IU Indianapolis has long been committed to working alongside the communities, organizations, and industries that strengthen our city and state. As Indiana’s urban R1 research university in the heart of Indianapolis, we play a distinctive role in connecting education, research, and community impact.
Throughout my career, I have focused on creating connections and building systems that help organizations and communities thrive. I am excited to bring that work to IU Indianapolis, an institution with a long-standing commitment to community engagement and a powerful role in supporting talent development and economic opportunity across Indiana.
The Office of Workforce and Community Engagement helps coordinate these efforts by serving as a consistent entry point for employers, organizations, civic partners, and members of the community seeking to collaborate with the university. We work across schools and units to align partnerships that expand experiential learning for students, support workforce development, and contribute to regional growth.
Together with our campus and community partners, we are strengthening connections between talent, opportunity, and innovation across Indianapolis, Indiana, and beyond.
– Marie Mackintosh, Vice Chancellor, IU Indianapolis Office of Workforce and Community Engagement
A Vision for Connecting Talent, Employers, and Community
Vice Chancellor Marie Mackintosh shares her vision for aligning student talent, employer needs, and community partnerships to advance workforce pathways, learning opportunities, and economic impact at IU Indianapolis.
Our Vision
IU Indianapolis will be the region’s most trusted higher education partner for talent, innovation, and workforce impact.
The Office of Workforce and Community Engagement advances that vision by strengthening employer and community partnership so that every student has access to real-world experience and every partnership contributes to regional prosperity.
Our Mission
The Office of Workforce and Community Engagement coordinates and aligns IU Indianapolis’ employer and community partnerships to strengthen talent pathways and workforce impact.
We do this by serving as a consistent entry point for external partners, stewarding engagement across schools and units, expanding high-impact experiential learning, and using shared systems and data to improve career outcomes and regional collaboration.
Our History
From the founding of IUPUI in 1969, community engagement has been central to IU Indianapolis’ identity. Offices dedicated to service learning, community service, and neighborhood engagement emerged in the 1990s, reflecting a growing institutional commitment to partnership.
Building on a legacy of community engagement at IUPUI, the Office of Service Learning was established in 1993, followed by the Office of Community Service (1994) and Office of Neighborhood Resources (1997).
In 2001, these offices merged to form the Center for Service and Learning, which sought to involve students, faculty, and staff in service activities that mutually benefit the campus and community. The Center supported service-learning courses, encouraged participation in community service initiatives, advanced the scholarship of service, and promoted civic engagement in higher education.
The IUPUI Solution Center was created to serve as a front door to business, government, and nonprofit partners, connecting university expertise to economic development and regional challenges. Funded by IUPUI and the Lilly Endowment, the Center linked faculty and students with local organizations to create useful partnerships. It also managed the IUPUI Community Venture Fund, providing matching support for internships, research projects, and short-term business assistance.
In 2014, the Solution Center merged with parts of the Community Learning Network and became the Professional Development and Corporate Education initiative within the Office of Community Engagement.
The Community Learning Network focused on continuing education and lifelong learning, offering more than 600 classes annually to over 7,000 residents in Central Indiana.
In 2014, the network merged with the Solution Center and became part of the Professional Development and Corporate Education initiative within the Office of Community Engagement.
Through the integration of the Office of External Affairs, the Community Learning Network, the Center for Service and Learning, and the Solution Center, the Office of Community Engagement was charged with identifying focus areas that address high-priority, community-identified needs.
The office supported initiatives in family, school, and neighborhood programs; professional development and corporate training; and fostering a culture of engagement among students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
In 2017, Indiana Campus Compact became affiliated with the Office of Community Engagement.
In December 2025, the office evolved into the Office of Workforce & Community Engagement, reflecting an expanded commitment to student career outcomes, employer partnerships, workforce development, and economic impact.
Let’s Advance Impact Together
Connect with us to explore partnership opportunities with IU Indianapolis.
