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University Division |
As the academic gateway to IU Bloomington, University Division's role is to support students in their
personal development, academic achievement, and attainment of educational goals. (Adopted October 31, 1999) |
OUR HISTORY |
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Under
the leadership of President Herman B. Wells, IU Bloomington established
a "Junior Division" in 1942. The Division was a practical
response to wartime circumstances. Many students were having
their college careers interrupted by the war after only a year or so at
IU. IU administration wanted to ensure that these students would
have an identifiable unit of academic work completed. From a
curricular perspective, this unit of work was designed to have a
stand-alone value. In addition, for any student who returned to
IU, it also would serve as certification fulfillment for study in the
"upper division" where the student would take his/her academic
major. Historical papers documenting the formation and purpose of
Junior Division note that it also was intended to: provide
uniform entrance requirements for the University; improve the
guidance/testing program for first-year students; and study curricula
and academic problems of freshman, and make recommendations (Annual Report of the Junior Division,
September 1942 -- August 1943). From its very inception,
the academic emphasis in the Division's mandate has been clear. In 1970, IU's Board of Trustees officially expanded the Junior Division concept with its approval of the proposal to change its name to "University Division." The key reason cited for the change was that the Division "will no longer serve as just freshman division, but will be a two year program for those students who have not selected their major area. The effective date of this change is July 1, 1970" (Minutes of the Board, May 1970). Thus was born the present-day University Division. Shortly thereafter the Division also expanded in a very physical sense by introducing a decentralized, residence-center-based system of academic advising for freshman. All of this change marked another stage in the evolution of IUB's commitment to giving students the support they need as they adjust to college life. The re-envisioned Division included sophomores as a targeted population to receive help with whatever continuing adjustment problems they might have. In redefining the Division in this way, the University formally recognized that not all students develop at the same rate, that some students need longer than others to explore their emerging interests and values. In addition this change acknowledged that, over the years, requirements for entry into upper division academic units had diversified to a considerable extent. Because of this, it was no longer always possible for students to complete the coursework needed for certification in only two semesters of study. By 1970, students were demanding more of the University, and this trend has continued through the present day. They expect their education here to prepare them for lifelong intellectual growth and development; they expect to find personnel and facilities to support directed exploration of academic majors and career choices; and they expect quicker and more productive interfacing with a technological surround that is expanding at an explosive rate. In turn, the upper divisions of the University are demanding more of the students they accept. That is, they now expect that students come to them with both a broad general education and a mastery of the many specific skills needed to succeed in college work in the disciplines they represent. All of these heightened expectations have resulted quite naturally from the successful implementation of the vision originally put forward by Indiana University leaders several decades ago. University Division today continues to be known for its wide-ranging curricular expertise; in addition, however, UD values the "whole student" and works to support his/her full development as both academic and world citizen. And while being very much attuned to the character and needs of today's college student, the present-day mission of University Division also directly reflects much of the original vision for its work. |
