By Nicole Wilkins
Two schools at Indiana University Bloomington have changed their names to reflect an evolving focus on intelligent systems engineering and architecture.
The School of Informatics and Computing has been renamed the School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.
The School of Art and Design has been renamed the School of Art, Architecture + Design.
The changes are an integral part of the Bicentennial Strategic Plan for Indiana University, which calls for the university to support a culture of "building and making."
Indiana University began offering degrees in intelligent systems engineering with the 2016-17 academic year. The engineering program, the first ever on the IU Bloomington campus, reflects the broad spectrum of the school's offerings and contributions in the domain of computing, information and engineering. Additionally, the program aligns with state business leaders' long-range plan to significantly increase the proportion of Indiana residents with postgraduate degrees in STEM-related fields.
Raj Acharya, dean of the School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, said the new name better reflects the direction of the program.
"As our school has grown over the years, it has always been a priority to reflect those changes in our name," Acharya said. "The establishment of the Intelligent Systems Engineering program was a milestone in the development of our school both on campus and in the state, and the addition of engineering to our name illustrates the importance of the program to our future."
The School of Art, Architecture + Design will offer a new Master of Architecture degree program beginning in the fall of 2018. The program will have its primary focus in Columbus, Indiana, an internationally recognized center for architecture, with courses also offered on the IU Bloomington campus.
The program also responds to Indiana workforce needs. Employment of architects is projected to grow by more than 20 percent through 2022, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
"Our new name is an important step for not only our school but also our state," said Peg Faimon, dean of the School of Art, Architecture + Design. "We view this change as being essential and transformative for IU, enabling us to maximize the university's potential for developing its inventions and innovations for the economic benefit of all Hoosiers."
The changes, approved by the IU Board of Trustees in June, took effect for the start of the 2017-18 academic year.