years has received the National Christian College Athletic Association "Sports Ministries Award."
IWU faculty and staff believe the mission of IWU is fulfilled
through its students. IWU is not only committed to academic
excellence in the classroom, it is also committed to providing
with excellent services to every student.
Students enter higher education with little knowledge of the
most aspects of college life. What students are expected to
know in the areas of financial aid, residential life and course
and degree selection can be complicated and contain many interwoven
steps. Each department starts with this fact in mind as it determines
what services students need and how they want to receive them.
IWU employees consistently and systematically evaluate and review
the services their department provides to each student so areas
of improvement can be identified and enhanced. For example,
IWU’ Adult & Professional Studies staff now deliver financial
aid materials, career service counseling, text books, course
materials and class registration directly to all APS students so they aren’t inconvenienced with traveling to multiple locations at multiple times to handle the business aspects of getting their college degree.
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9. Rapidly Growing Enrollment
With a current enrollment at nearly 14,800 students, IWU is the largest institution in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and the largest private university in the state of Indiana.
- IWU has experienced 20 years of record enrollments
- Total enrollment has increased more than 840 percent from 1,766 to almost 14,800
- All three IWU colleges are experienced record enrollment in the fall of 2007:
Enrollment in the College of Adult & Professional Studies programs has increased more than 1,300 percent , from 711 students in 1987 to nearly 11,000 in the fall of 2007.
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10. Financially Sound
Future
The future at IWU is bright. The university has experienced a remarkable transformation during the past two decades. Much of this can be attributed to a consistent ethos of fiscal accountability. Since 1987:
- The annual budget has increased from $6,000,000 to $125,000,000.
- Unrestricted giving has grown from $148,000 to $1,334,000.
- Capital campaigns of $12 million and $55 million were completed when
feasibility studies suggested goals of $4.5 million and $28 million were realistic.
- Grants totaling $35 million have been secured.
- For 18 consecutive years, the budget has balanced.
- The endowment has grown from a deficit to $35 million.
To God be the glory for the great things He is doing!
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