Indiana University Columbus

Indiana University Columbus is a public regional university in Columbus, Indiana, and a campus of the Indiana University system. It serves students in south central and southeastern Indiana, with a primary regional focus that includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Ripley, and Shelby counties. The campus also provides off-campus instruction through a community learning center in Seymour. The institution began in 1970 as an extension of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, initially operating without a single centralized campus and offering classes at several locations in Columbus. An old airport building was later adapted for academic use and became the foundation of the institution's permanent presence. The site underwent renovation for educational purposes in 1985. In 1994, the Columbus operation was renamed Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus, reflecting its status as a joint regional collaboration of the Indiana University and Purdue University systems. For most of its history, the campus operated under the IUPUI structure and offered a combination of Indiana University and Purdue University programs. Its academic organization included business, education, liberal arts, health sciences, science, University College, and an honors program. Students could complete selected Indiana University bachelor's and master's degrees in Columbus, while also taking substantial coursework toward programs completed at Indiana University Indianapolis or another IU campus. The institution has also emphasized transfer pathways, regional access, and partnerships with Ivy Tech Community College and Purdue Polytechnic. A notable student-support initiative was the Academic Resource Center, a cross-institutional tutoring model designed to consolidate assistance in mathematics, science, writing, public speaking, Spanish, and basic technology. The center reflected the campus's role as an access-oriented institution serving a largely rural region and supporting students who might otherwise need to relocate for higher education. The university's governance and identity changed after the Indiana University and Purdue University systems decided to separate IUPUI into Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis. The boards of trustees announced the planned restructuring in August 2022, and the change took effect on July 1, 2024. Following Purdue's withdrawal of its Columbus programs, the former Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus became Indiana University Columbus. The renamed campus continued as a regional education center administered through Indiana University Indianapolis. Indiana University retained the biology degree pathway, while mechanical engineering, previously associated with Purdue, was discontinued at the Columbus campus after the transition. Purdue continues to operate a separate Polytechnic Institute campus in Columbus through its West Lafayette-based system; that campus was not part of IUPUC. IU Columbus also operates an intercollegiate athletics program known as the Crimson Pride. It competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and joined the River States Conference beginning with the 2023–24 academic year. Its varsity program includes men's baseball, basketball, cross country, and soccer, as well as women's basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The institution remains focused on accessible regional higher education, degree completion, transfer education, workforce preparation, and community engagement under the Indiana University name.

Indiana University Columbus traces its origins to 1970, when Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis established an extension operation in Columbus, Indiana. The early program did not have a dedicated campus and instead delivered classes at multiple locations around the city. This model allowed the institution to expand access to postsecondary education in a region where students often faced significant travel or relocation barriers. An old airport building was eventually converted for use as the extension's first centralized academic facility. The building was renovated for educational purposes in 1985, providing the operation with a more stable institutional base. During its early decades, the Columbus campus developed as a regional outpost of the broader IUPUI organization rather than as an independent university. In 1994, the IUPUI chancellor renamed the Columbus operation Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus. The name represented the joint role of the Indiana University and Purdue University systems, which together supported programs and academic pathways at the campus. The institution's senior local executive was the vice chancellor. Paul Bippen held that position from 1977 until his retirement in 2003. He was followed by Nasser Paydar, interim vice chancellor Jay Howard, and Marwan Wafa. Reinhold Hill is identified as the current vice chancellor. Over time, the campus established academic divisions covering business, education, liberal arts, health sciences, and science. It also developed University College and an honors program. Students could complete selected IU bachelor's and master's degrees in Columbus, while other students used the campus for prerequisite, transfer, or degree-progress coursework before continuing at Indiana University Indianapolis or another IU location. The campus also provided instruction beyond its main site through a community learning center in Seymour. Student support and collaboration were important parts of the institution's regional mission. IUPUC worked with Ivy Tech Community College and Purdue's statewide technology program on a cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary tutoring model. Its Academic Resource Center brought together assistance in mathematics, science, writing, public speaking, Spanish, and basic technology in a single support operation. The institution's structure changed substantially after Indiana University and Purdue University announced in August 2022 that IUPUI would be separated into two institutions. The reorganization took effect on July 1, 2024, creating Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis. As part of the same transition, IUPUC became Indiana University Columbus and continued as a regional education center administered through Indiana University Indianapolis. Purdue academic offerings in Columbus were no longer part of the renamed campus. Biology continued through Indiana University, while mechanical engineering was no longer offered by IU Columbus after the separation. Purdue retained a separate Polytechnic Institute campus in Columbus, administered through its main campus in West Lafayette and distinct from the former IUPUC. The campus also developed an intercollegiate athletics identity. Its teams are known as the Crimson Pride. IU Columbus competes in the NAIA and has been primarily affiliated with the River States Conference since the 2023–24 season. The program sponsors nine varsity sports across men's baseball, basketball, cross country, and soccer, and women's basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The current institution combines this athletics program with a regional public-university mission centered on access, transfer education, career preparation, and service to south central Indiana.

