New Space for Two of Indiana University’s Pioneering Schools

Campus Center Theatre
IUPUI

Thursday, February 13, 2014

IU Trustee Tom Reilly, IU President Michael A. McRobbie, Dean of Social Work Mike Patchner, and Dean of the School of Philanthropy Gene Tempel break ground for IUPUI's University Hall.

Introduction

More than 35 years ago, at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Business/SPEA building on this campus, IU’s 14th president, John Ryan, noted that “a campus is never fully developed because a university remains—and must remain—a living institution capable of adapting to new circumstances.”1

The recent dedications on the IUPUI campus of Hine Hall, University Tower, the Science and Engineering Laboratory Building, the ongoing construction and near completion of the Neuroscience Research Building, and the plans that are being presented to the Board of Trustees this week for the use of the buildings and land that were formerly part of Wishard Hospital are all evidence that Indiana University and the IUPUI campus do indeed continue to adapt to new circumstances.

Today, we celebrate yet another important milestone in the ongoing development of the IUPUI campus as we break ground for University Hall.

University Hall will not only provide a home for of one of IU’s newest schools—the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy—it also provides critically needed additional space for a school that is the oldest program of its kind in the United States—the IU School of Social Work.

Both of these schools embody Indiana University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, service, and engagement. The work done in both these schools helps to affect positive social change and has an enormous impact on the lives of many people across the state, the nation, and around the world.

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Many of you were here in this room just ten months ago as we inaugurated the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and formally named the school in honor of one of the truly great philanthropic families in the United States.

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy—the first of its kind in the world—is already making major contributions to educating the next generation of nonprofit leaders and the first generation of university faculty rigorously and systematically trained in this emerging field.

As an academic discipline, philanthropy has been a growing area over the last quarter century. And during that time, Indiana University has been at the forefront.

This campus, and its leaders over many decades, must be given great credit for their insight and for their perseverance in establishing what was formerly the Center on Philanthropy, and building a formidable presence in the academic study of philanthropy in all its diverse and multidisciplinary manifestations.

The new school, of course, continues to build upon that work as it adds to the growing body of knowledge about philanthropy and makes many important contributions to the economic development of our state and the nation.

The School of Social Work

Many of you were also with us just over two years ago, in the fall of 2011, as we celebrated the centennial of the IU School of Social Work.

For more than 100 years, the School of Social Work has helped people face and overcome problems that threaten to derail their lives. It is, in fact, as I said, the oldest professional social work education program in the United States that began and continuously functions as part of a university.

The school has grown from a department to a division to a graduate school to a full-fledged, system-wide school with a presence on every campus of Indiana University.

It is also one of the largest schools of social work in the nation. It is home to approximately 70 full-time faculty members across the university, enrolls nearly 1,500 students in its programs statewide, and has more than 9,000 living graduates. Those graduates represent every state in the union as well as at least fourteen different countries.

The school also has a long history of collaboration and engagement with communities throughout the state. For instance, it oversees the Child Welfare Education and Training Partnership with the Indiana Department of Child Services, provides consultation and research services for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction, and works in partnership with around 600 social service agencies across the state each year placing students for internships that are vital and necessary for their degrees.

Special thanks

I want to commend the deans of both schools—who are with us today and from whom you will hear in a few minutes—for their leadership that has helped us reach this moment that we are celebrating today.

Gene Tempel, is, of course, the founding dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Center on Philanthropy, served as its director for 11 years, and went on to serve with great distinction as president of the IU Foundation.

I also commend Dean Michael Patchner for his leadership of the School of Social Work as well as his leadership in statewide efforts to improve the lives of children.

Both Michael and Gene are leaders who exemplify the very best of their respective professions.

I also want to thank the members of the School of Social Work’s Dean’s Advisory Council and the School of Philanthropy’s Board of Visitors, many of whom are here today. Your wise counsel remains integral as we work together to guide the schools’ development, and to make people more aware of the excellence of these two schools and of the many contributions they make here at home and around the globe. Moreover, the vision of the members of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Board of Visitors was instrumental in the process of building upon the excellent work of the former Center on Philanthropy to establish a school. We are deeply grateful for your continued service.

And, finally and more generally, I would like to thank our Trustees for their steadfast and enthusiastic support—not only for this building—but also for their support for the establishment of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and for their continued and ongoing efforts to guard and care for the welfare of our institution.

Conclusion

As we break ground for University Hall today, we remember that, as John Ryan observed in the late 1970s, the work of making Indiana University the best it can be is not yet completed.

But we pause momentarily today to celebrate this new facility which will augment the ability of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the IU School of Social Work to make real advances, to shape the future, and to enhance the quality of people’s lives.

We look forward to celebrating the many, many achievements and advances that are yet to come.

Sources

1 John W. Ryan, speech delivered at IUPUI Business/SPEA Building groundbreaking ceremony, September 25, 1978, IU Archives.