Recognized for campus diversity

Indiana University Northwest was recently included on U.S. News and World Report's annual rankings of national and regional universities, prominently placing on the list of top regional universities for campus ethnic diversity. IU Northwest ranked ninth in the Midwest and 59th in the nation. The category recognizes campuses where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial and ethnic groups different from their own.

This fall, 52 percent of the student body at IU Northwest are students of color, earning the Northwest campus the title of, once again, being IU’s most diverse campus. Hispanic/Latino students represent a record share of 27 percent of the undergraduate students, followed by 18 percent African American undergraduate students.

"Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in Northwest Indiana and thus we are a deliberate reflection of our local communities," said Chancellor Ken Iwama. "When students come to IU Northwest, they are welcomed by a campus that understand their needs and is committed to their success. Additionally, experiencing diversity in all of its dimensions is critical to the development of all students to prepare them to effectively engage in an increasingly diverse society and workforce.”

Diversity = Commitment to Success

Iwama points to the school's vast array of support resources and services for students, and the strong faculty-student bond, as key reasons for its success in attracting and retaining all students, including students of color.

“For more than two years, IU Northwest has been proud to be designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), a prominent distinction—within our region and country—that allows our campus to apply for grants and other means of support designed to strengthen our commitment to engaging our students, and the broader community, in high-quality teaching and scholarship,” Iwama said.

As a result of the HSI designation, IU Northwest recently received a $5 million grant to increase the number of Northwest Indiana students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The funding is assisting IU Northwest in creating a STEM Resource Center, increasing the campus’s collaboration with Ivy Tech Community College, the development and addition of new coursework and undergraduate research opportunities, and more.

IU Northwest is the only public, comprehensive institution of higher education in Indiana to hold the HSI designation.

To review U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings, visit www.usnews.com/best-colleges.