In a move to broaden academic horizons for its students, Indiana University has expanded its Groups Scholars Program to the new IU Indianapolis campus, offering vital support to first-generation and underrepresented students. The initiative aims to level the playing field for those who are navigating the oftentimes turbulent waters of higher education without a familial roadmap to guide them.
First heralded by the recent graduate Faith Smith from IU Northwest, the program paves the way for students like her—the first in their families to attend college. Describing the journey, Smith said, "It was difficult because I hadn't seen that journey start or be completed for anybody,” told WRTV. Her history reflects the kind of stories the Groups Scholars Program intends to rewrite, by providing resources that these students often lack but undeniably deserve.
The expansion to IU Indianapolis comes at the heels of the campus's establishment on July 1, following the split of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) into two distinct institutions. The Groups Scholars Program, well-known for its success at other IU campuses, provides a blend of academic, financial, and social services. IU Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand notes the inaugural year as "the perfect time to launch the Groups Scholars Program in the capital city," according to Inside Indiana Business.
As part of the program, scholars will take campus ahead of their freshman year during the summer for six weeks where they live, as they form connections with classmates and gain a lay of the land. Steering the expansion at IU Indianapolis is Eric Williams, a former Groups participant and triple-degree holder from IU. Holding the banner high for educational equity, Williams shared his aspiration: "I carry that responsibility to make sure that we create something here at Indiana University Indianapolis that rings true to the legacy of that program," said in a statement obtained by WFYI.
With the Groups Program set to welcome approximately 100 scholars in the summer of 2025, it continues to be a beacon of support for its students. It offers more than just academic advising and tutoring, it, sometimes, according to Williams, is the only support system students turn to in times of need. They are "their biggest advocate and cheerleader, and the shoulder to lean on when they need somebody to cry with," he told WFYI. The program's success has been notable, with around 65% of Bloomington’s Groups Scholars also being 21st Century Scholars, and it aims at replicating that success in Indianapolis, offering a one-time $2,000 stipend upon completion of the summer session.
