02 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. — A Hoosier basketball legend will help Indiana University Kokomo kick off the public phase of its Inspire Power campaign, raising funds for the Milt and Jean Cole Family Wellness and Fitness Center.

Milt and Jean Cole Family Wellness and Fitness Center GroundbreakingIndiana Basketball Hall of Fame member Ted Kitchel will be the featured speaker at the Inspire Power dinner and silent auction. Kitchel, a Cass County native, played on the 1981 NCAA champion Indiana basketball team.

Interim Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke invites fans and campus supporters to attend the dinner, at 6 p.m. Monday, October 8, in Alumni Hall.

"We need everyone in our region to help us build this key educational resource," she said. "The Milt and Jean Cole Family Wellness and Fitness Center will change the culture at IU Kokomo. As a member of the campus family for many years, I can feel the excitement, as the project becomes a reality. The students and faculty have been waiting a long time for a place to gather and work out."

Tickets to the dinner event, which starts at 6 p.m., are $50. There are a limited number of $75 tickets that include a cocktail reception with Kitchel at 5 p.m.

Kitchel looks forward to seeing many familiar faces during his visit to Kokomo, and is glad to support the wellness and fitness center.

"I think it is vital that IU Kokomo is investing into the physical well-being of its students and athletes," he said. "Wellness and fitness is still an important part of my life."

Sciame-Giesecke led students in breaking down a wall in the center's site, in the ground floor of the library, September 26. About 250 students, faculty, and staff attended the groundbreaking for the $4 million facility. It is named for the Cole family of Logansport, who gave $1.25 million, the largest cash gift in campus history.

Diana Tenbrook, vice president of marketing at Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union, is chairperson of the Milt and Jean Cole Family Wellness and Fitness Center fund raising campaign. She is honored to make the center a reality for the campus community.

"This first-rate facility will provide IU Kokomo with another advantage in attracting students to the campus," she said. "The center will help students develop the habits of a healthy lifestyle that will remain with them throughout their lifetime. I hope the community will join my company, Solidarity, and me, in supporting the Inspire Power campaign. We can all make a difference and be part of a legendary development for Kokomo."

The wellness and fitness center will be a 20,500 square-foot facility. Amenities include a jogging and walking track, cardio and strength training area, two multipurpose rooms, a health studies classroom, locker rooms, and a reception area.

For more information about the Milt and Jean Cole Family Wellness and Fitness Center, the fundraising campaign and tax benefits of giving, go to http://www.iuk.edu/wellnessfitnesscenter. To purchase tickets, call the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs and Advancement, at 765-455-9485.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

01 October 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. — It's all about momentum, and Interim Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke plans to keep Indiana University Kokomo moving full steam ahead.

Appointed to the position on September 19, Sciame-Giesecke's 35 years of drive, commitment, and dedication to the campus will only continue as she plans to focus on the most important mission – the students.

Interim Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke"We focus on the whole student; and providing outstanding educational programs and facilities, along with a memorable student life experience," she said. "I have a passion for the regional campus. Our graduates live and work in the region. Their lives are transformed by their educational opportunities at IU Kokomo."

Sciame-Giesecke began her career at IU Kokomo in 1977, as an assistant professor, and has advanced her career as a department chairwoman, dean, and vice chancellor. Most recently, she was executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and student affairs.

"Our accomplishments are the result of everyone's efforts on campus. I am blessed to work with such dedicated people."

One goal is to hire more faculty to address the recent enrollment growth of 12.1 percent for this fall semester.

"We've had so much growth; we need to add faculty," she said. "We will hire several brand-new positions, including history, health sciences, hospitality, tourism, biochemistry, and psychology. We are also leading the way in online education, with 11 faculty members currently developing new online courses."

Sciame-Giesecke anticipates adding more new degree programs, including the Bachelor of Applied Science.

Another important need on campus includes upgrades to the Main Building, built in 1965 and only minimally updated since then, which houses a large majority of classroom space. She also looks forward to the grand opening of the new wellness and fitness center next fall.

