Manatees, Fabio, and Canonballs--at IU Kokomo
The fact that IUK is in Kokomo is the giant manatee in the bath tub that no one wants to talk about. And, there isn't a lot that can be done to change the facts of the situation, at least in terms of the physical side of the equation. Kokomo will continue to be seen as a strip of blight on U.S. 31 and IU Kokomo’s campus won’t look like Frank Lloyd Wright’s capstone project any time soon. There are clearly some limitations when it comes to marketing the school. It’s kind of like the frumpy dude I saw in Meijer last night who tried to make a pass at an attractive woman as they pushed their carts past each other. I could see this one going down in flames before she even met his eyes. Some things just aren’t going to happen.
On the other hand, it's okay that people aren't coming to the school from across the globe given that our mission is to serve an 11 county area and that we aren't a residential campus. What the school needs to do is to more effectively market itself to potential students in the north central Indiana region. Interestingly, according to Robert Nowack, one of IU Kokomo's Vice Chancellors, the majority of the school's graduates remain here in the area. So, the school needs to market itself here at home and become the best that it can be in servicing the students it recruits. Like the cart dude, IU Kokomo ain’t no Fabio. And like the cart dude, the school will have to promote what it can offer. “He’s no Fabio, but he can sure steer a mean cart.” Finding out what can make IU Kokomo great for its more localized market—and achieving this in such a way that current and potential students perceive this greatness—is what the changes should be all about.
In the end, we’ll see what gets done. As for yours truly, I proposed to the humanities faculty that the school hold next year’s Freshman orientation meeting at Kokomo Beach. And, I was only ½ joking. This is a new event in which all new students show up on campus to become indoctrinated about the IU Kokomo way. This fall, we had a funeral processional of the faculty into the big black hole that is Havens Auditorium where students listened to “wisdom” about the value of a higher education, and then we had a barbecue. That’s cool, and students seemed to get something from this. But we need to make ourselves distinct—a different type of school. And what better way to welcome in your college education than the sight of Chancellor Person doing a cannonball from the high dive?
On the other hand, it's okay that people aren't coming to the school from across the globe given that our mission is to serve an 11 county area and that we aren't a residential campus. What the school needs to do is to more effectively market itself to potential students in the north central Indiana region. Interestingly, according to Robert Nowack, one of IU Kokomo's Vice Chancellors, the majority of the school's graduates remain here in the area. So, the school needs to market itself here at home and become the best that it can be in servicing the students it recruits. Like the cart dude, IU Kokomo ain’t no Fabio. And like the cart dude, the school will have to promote what it can offer. “He’s no Fabio, but he can sure steer a mean cart.” Finding out what can make IU Kokomo great for its more localized market—and achieving this in such a way that current and potential students perceive this greatness—is what the changes should be all about.
In the end, we’ll see what gets done. As for yours truly, I proposed to the humanities faculty that the school hold next year’s Freshman orientation meeting at Kokomo Beach. And, I was only ½ joking. This is a new event in which all new students show up on campus to become indoctrinated about the IU Kokomo way. This fall, we had a funeral processional of the faculty into the big black hole that is Havens Auditorium where students listened to “wisdom” about the value of a higher education, and then we had a barbecue. That’s cool, and students seemed to get something from this. But we need to make ourselves distinct—a different type of school. And what better way to welcome in your college education than the sight of Chancellor Person doing a cannonball from the high dive?
posted by Raul Mosley at
5:18 PM
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