Seizing Our Opportunity
History of the Luddy School
The IU School of Informatics, founded in 2000, was the first of its kind in the United States. Today, as the IU Luddy School of Informatics,Computing, and Engineering, it continues to be completely unique in composition, intellectual breadth, and mission. With a twenty-first century sensibility, the Luddy School integrates computing, social science, and information systems design in unique ways.
There is no other school like the Luddy School: we are innovative,
interdisciplinary, and multicampus.
Luddy is a core school at Indiana University, meaning it is a single school in two locations: Bloomington and Indianapolis. The Bloomington campus houses departments of Informatics, Computer Science (founded in 1971 at IU and moved
to Luddy in 2005), Information and Library Science (founded at IU in 1951 and moved to Luddy in 2013), and Intelligent Systems Engineering (founded in 2016). The Indianapolis campus houses departments of BioHealth Informatics (founded in 2013), Human-Centered Computing (founded in 2013), and Library and Information Science, as well as the Polis Center.
Indiana University is currently going through major changes, with promises to double research expenditures and grow the faculty by 100 in Bloomington alone. Luddy will be at the center of these changes. With the dissolution of IUPUI, Luddy at Indy will absorb the demand for information, computing, and engineering degrees. A new department of Computer Science was founded this year (2023), and we are making plans to expand the scope of our other departments into new areas.
The time has never been better, because the opportunity has
never been greater.
By aligning our strategic priorities and moving in a shared direction, we can become an even greater force for socially responsible technical innovation. We can inspire and equip the next generation and make Luddy the place known for having the brightest minds and boldest ideas in STEM.
Dean's Message
The world is moving incredibly fast. We all know this, but few truly comprehend the magnitude and the speed. New mandates and opportunities continually emerge. We embrace our task to strengthen and expand our core school identity. From advances in Artificial Intelligence to new prospects in microelectronics, biomedical, and health engineering, we unite diverse, intellectual traditions to deliver technical excellence that impacts society in massive, meaningful ways. That’s why I’m here, and I’m sure that’s why you’re here also.
When you look around Luddy, it’s hard not to be humbled by what you’ll find.
There is no school like ours. It is home to historians and archivists, social scientists and cognitive psychologists — people driven to leave the world better and smarter than they found it. We are trailblazers in emerging media, driving greater equity and ethics for public news and information. We design cutting-edge technologies, including apps, robots, and devices that change lives and make everyday life better. And unlike others, we don’t stop at hardware and software. We advance the quality and integrity of data and information, because we understand technologies are only as powerful and purposeful as what’s underneath.
When I look across the nation, I see schools stuck on an old way of thinking.
But not us. Our uniquely multidisciplinary nature and twenty-first century sensibility gives us the upper hand as we inspire a new and more inclusive approach to teaching and researching STEM. Together – as humanists, historians, social scientists, engineers, and computer scientists – we’re redefining technology and innovation by keeping humanity firmly at the center of our approach.
But the big question is always, “Where to next?” The answer is in this strategic plan.
I look forward to putting this plan into action and making the Luddy School a true thought leader for society-centered scientific and technological innovation. There are incredible opportunities waiting to be seized, and more impact waiting to be made.
Let’s make that impact together.
Vision, Mission, and Values
To be an unstoppable force for society-centered scientific and technological innovation.
Across a broad range of applications, we will unite the full breadth of computing, information science, and technology to lead education, research, and humanity forward.
The following are fundamental principles that guide our actions and serve as the cultural cornerstones of our school:
Society-centered science and technology
We keep humanity firmly at the center of our approach and understand the human benefits and consequences of our work.
Thought leadership
We strive to become national thought leaders and advance the thinking and understanding of the fields we serve.
Excellence and integrity
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of scholarly principles and distinction.
Belongingness
We proactively address barriers, create inclusive experiences, and promote systems where everyone has an equal chance at success.
Teamwork and transparency
We enhance collaboration knowing that our whole is more impactful than its parts.
Strategic Planning Process
In keeping with our values of teamwork and transparency, the strategic planning process was designed to receive as much input as possible. The process to create the strategic plan began in early 2023, following the appointment of Dean Joanna Millunchick and coinciding with the release of the Indiana University 2030 strategic plan in which the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering stands to play a key role. To help guide the process and inform critical planning decisions, a 16-member steering committee was formed, comprising representation from both Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses and a variety of departments within the school.