• 2024

  Indiana University Columbus name takes effect

  [1]Indiana University Columbusen.wikipedia.org

  The Columbus campus adopted its current name after the IUPUI separation and Purdue's withdrawal of its Columbus programs.

• 2022

  Trustees announce IUPUI separation

  [1]Indiana University Columbusen.wikipedia.org

  The Indiana University and Purdue University boards announced plans to divide IUPUI into separate institutions.

• 1994

  Renamed Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus

  [1]Indiana University Columbusen.wikipedia.org

  The IUPUI Columbus operation received the Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus name.

• 1985

  Former airport building renovated for academic use

  [1]Indiana University Columbusen.wikipedia.org

  A former airport facility used by the Columbus extension was renovated and adapted into an academic building.

• 1970

  Columbus extension established

  [1]Indiana University Columbusen.wikipedia.org

  Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis created an extension operation in Columbus, initially without a dedicated campus.

A public, access-oriented regional university providing Indiana University education, transfer pathways, and community-focused academic services to students in south central and southeastern Indiana.

• Higher education

  Undergraduate degree programs

  IU Columbus offers selected Indiana University bachelor's degrees through its academic divisions in business, education, liberal arts, health sciences, and science. The programs are designed for students from the surrounding region and combine campus-based instruction with the broader academic resources of Indiana University.

• Higher education

  Graduate degree programs

  The campus supports completion of several Indiana University master's degrees in Columbus. Graduate offerings form part of the institution's regional role, allowing students to pursue advanced study without necessarily leaving south central Indiana.

• Student pathway

  Transfer and degree-completion pathways

  Students can complete substantial coursework at IU Columbus toward degrees that are completed at Indiana University Indianapolis or another IU campus. These pathways extend the campus's reach beyond the degrees taught entirely in Columbus and support local, flexible progression into higher education.

• Intercollegiate athletics · 2022

  Crimson Pride athletics

  The Crimson Pride program competes in the NAIA and includes nine varsity sports: men's baseball, basketball, cross country, and soccer, plus women's basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

• 2024

  Rebrand IUPUC as Indiana University ColumbusStrategy

  Background

  The IUPUI separation ended the joint Indiana University–Purdue University identity previously used by the Columbus campus.

  Action taken

  The institution adopted the Indiana University Columbus name on July 1, 2024.

  Aftermath

  Biology continued through Indiana University, while mechanical engineering was no longer offered by the campus after Purdue programs were withdrawn.

  Source

• 2022

  Separate the IUPUI system into Indiana University and Purdue institutionsStrategy

  Background

  The trustees of Indiana University and Purdue University announced that IUPUI would be divided into Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis.

  Action taken

  The institutions approved a restructuring that took effect on July 1, 2024, changing the governance and program affiliations of the Columbus campus.

  Aftermath

  The Columbus campus became Indiana University Columbus, continued under Indiana University Indianapolis administration, and no longer included Purdue's Columbus academic programs.

  Source

1. 1Indiana University Columbusen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Indiana University Columbus official websitecolumbus.iu.edu