Indiana University Indianapolis
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

IUPUI engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability issues impacting the campus. Examples: - IUPUI representation on Indianapolis Mayor's Bike Council - IUPUI Chancellor's support of Mass Transit in a discussion before the Indiana General Assembly’s House of Representatives Roads and Transportation Committee - During the 2014 legislative session, the Indiana University system, along with other state supported institutions, advocated for legislation that would increase the statutory limit on the amount of outstanding debt that institutions may have to finance Qualified Energy Savings Projects.

IUPUI has taken a position on the latest Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which reaffirms commitment to equality. RFRA statement provided below: Indiana University statement on changes to Religious Freedom Restoration Act April 2, 2015 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University expresses its appreciation and support for this clarifying language, which ensures that nothing in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act will provide legal protection for, or in any way promote or permit, discrimination in any form on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation or their race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity or military service. We are grateful for the hard work and good intentions of those who have earnestly labored in recent days to address this problem. Indiana University asks all Hoosiers to remember that religious liberty and equal protection under the law are both cornerstones of our democracy and they should not be in conflict with each other. Our system of government works best when people of good will come together to reconcile their differences and find common ground. We are pleased that this has happened in this situation, and it is our hope and expectation that this clarification will now allow all Hoosiers to put this matter behind us and work together to promote a better image and indeed a better future for the State of Indiana. In 2014, the Indiana University system, along with Purdue University and veterans groups, supported legislation that would require state educational institutions to adopt policies to award college credit to veterans who complete college courses or certain equivalency exams. This legislation was important to IU because it will increase predictability for veterans about the types of credits that will transfer to the institution, which will lead to their academic success. (http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2014/bills/senate/331/#) The Indiana University system, along with other state supported institutions of higher education, supported legislation during the 2013 legislative session that would increase access and affordability for higher education for undocumented students and veterans. In 2011, legislation was passed that prohibited state educational institutions from enrolling undocumented students who met residency requirements at the resident tuition rate. The bill passed during the 2013 legislative session allowed undocumented students who were enrolled in a state educational institution prior to passage of the 2011 bill to enroll in a state educational institution at the resident rate. This allows students who were already enrolled in a degree program to complete their degrees. Indiana University is very supportive of these students and would support legislation that would allow all undocumented students who otherwise meet residency requirements to enroll at the resident tuition rate. That piece of legislation also had a provision supported by Indiana University that would allow veterans who enroll in a state educational institution within 12 months of discharge from the armed forces to enroll in the institution at the resident tuition rate, as long as they take certain steps to establish residency in the state, such as registering to vote or obtaining an Indiana driver’s license or state identification card. Both provisions of this bill are important to the university because they expand access to and diversity of the institution. (http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2013/PDF/SE/SE0207.1.pdf) The second provision of the bill was also passed in nearly identical form in another bill: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2013/PDF/SE/SE0177.1.pdf. In 2012 and 2013, the Indiana University system, along with other state supported institutions, helped to pass two pieces of legislation that expanded access to higher education and methods of transferring credits among state educational institutions. Recognizing that increasing numbers of students begin their postsecondary education and one institution before transferring to another institution, the public colleges and universities worked together to ensure that credits would transfer in blocks and ensure certain educational outcomes, which helps students to better predict how their credits will transfer and a leads students to a higher probability of academic success upon transferring to another educational institution. The bill passed in 2012 and established the Statewide Transfer General Education Core, which ensured that a block of 30 credit hours taken at one institution would satisfy certain general education outcomes and transfer as a whole to the institution in which the student transfers. (http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/SE/SE0182.1.pdf) The following year, institutions again worked together to establish Single Articulation Pathways, which ensure that students who obtain associate degrees in highly subscribed majors are able to transfer to a four-year institution and enter the institution at a junior status, guaranteeing the ability to graduate in four years. This bill is also based on competencies that must be achieved, ensuring educational outcomes and academic success after transfer to a four-year institution. (http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2013/PDF/SE/SE0182.1.pdf)