The process was completed in two phases, the first of which included a comprehensive review and analysis of the school’s strengths, gaps, and opportunities across the pillars of education, research, and service. In this phase, leaders and steering committee members reviewed background context; examined critical data and insights regarding Luddy’s programs, research activities, and service contributions; and engaged important internal and external stakeholders to share their perspective for the needs and opportunities of the school. Through this work, Luddy engaged more than 800 individuals, including university leadership from both campuses, faculty and staff, current and past students, peer institutions, industry partners, and community-based organizations through live and online mediums.
A collection of cross-cutting themes emerged from these efforts. The themes were then used by Luddy leadership and committee members to craft a five-year plan to guide Luddy’s continued leadership in the fields of informatics, computing, and engineering. Once created, the plan was shared with additional stakeholders, including university leadership and Luddy faculty and staff, for input before publication of the final version.
The plan is organized around four strategic areas, which align to and support the
overall vision and mission of Indiana University. These include student success and opportunity, transformative research and creativity, service to our state and beyond, and school culture and operations. Each strategic area outlines a set of strategies and initiatives to be used to achieve success, all of which will be measured using relevant direct, indirect, quantitative, and qualitative measures. The strategic plan is intended to be dynamic, with continuous reflection and refinement based on our learnings, progress, and the ever-changing landscape of our fields.
Stakeholder Engagements
12departmental foucs groups convened
392IU students and alumni surveyed for insights
258students and alumni from peer institutions across the country surveyed
53industry partners and community-based organizations involved
Strategic Focus Areas
Consistent with the IU 2030 plan, Luddy's strategic plan establishes four foundational pillars to guide the school's direction and the many contributions of Luddy faculty and staff:
Luddy commits to setting the gold standard in teaching and learning. We embrace a culture of technical excellence and will continuously improve our teaching to meet the evolving needs of society. We will proved a diverse student populations with opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges and ensure every student's success is our success.
Luddy will pursue innovative and transformative research and creative activity as a crucial societal and economic outcome of academic excellence. We will draw upon and integrate the strengths of our unique array of socio-technical disciplines to propel societal goals.
Luddy will leverage its expertise and capabilities to serve communities across our state, improving the lives of Hoosiers, strengthening cultural and economic vitality, and pushing innovation and knowledge that improve the human condition.
Luddy will strengthen the ways we work and collaborate with one another, as well as the underlying systems and structures that support us, to ensure the conditions for our success.
1 Student Success and Opportunity
Luddy commits to setting the gold standard in teaching and learning. We embrace a culture of technical excellence and will continuously improve our teaching to meet the evolving needs of society. We will provide a diverse student population with opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges and ensure every student’s success is our success.
Goals and Strategies
Set the standard in teaching and learning.
- Drive continuous curricular improvements to ensure Luddy courses and programs
are relevant and reflective of the most current research, practices, and societal needs. - Foster a culture of excellence in teaching through expanded professional development, recognition, and communities of practice.
- Strengthen instructional delivery by increasing the use of scholarly teaching
and evidence-based teaching practices within Luddy classrooms. - Establish equitable and evidence-based evaluation of instructional effectiveness
and link to continuous improvement efforts.
Recruit and prepare students to succeed and become leaders in their field.
- Significantly grow Luddy’s student pipeline through enhanced marketing, outreach,
and recruitment efforts. - Proactively address barriers to student access, participation, and success in Luddy programs including through the introduction of new on-ramps, offerings, and pedagogies.
- Create and implement a signature Luddy student experience.
- Expand opportunities for Luddy students to apply classroom learnings to real-world problems.
- Improve systems and practices for tracking and promoting the success of all students.
Build and support diversity within Luddy.
- Build interest within diverse student populations for Luddy programs and careers through innovative partnerships and outreach efforts.
- Strengthen recruitment and scholarship offerings to ensure an inclusive population of students.
- Deepen student engagement and belonging within the Luddy community to enhance studentsuccess, professional development, and long-term connection.
