New Generations of Innovation
IWU National & Global Taking Innovation to the Next Level
IWU HAS INNOVATION IN ITS DNA. Since 1920, we’ve taken a different approach to education, starting with the assumption that ministry can happen in any marketplace vocation, and students can be called to serve in any career, from nursing to the performing arts.
IWU—National & Global began as an innovative idea, one that would remove barriers for a new kind of student at the time: working adults. This new division of IWU added financial strength to the University and helped us offer Christian higher education to all kinds of students living around the world. Today, every unit of IWU is seeking new ways to prepare students for their calling and meet needs across the globe.
IWU Offers Students Stackable Pathway
The School of Educational Leadership has designed the Online Teaching and Learning micro-credentials through support from the GEER Grant. Micro-courses or badges develop skills and knowledge in specific areas that will help prepare educators for the virtual classroom environment. Earning 5-7 badges leads to the completion of a micro-credential in Online Teaching and Learning. Completing a specific series of micro-courses can earn the student a micro-credential. The micro-credential can be applied to course credit helping students earn graduate certificates and degrees in Online Teaching and Learning.
Using a model to aggregate or disaggregate content between courses and microcourses ensures students are obtaining the same knowledge and are able to demonstrate their ability to use that knowledge in either online or in person teaching. Using IWU’s stackable credential policy, the graduate certificate can stack into a master’s degree, or a master’s degree can stack into an Education Specialist degree. Completing the Education Specialist degree prepares the student for admission into the Doctor of Education program.
IWU Organizes the Wildcat Innovation Team
Proverbs 15:22 states, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.”
IWU has a talented team of creative faculty and staff who have significant innovative expertise that can help shape the programmatic future of the University. To meet the educational needs of students and the market needs of our region, IWU launched the Wildcat Innovation Team in the fall of 2020 as a catalyst for focusing innovative energies. This team is comprised of faculty and staff who generate, evaluate, and propose new programs to launch. Part of the funding for this team will be designated as research and development funds used to explore and pilot one to two projects each year.
IWU Enters Into Coursesharing Partnerships
IWU has begun a relationship with students through Acadeum. Acadeum students take classes with IWU filling open seats in existing sections that are listed on the Acadeum platform. These students enroll in classes their institution may not currently offer, and their goal is often to keep on track with their graduation requirements.
IWU has formed a strategic partnership with Campusedu an education technology company. The Campus partnership enables IWU to deliver its traditional and online courses on an innovative learning platform. The initiative will serve new student markets, including dual enrollment students at Christian high schools across the USA.
Partnerships As the Next Expansion of IWU-National & Global
“IWU has long been recognized as an innovative leader in higher education. This began in 1985 by providing flexible learning formats that built around the needs of working adults. Today, we are building on that innovative spirit by developing deep partnerships with businesses and nonprofits to create unique wraparound education programs that maximize student learning. We are also developing new learning products with educational technology companies that serve a broad population while lowering the cost of education. In the coming months, look for groundbreaking education models in addiction counseling, sports business technology, and mobile career services.” Matt Lucas, PhD., Chancellor,
IWU-National & Global.”
Many organizations pushed pause on their plans in 2020. But IWU–National & Global began accelerating toward solutions and partnerships that make degree completion more affordable and attainable.
In 2020, IWU launched two major initiatives: the Talent Ladder and the Bridge Initiative. The Talent Ladder is IWU’s answer to the talent alignment, attraction, and retention issues employers are facing today. It translates corporate training programs into college credit, upskilling employees and preparing them to continue their education.
The Bridge Initiative aims to provide affordable, flexible, and local education solutions by partnering with organizations. In its inaugural year, the Bridge Initiative partnered with 17 organizations, including churches, nonprofit organizations, and Bible colleges. In its second year, the initiative will partner with 50 organizations, including additions in aviation, dual enrollment and technology
New at IWU in 2021: Aviation Degree Programs
IWU’s first-ever aviation program began in 2021 with the launch of two undergraduate aviation degrees. The degree programs are currently offered in partnership with select flight schools in Indiana, allowing students to simultaneously earn their associate or bachelor’s degree and their flight ratings through online classes and local flight training.
In summer of 2021, IWU also joined more than 20 schools across the country offering eight weeks of flight training to Air Force JROTC cadets to earn their private pilot certificates. The Air Force JROTC Flight Academy scholarship program, along with IWU’s new undergraduate degrees, aims to address the national pilot shortage and lack of diversity in the industry by generating interest in aviation careers in young women and men. The University currently offers flight training at three locations in Indiana, including Marion, Fort Wayne and Greenwood. Additional partnerships are underway in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
