Indiana University Northwest announced today that it no longer will offer classes at its Portage University Center location.
Most offerings will cease at the end of the spring 2015 semester, while some will continue to be offered during the summer. Courses currently offered at the Portage Center will be relocated to the main IU Northwest campus.
The closure is a strategic decision, based on meeting the needs of IU Northwest students. Enrollment at the Portage location has decreased and the university will deploy its resources in a more efficient manner.
“IU Northwest has decided that it is in our long-term interest to discontinue off-site offerings, including those at the Portage University Center location,” IU Northwest Chancellor William J. Lowe said. “With diminished student traffic at the Portage University Center, we are focusing our efforts on responding to the interests and needs of our students, including continuing to expand our robust online course offerings. About 20 percent of our courses now are available online.”
Classes have been offered at the Portage University Center since 2012 and, prior to that location, at the Portage Commons for more than 10 years.
“On behalf of the City of Portage, I would like to thank Indiana University for its proven, long-standing commitment in offering higher education in our community,” Portage Mayor James E. Snyder said. “While disappointed, we understand that the model for delivering higher education is ever evolving. As the owners, the City Redevelopment Commission will explore future building uses and how those uses will advance the goals of the City.”
About Indiana University Northwest
As one of seven Indiana University campuses, IU Northwest leads the region as the premier, urban campus dedicated to serving the needs of more than 6,000 students from the state’s most diverse and industrialized region. Committed to helping its local Northwest Indiana communities thrive, IU Northwest is best-known for providing a personal, quality and affordable education close to home. IU Northwest positions its students to be leaders with more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional degree options available from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, and the School of Education. The campus is also host to IU School of Medicine-Northwest, which actively involves students in research and local healthcare needs through its four-year medical doctorate program. For more information, please visit www.iun.edu.