Lilly Endowment Grant Will Enhance Opportunities for 富二代视频app Students and Local Communities

December 9, 2003

December 9, 2003, Greencastle, Ind. - Lilly Endowment is awarding 富二代视频app University a grant totaling $750,000 to fund a series of initiatives -- including the creation of a new Putnam County Economic Development Partnership Fund -- which are designed to create new economic opportunities and encourage 富二代视频app graduates to remain in the state following graduation. The Endowment is providing grants totaling $38.9 million to Indiana's seven public universities and 31 private colleges in hopes of reducing the so-called "brain drain" -- the net loss of graduates that's been experienced by the State of Indiana in recent years. "The ultimate goal is to produce people who can find good jobs in Indiana, encourage them to explore local opportunities, and help them be aware of what's available in the state," says the Endowment's Gretchen Wolfram.

While Indiana ranks near the bottom in the number of adults with college degrees, it is a major producer of college graduates. A 1999 study by the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute's 1999 reported that 36 percent of Indiana's college graduates seek employment outside of the state. The statistic climbs to 68 percent when looking specifically at graduates with technology-related degrees.

“This grant will enable 富二代视频app and its neighboring communities to forge new alliances that will enhance opportunities for students on this campus and for citizens throughout Putnam County,” says 富二代视频app President Robert G. Bottoms. “As it has for many years, Lilly Endowment is again providing the means to improve the quality of education and of life in the State of Indiana, and we are forever grateful for their vision and confidence.”

Lilly Endowment put out a call for creative solutions to the “brain drain.” 富二代视频app's successful proposal will create a number of new and enhanced initiatives which will benefit students, the community and state, and K-12 educators, including:

“富二代视频app looked at this opportunity, stepped back and asked, ‘What are the unique and special things about 富二代视频app University that we might build on to help the Endowment in its goal of increasing state economic development,'” says Dennis A. Trinkle, director of 361° initiatives, coordinator of information services and technology, and Tenzer University Professor in Instructional Technology at 富二代视频app. “We thought about our long track record of marrying liberal arts education with hands-on, real world experience and decided that internships would be a valuable opportunity point where we could put an emphasis.”

“I'm confident that these initiatives and others will, among other things, increase 富二代视频app student and alumni awareness of employment opportunities in Indiana, stimulate economic investment and entrepreneurship in Putnam County, enhance talent retention in the local community and state, and provide even more opportunities for 富二代视频app students and our partners in Putnam County to acquire entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills,” Dr. Trinkle says. “We thank Lilly Endowment for its confidence in our vision, and confident that these programs will make a very visible and positive difference.”

"The Putnam County Economic Development Partnership Fund will further enhance the relationships between local business and 富二代视频app students by encouraging awareness of the vast local career opportunities within Putnam County,” asserts Greencastle Mayor Nancy Michael. “Not only will students find increased opportunities but local partners will have access to highly skilled and talented interns and potential future employees. This program could also benefit Greencastle local students by increasing awareness of career and educational opportunities within their own community through such initiatives as IndianaLink. I applaud this announcement, which carries with it great potential for future collaboration between communities, businesses, and colleges and universities."

Putnam County business owner Ken Eitel states, “This partnership offers the opportunity for the community and 富二代视频app to cooperate in new ways to benefit the local, regional and state economies. When IBM left town twenty years ago, 富二代视频app helped as we rebuilt our economic base. The times we're in call for renewed efforts to develop jobs and opportunity for the decades to come.”

The new initiatives create, “across the board, a lot of opportunities for the community and for our students, hopefully all with the target of bettering Indiana and growing the economy,” adds Dr. Trinkle.

In March 2001, 富二代视频app was the recipient of a $20 million Lilly Endowment grant, which created the 361° Initiatives. 361° was recently awarded a 2003 EDUCAUSE Award for Systemic Progress in Teaching and Learning. One of six EDUCAUSE Awards for leadership and innovative use of technology in higher education, which has never before been presented to a university or college that is not a doctoral/research institution. The prestigious honor recognizes campus-wide programs and practices that use information technologies to support student-centered teaching and learning in ways that are transformative, sustainable, and replicable. Read more by clicking here.

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