Made up of brilliant researchers and sought-after experts who instill passion in their students, Indiana University Northwest is known for making learning matter in impactful ways.
IU Northwest offers more than 70 degree programs, flexible learning options, and a supportive community that’s the most diverse of any IU campus. It’s a winning combination with faculty/student interaction at its core.
According to Vicki Román-Lagunas, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, this approach is central to the educational experience at IU Northwest. ”We think it’s important to provide students with opportunities for hands-on learning. Encouraging them to take on research projects is one way we help students pursue their passions,” she says.
The real-life work experience students are gaining is making a big impact. The research they conduct not only helps them prepare for their careers, but also contributes to major discoveries with the potential to affect millions of lives.
Students get hands-on, real life experiences in all disciplines, not just the science laboratories. Student teachers are taking their skills directly into Northwest Indiana classrooms; business students are providing counsel to local companies; dental hygiene students are working with patients in the campus’s on-site dental clinic, and more.
Another hallmark of an IU Northwest education, Román-Lagunas says, is the personal attention that happens naturally from smaller class sizes.
Students and alumni benefit from these IU Northwest strengths in various ways. Here a few of them share their experiences/personal stories:
“Because of the small class sizes, you really get a lot of one-on-one time with your professors. You get to work side-by-side with them as they work on their research in the field. The amount of research that students get to be directly involved with is amazing.”
- Dannette Williams, 2016, Biology; accepted to veterinary school
“The decision to attend IU Northwest was easy. I had the opportunity to receive an undergraduate education that was personable, commutable, and affordable, all the while determining a future career in a health-related field.”
- Mara Mladenovski, 2018, Psychology, minors in Communication and Spanish
“I don’t know if I could find the same thing at another institution. Especially for this type of experience, it gave me a sense of autonomy for taking a project, working with a professor and kind of going my own way with it.”
- Joseph Jansky, Biology student
“IU Northwest enabled me to obtain my degree from the comfort of my hometown, with the support of my family and friends, while still challenging me intellectually and providing me with opportunities for growth.”
- Dia Brown, 2017, CIS and Graphic Design
“It makes it so much nicer when you can sit in a class and you can have a dialogue between students and professors. Being in a program that is small, it makes it easier to get to know your professors and succeed at IU Northwest.”
“I definitely made the right choice in staying home. It allowed me to stay involved in my community. I was able to be involved in community organizations where if I had gone to IU Bloomington or IUPUI, I never would have had those opportunities to stay involved here.”
– Collin Czilli, 2017, Political Science; elected to Portage City Council at age 22
To learn more about IU Northwest, please visit their website at www.iun.edu/.
