Indiana State University President Mike Godard was selected by the Board of Trustees last year. He is the 13th president of ISU. (Aubrey Wright, WTIU)
With his first six months leading Indiana State University behind him, President Mike Godard is looking forward.
Godard replaced former President Deborah Curtis after she retired with a year left on her contract.
ISU has seen significant decreases in enrollment while also breaking ground on multi-million-dollar developments. Godard said ISU is focusing on growing enrollment, industry relationships and workforce development.
“We've really built up some positive momentum,” he said. “I'm very optimistic about what the future holds in the regard to strategic growth.”
Turning enrollment decreases around
The university reported 7,895 students enrolled for the fall semester — down almost 5 percent from the year before. Enrollment has dropped by about 36 percent since 2018.
But Godard wants to bring enrollment up to about 10,000 students.
“We're looking to ensure that that decline does not continue, and instead, we go in a growth mode moving forward,” Godard said.
The university hired a vice president for enrollment management, Maribeth Stevens, and it will hire a new leader for undergraduate admissions next month.
About half of ISU students are Pell Grant-eligible, meaning they have exceptional financial need. Godard says the university created the Sycamore Student Success Scholarship for incoming freshmen without a Pell Grant or significant scholarships.
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Applying to the university is now free, and some students are automatically admitted.
“There's preferred admission status now. for anyone who has a high school GPA of a 3.0 or higher. You're automatically admitted into Indiana State,” Godard said. “You need not do anything else.”
ISU started a $66 million renovation for the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology, scheduled to finish in 2027. The money came from state funding. The university’s largest-ever gift, $8 million, will also enhance the Bailey College and include about 50 scholarships.
“We're trying to align where we have the ability to have strategic enrollment growth with where the high demand sectors are across the state of Indiana,” Godard said. “Engineering and technology is certainly a great example of that.”
On campus, classes look different — Godard says some are shorter, more flexible and more relevant to Indiana’s job market. The university is studying the possibility of three-year bachelor’s degrees.
Adult students might benefit from a new Preferred Partnership Program, where employees of select companies get a 15 percent discount for tuition.
“We're looking at more flexible ways to deliver education, understanding that if we stay static, then we're likely going to fall behind,” Godard said.
More Terre Haute, industry partnerships
Godard said he’s trying to expand relationships in Terre Haute, an area where his predecessor struggled.
Some future students are in ISU’s backyard. Godard was “principal for a day” at Terre Haute South High School and Sarah Scott Middle School.
“Hearing directly from our sixth graders, our seventh graders, our high schoolers, and being able to kind of hear, what are their dreams? What are their hopes?” Godard said. “When you have middle schoolers coming right up to you and introducing themselves, and shaking your hand and saying, ‘Can I get a scholarship to come to Indiana State University? That puts a smile on my face.’”
Union Health, the largest employer in the region, has allied with ISU for health-related programs.
“Nursing, of course, comes to mind first and foremost,” Godard said. “But we have a physician assistant program. We have our physical therapy program, occupational therapy, social work, psychology — all those play into what's needed in health care.”
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Union Health also teamed up with ISU Athletics for naming rights to the Hulman Center. In exchange, Union Health and its doctors provide medical services to student-athletes.
Godard wants to grow work-based and experiential learning.
The university already partners with the Terre Haute Police Department, local prosecutors and the Indiana State Police to investigate digital crime. ISU has a high-tech crime lab, and about 10 undergraduate students work as deputized investigators.
“We want to build on those types of partnerships and create more just like that,” Godard said.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright.
