As this, our annual digital issue of Indiana Tech Magazine, appears on your screens, 2020 has been a year unlike any other. The global coronavirus pandemic has affected people, businesses and institutions like ours in countless ways. This summer has also seen our nation continuing to grapple with issues related to equity, systemic racism and the ongoing effort to ensure that justice and liberty are experienced by all.
Here at Indiana Tech, the coronavirus pandemic forced us to move classes entirely online in March, and to complete the 2020 spring semester that way. Our team then worked tirelessly throughout the summer to develop plans to safely return to in-person classes. You can read more about this work in our feature on our fall return to classes; in-person classes at our College of Professional Studies regional campuses resumed July 26, while classes on main campus for our traditional undergraduates began Aug. 17.
While classes and life here at Tech have looked a little different this fall, our students have responded well to the challenges of the pandemic. They were eager to come back to in-person learning and life on campus. Though some colleges and universities have faced enrollment challenges this fall, I’m pleased to share that our enrollment grew. This has been the case in our traditional undergraduate program here on campus, our online undergraduate programs for adult learners, our graduate-level programs and our Ph.D. program. The value of an Indiana Tech education remains strong for every student we serve.
Some Indiana Tech traditions will look a little different this year, too. Due to state restrictions and the overall challenges related to hosting large gatherings, we had to cancel our 2020 commencement ceremonies. You can read more about our plans to honor 2020 graduates at our next commencement ceremony, and view the virtual graduate celebration we held in May.
This fall’s homecoming has moved to an all-virtual format as well. We will miss having you all with us, but we look forward to bringing homecoming back to campus next fall. We can still celebrate together this year, and recognize the many reasons we’re all proud to be Warriors. Learn more about the opportunities to engage with us throughout virtual Homecoming 2020.
One Indiana Tech tradition that will continue as planned is our annual TWIST golf outing here in Fort Wayne. This year is the 31st TWIST outing, a great event that brings together alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of Tech to benefit student scholarships and athletics here at the university. There’s still time to sign up for TWIST and join us for a day of fun and fellowship on the golf course, which will take place Sunday, Sept. 20, at Chestnut Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne.
The year 2020 continues to present its share of serious challenges to all of us in the Indiana Tech community, and to people around the world. Yet it’s also a year in which we can celebrate a significant milestone: the 90th anniversary of the founding of our university by John Kalbfleisch.
Since 1930, our school has been producing top-notch engineers who become leaders in their field, entrepreneurs and citizens of the world who give back to help others. We’ve been able to grow from this core strength, adding programs over time in business, science, information technology, criminal justice, global leadership and many more. From our start as a small technical school we’ve grown into a university that prepares every student to succeed in the global 21st century economy and to lead lives of significance and worth.
As always, we honor our distinguished history best by serving students well today and planning effectively for the future. To learn more about the accomplishments of our students and happenings around the university, be sure to check out this issue’s Tech Happenings section. You can also learn more about new program offerings and the work of our faculty and students in the Academic Roundup features on our Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering.
Warm regards,
Karl W. Einolf, Ph.D.
President
