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Community engagement is in our DNA
IU Indianapolis is inextricably connected to the world around us. Our campus covers more than 534 acres within the city of Indianapolis but our reach goes deep into the community.
Our commitment to community engagement can be seen in almost everything we do, whether we’re helping students succeed in the classroom or working to increase the well-being of our city, country, and world.
We’re here to facilitate these activities, creating and nurturing partnerships between campus and community in ways that matter.
Performance indicators for IU Indianapolis community engagement
72%First-year students participated in High-Impact Practices
68.1%student voting rate in 2020
39%students completed a course that focused on global trends or issues
59%faculty who encourage practices that connect learning to societal problems or issues
53.4%Faculty who engaged in a collaborative research project with community partners
638Classes using High-Impact Practices
78%Seniors increased their ability to contribute to the well-being of their community
81% Alumni feel IU Indianapolis prepared them to work with people from different backgrounds
$2.3Bcontributed to the region, supporting 30,551 jobs
We connect campus and community
We work with partners across the Indianapolis area to make our communities stronger, help our neighbors stay healthier, and better prepare our workforce for the future.
How? By making the right connections between community organizations and IU Indianapolis schools, departments, faculty, and students.


Engaging in key community issues
Our students, faculty and staff are engaged with the community in key issues that impact families, such as K-12 education.
Learn more about how we partner with local schools and other community organizations to invest in the success of students long before they ever step foot on campus.
Community Partner Spotlight
Our work in the community is possible through our community partners.
For more than 40 years, IU Indianapolis has been engaged with our neighbors in the Near West, a vibrant and diverse community located just west of downtown and across the White River from campus.
Making an impact in our community

Recapping the 2025 IU Statewide Community Engagement Institute
The IU Statewide Community Engagement Institute brought together faculty, staff, and students from across Indiana University campuses for a day of collaboration, learning, and inspiration. Hosted by the IU Center for Rural Engagement and the IU Office of Community Engagement, the event highlighted innovative community-engaged partnerships and explored new ways to expand impact across the state. This year’s theme: Engage Today. Impact Tomorrow.
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IU Indianapolis and Still Waters Adult Day Center: A growing partnership centered on care, learning, and community impact
Still Waters Adult Day Center, a nonprofit serving older adults in Indianapolis, partners with IU Indianapolis to support research, hands-on learning, and compassionate senior care—an ongoing collaboration that began with a single Herron School of Art and Design intern.
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IU Indianapolis, Ivy Tech, and Marian University partner with the Indiana Latino Institute to support Latinx students
The Indiana Latino Institute‘s (ILI) Pathways to Careers (P2C) program provides an innovative approach to supporting Latinx students while they are in college. Indiana University Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College, and Marian University partner with ILI to provide a cohort experience, paid internships, mentorship, and additional support to increase retention and persistence rates throughout their college experience.
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