"This (Main Building) is a crisis-stage building," Sciame-Giesecke said. "The math labs, in particular, must be updated to current standards and to meet the needs of a much larger student population than we had when it was built. We are asking for support from the state Legislature to renovate and upgrade the Main Building."

In addition, she will continue providing economic leadership in the community.

"Transforming the region is a critical regional campus mission," she said. "We have been at this work, and that will not change."

Sciame-Giesecke helped facilitate the merger of nine economic development organizations in Kokomo into the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, and serves on that organization's board. She also led the Regional Leadership Institute initiative.

She will present her most recently published paper, on how to create a regional mindset, at the University Economic Development Association annual summit October 21-24 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

During her career, Sciame-Giesecke created the Center for Teaching and Learning, led the campus to a 10-year reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, created a year-long freshman learning program, created an Office for Online Education, facilitated creation of a digital media lab in the library and a Mac lab in the main building, and implemented the Center for Research and Creative Activity to support an undergraduate research initiative. Currently, she is vice president of the Family Service Association of Howard County, a nonprofit that houses a domestic violence shelter and homeless veterans' housing complex.

With the high quality of faculty and staff committed to the mission of the campus, Sciame-Giesecke knows that IU Kokomo will continue to be a leader in higher education.

"We will continue to do remarkable things. The IU Kokomo community has been successful, and we will continue to be successful," she said. "When you put good people in place, good things happen."

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

28 September 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. - Indiana University Kokomo invites you to join the Cougar Women's Volleyball team on Tuesday, October 2, for the Breast Cancer Awareness match. The first 100 fans will receive a free, pink IU Kokomo T-shirt.

Cougars celebrate during last years Breast Cancer Awareness match.

The Cougars will play Anderson University at 7 p.m. at the Maple Crest Middle School gym.

Before and throughout the game, there will be information on ways to donate to help find a cure. The Medical Imaging Club will also have giveaways at the game.

The event is co-sponsored by the volleyball team, the Student Athletic and Wellness Board, and the Medical Imaging Club.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

27 September 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. — The path to a college degree may seem confusing to an incoming student. Indiana University Kokomo offers students a clear map to guide them through the planning process, where students can direct their courses of study to graduate in four years.

See more students excited about graduating in four years.The campus kicked off its "Complete In 4" initiative this fall semester, presenting each student with a "Class of 2016" button to wear as a reminder. Interim Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke said while campus leaders understand some students will take longer to graduate because of work and family obligations, they want students to plan ahead and make graduating in four years a priority.

"We want to make it clear to students it is both doable and in their best interests to graduate in four years," she said.

Sciame-Giesecke then led the new students through the campus undergraduate pledge, which says they will graduate by becoming involved in activities, reaching out to faculty, asking questions when they need help, disciplining themselves to make college a priority, using campus resources, attending every class, talking to their advisors regularly, and engaging in class discussions and activities.

Returning students also received graduation year buttons, while faculty and staff have ones that read, "What year will you graduate?" to remind students of the goal.

In addition to the pins, students can pick up cards with QR codes to access degree maps, showing specific classes they can take each semester in order to graduate in four years. The degree maps are also available on the campus website, www.iuk.edu.

Degree maps were created to make it easy for students to know exactly what classes they need to complete a degree in four years. Amanda Smith, who plans to graduate with a degree in psychology in 2013, developed a degree map with her advisor.

"Planning ahead has made scheduling my classes on time in order to graduate in four years much easier," she said. "These new resources make it seem less overwhelming. It helps you know you can achieve your goal. I'm excited to be so close to being done."

She encouraged all students to meet with their advisors to develop their own custom degree maps, so they know when classes are offered and can take them when they are available.

"The whole purpose is to remind students that while we love them dearly, we'd also love to see them graduate," said Kathy Parkison, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. "The longer it takes a student to graduate, the more student load debt he or she accumulates and the less likely they are to earn a degree. We want them to graduate and move on with successful lives."

Complete In 4 is funded by a $30,000 grant from Complete College America, a national nonprofit organization that works with states to increase college completion. The grant will be used for student advising resources, course mapping software and development of three-year degree programs in education and business.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.