September 2024

September 2024

Welcome to the fall 2024 semester! It’s so gratifying to see the students back on campus and filling the campus with their energy.

There’s certainly been a lot of activity here at IU and in the state during the summer. SEA 202 has caused the university to reflect on what intellectual diversity means. There is broad concern about ongoing global conflicts and an upcoming divisive election cycle, just to name a few. And then the new Expressive Activity Policy… Sometimes, it can feel like too much.

But when I turn inward and think about Luddy, I’m optimistic about our future. We’re on the cusp of exciting developments: new degrees are in the works, innovative research programs are launching, and we’re welcoming many new fresh faces to our faculty. When things get complicated and my confidence wavers, I remind myself of why we are here: our students and the pursuit of excellent scholarship. I invite you to do the same.

SEA 202

The university is still working through implementation of this new law. The University Faculty Council released an FAQ in July that includes the interim guidance.

The Luddy Policy Committee on each campus is scheduling a town hall to allow faculty to discuss these new requirements and ask questions. Look for a forthcoming invite.

Expressive Activity Policy

IU released a new policy on expressive activity that went into effect on August 1. In addition, IU also updated the Free Speech website with information related to this policy. If you’re curious about how this policy is being received, the ACLU filed a lawsuit.

Mental health resources

When things start to feel overwhelming, either for you or students in your sphere, please take advantage of the many resources IU provides. Let’s maintain a culture of care for each other.

  • For students: Faculty should use the Student Engagement Roster (SER) process and timeline for each campus to help provide timely feedback to students and give advisors an opportunity to give targeted support. IU also has a Care Card to help guide faculty and staff on student mental health concerns.
  • For faculty and staff: The IU Workplace Mental Health website provides many resources to help support you.

Anonymous reporting form

I want to remind you that we have an anonymous reporting form. I encourage you to let your voice be heard—tell us the good or the bad. We want to praise successes and address any negative behavior.

State of the School address

I’m excited to provide updates at the annual State of the School address scheduled for September 20 at 2:30 p.m. I will be live in Indianapolis in IT 252, there will be a watch party in Dorsey Hall, and a Zoom option available.

Learning opportunities

Each month, I’ll provide a curated list of training opportunities that you may want to take advantage of.

  • Time Management—Working from Home: Learn how to set up a dedicated workspace for maximum productivity, collaborate with remote coworkers, craft your daily schedule, and how to use virtual meetings productively.
  • Microsoft Teams Essential Training: Discover the core features of Microsoft Teams and see how you can bring together colleagues, create conversations and content, and collaborate more effectively.

Luddy in the news

  • A huge congratulations to YY Ahn and the six Luddy co-PIs on receiving a $7.5 million MURI grant from the Department of Defense! This is an amazing achievement!
  • This summer we renamed the Department of Biohealth Informatics to the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics. The change acknowledges our current research strengths and shows the future direction we hope to take in Indianapolis. More to come in this area in the near future—maybe even at the State of the School!
  • Check out the great work our faculty are doing in the recently released IU Entrepreneur magazine! Three Luddy faculty are featured for their incredible work in the entrepreneurial space.

I hope to see many of you on September 20!

Joanna Millunchick
Dean
Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering