Barnes to Become IWU's First Chancellor
By Alan Miller
4/4/05

Dr. Jim Barnes, who has charted Indiana Wesleyan University's journey from a nearly bankrupt college to a thriving university, will complete 19 years as IWU's president on June 30, 2006. A day later, he will become IWU's first chancellor.

Barnes, who became IWU's 10th president on June 1, 1987, announced his plans Monday afternoon to a campus-wide gathering of IWU faculty, staff and administrators. Only one president in IWU's 85-year history has served longer than Barnes.

As chancellor, Barnes will serve as an advisor to the new IWU president and will work on special projects.

"The Board of Trustees does not view the chancellor's role as being ceremonial," said Dr. Lyle Reed, Chairman of the IWU Board of Trustees. "Because of the many opportunities awaiting Indiana Wesleyan University, we see this as a meaningful and substantive role for the University.

"Dr. Barnes will continue to work on select areas of advancement, be involved in new IWU strategic initiatives as opportunities develop and take on special projects assigned by the new president and the trustees," Reed said.

Barnes' term as chancellor will extend through Dec. 31, 2009.

A search and recommendation committee, consisting of seven IWU trustees and two faculty members, will be appointed soon to seek a successor to Barnes. Reed will appoint the committee chair and will assist in the selection of the other members.

The first stage of the search process will review internal candidates and has a deadline of June 15. If no internal candidates are chosen as president-elect of IWU, the second stage will include a nationwide search with a Jan. 31, 2006, deadline.

Barnes, a native of Barberton, Ohio, earned his bachelor's degree from IWU in 1965. Since his graduation 40 years ago, Barnes has spent 26 years as a teacher and administrator at IWU - including the last 18 as president.

Barnes' wife, Tommie, also a 1965 IWU graduate, is a former elementary school principal and has taught in IWU's Education Department since 1988. Their two children, Christy (Barnes) Gaddis and Kevin Barnes, are IWU graduates.

IWU faced a dire financial situation when Barnes became IWU president in 1987. All endowment, annuity and restricted funds had been spent. During the first months of his presidency, IWU repeatedly had to borrow money to meet its payroll.

A year later, Barnes persuaded a reluctant Board of Trustees to borrow money for a new residence hall. When Carmin Hall opened in the fall of 1990, every room was filled with students.

"This calculated risk taken by the Board to borrow funds for a new residence hall paid incredible returns," Barnes said. "It set the tone for future years as the Board became increasingly supportive of an entrepreneurial culture."

What followed under Barnes' leadership were more than a dozen new buildings on the Marion campus, constructed at a cost of $150 million. While virtually building a new campus from the ground up, the IWU Marion campus remained debt free.

During Barnes' 18 years as president:

• Marion College changed its name to Indiana Wesleyan University on July 1, 1988.
• IWU enrollment increased from 1,766 students in 1987 to 11,412 students in the fall of 2004.
• IWU's annual operating budget increased from $6 million to $110 million.
• IWU employment increased from 167 workers in 1987 to 737 today.
• IWU built eight regional campuses in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky to support its adult education programs.
• IWU's endowment grew from a deficit of $1 million to $30 million.
• Two capital campaigns raised $12 million and $54 million, although feasibility studies suggested that $4.5 million and $28 million were reasonable goals.

Alan Miller is the University Relations Director at Indiana Wesleyan University.