Access, Success, and the Future

The First Ten Years1998-2008

10th Anniversary Commemorative Issue

STAFF NEWSLETTER

The First Ten Years1998-2008

IUPUI, located in the capital city, is Indiana’s premier public urban university and serves as the intellectual hub of Indianapolis and central Indiana. University College opened in 1998 in the center of the IUPUI campus and has served as the academic gateway for all entering students for the last ten years. On February 25, 2009, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of University College, and we had much to celebrate! The programs developed and provided by the faculty, academic advisors, administrators, and staff of University College have coupled access with success to ensure that all IUPUI students and their families

IUPUI is observing its 40th year in 2009 and will celebrate its

accomplishments all year long.

are warmly welcomed to the campus and are supported in reaching their academic goals. These efforts have helped to significantly increase the retention rates for entering students and have also made a substantial contribution to the rising graduation rates for the campus. Our University College family renewed its commitment to offer all entering students access to the campus, support for success in their transition to the university community, and our pledge to continue to provide state-of-the-art programming and academic policies that will help ensure the achievement of all entering IUPUI students in the future.

Order of Events

AccessScott Evenbeck

SuccessBarbara Jackson, Associate Dean Emerita of University College

FutureWilliam M. Plater, Director and Chancellors Professor, Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of Faculties Emeritus

CommunityAlyssa Saunders, Records Assistant for University College

10th AnniversaryCelebration Program

“Other than being a speaker, I was speechless over the whole event. It was overwhelming, really.”—Alyssa Saunders

WelcomeScott Evenbeck, Dean of University College

Opening RemarksCharles R. Bantz, Chancellor

MusicThe composer of the music, “Jazz Celebration,” is David Baker, Distinguished Professor of Music at the IU Jacobs School of Music.

“UCOL staff did an awesome job! The decorations looked great, and it didn’t feel like we were just on the 1st floor. The music was very nice, and the speakers did a great job.”—Brenda Earl

Keynote SpeakerSuperintendent Eugene White, Indianapolis Public Schools

VideoChris Harden, IUPUI graduate, former student mentor, and creator of the 10th Anniversary video. Chris was the 2008 Top Male Student at IUPUI.

Over 250 people attended the ceremony.

Greeters for the special guests.

Musicians PerformingJohn Vander Gheynst—trumpet

Michael Stricklin—Alto SaxophoneRob Dixon—Tenor Saxophone

Ned Boyd—Baritone SaxophoneKevin Anker—Piano

Ethan James—BassKenny Phelps—Drums

The Bust of Joseph T. Taylor

Taylor’s “devotion to creating opportunities for higher education in this dynamic and diverse city made him one of the visionaries that helped shape what is now considered a model in urban higher education—IUPUI,” said Chancellor Charles R. Bantz during the ceremony.

Unveiling and Closing RemarksCasey Eskridge, SculptorMrs. Hertha Taylor and Uday Sukhatme, Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties

Chris Harden unveils the Scott Evenbeck Student Emergency Fund.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties, Uday Sukhatme

In May 2008, the campus building previously called “University College” and originally built to house IUPUI’s first library, was named “Joseph T. Taylor Hall.”

We asked some members of the staff who have been here since University College began, “What do you think has been the biggest change in University College over the last 10 years?”

“I would say the biggest change that I have seen in the past 10 years is that we have grown so much. We have added many areas: Student Support Services, Honors, Upward Bound, 21st Century Scholars. And Orientation and Bepko Learning Center now have many more employees.” —Pauline Graf

Dear Dean Evenbeck,

Some of the fondest memories I have of my childhood are of my father reading to me. My father truly understood the magic that books possess. He spoke to me many times about the power of the printed word to transport the spirit and transform the mind. He was a witness that books could change the world.

And so, I feel there is a bit of poetic justice that a bust of his likeness would be standing sentry over a library bearing his name.

My thanks to IUPUI for this wonderful acknowledgement of my father’s contributions to this great university.

Sincerely,

Meshach Taylor

“The biggest change I see is the addition of staff members and programs. When I worked here in the 90s we were called the Undergraduate Education Center and had far fewer staff members.” —Barbara Lingle

“The biggest change is the growth in staff and programs.” —Gayle Williams

“I’m amazed at how large we have gotten and how much we do on such a limited budget.” —Helen Davis

This document is courtesy of the E-Staff news team and team leader, Melissa Eltzroth. Pictures are courtesy of Peter Stamenov and John Gentry.

Changes From Our Growth

Barbara Lingle greeting Virginia Brandenstein, former secretary to Dean Taylor

Joseph Taylor’s son, Meshach Taylor is an Emmy Award-nominated actor who is known as Anthony Bouvier on the former sitcom Designing Women. Below is a thank-you letter to University College dean, Scott Evenbeck, from Meshach:

Copyrighted 2009 IUPUI University College

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