2 Transformative Research and Creativity
Luddy will pursue innovative and transformative research and creative activity as
a crucial societal and economic outcome of academic excellence. We will draw upon and integrate the strengths of our unique array of socio-technical disciplines to propel societal goals.
Goals and Strategies
Amplify Luddy's current areas of excellence with a prioritized focus on those that emphasize socio-technical advancement.
- Build awareness for Luddy research programs and the accomplishments of faculty, staff, and students.
- Recruit, foster, and retain outstanding research talent in support of Luddy priorities and IU’s Faculty 100 effort.
- Diversify and grow extramural funding across all areas of excellence.
- Encourage research and creative activity that yields disclosure and licensing of inventions, and expanded partnerships with industry, academic peers, and other key constituencies.
- Deepen community-engaged research in direct collaboration with Hoosier communities.
Invest in the development of new strategic growth areas.
- Build out new areas of research focused on emerging areas of need, such as microelectronics, robotics, health and medical engineering and informatics, artificial intelligence, information-based engineering, and society.
- Recruit and develop outstanding research talent in new areas of strategic growth.
- Establish a supportive growth environment, including funding and project management supports.
- Develop mechanisms for identifying new areas in which to invest.
Strengthen the research support infrastructure to increase productivity and build cross-unit collaboration.
- Align and strengthen administrative resources and processes.
- Proactively address barriers that hinder productivity and collaboration.
- Reward and recognize high performance in a variety of research and creative contexts.
3 Service to Our State and Beyond
Luddy will leverage its expertise and capabilities to serve communities across our state, improving the lives of Hoosiers, strengthening cultural and economic vitality, and pursuing innovation and knowledge that improve the human condition.
Goals and Strategies
Serve as a thought leader in fostering technical excellence for societal impact.
- Build recognition as the leading experts in socio-technical topics.
- Scale the reach and impact of Luddy’s areas of excellence to
positively impact our community.
Create opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to share their knowledge and expertise.
- Expand opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills within a real-world context through Luddy ALIGN and other programs.
- Support faculty and staff in bringing the world into the classroom
and laboratory. - Advance efforts for faculty, staff and students to innovate, incubate, and accelerate small business enterprises and nonprofits.
Strengthen Indiana's futre P-12 STEM pipeline.
- Expand our Informatics Diversity-Enhanced Workforce (iDEW) outreach programs to build and diversify the STEM pipeline.
- Serve as a leading partner to P-12 educators through support for high school pathways (like iDEW), continued leadership to supply P-12 educators, and support for advanced teacher-education programs.
- Build streamlined opportunities at Luddy for diverse and talented graduates of our P-12 pipeline.
4 School Culture and Operations
Luddy will strengthen the ways we work and collaborate with one another, as well as the underlying systems and structures that support us, to ensure the conditions for our success.
Goals and Strategies
Develop and signature Luddy culture.
- Strengthen internal engagement efforts among faculty, staff, students, and alumni
to build school pride, unity, respect, and belonging. - Enhance school-wide communication processes, ensuring faculty, staff, and students are empowered with the information and resources to be successful.
- Establish formalized reward and recognition structures to reinforce Luddy culture and values.
- Encourage integration across Luddy’s education, research, and service work.
Promote diversity and continuous development.
- Recruit, retain and develop diverse faculty and staff through inclusive and equitable practices.
- Ensure all aspects of diversity are embraced in our community as essential to our school’s core values and guiding principles.
- Establish formalized onboarding and professional development pathways to foster faculty and staff development and growth at all stages and ranks.
- Institute incentives and rewards to encourage sustained contributions to our mission, leadership in our school and beyond, and embodiment of our values.
Strengthen internal systems and capabilities.
- Enhance internal processes and operations to foster transparency and equity.
- Improve data access and quality to support performance and continuous improvement.
- Invest in resources such as core technology, operations systems, space, and personnel to support growth in research and teaching.
Acknowledgement
The IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering is grateful for the many individuals who invested time, insight, and energy into the development
of this strategic plan. Our sincerest thanks goes to each member of our student body, staff, faculty, and alumni who have contributed to the plan, and especially to those on our Steering Committee for their considerable role in this endeavor.