Nestled in the Martindale Brightwood neighborhood between a highway that overlooks the small yet neat campus and residential homes, sits Martin University. In its 30 plus years of educating the public, the not-for-profit, liberal arts institution has had its share of victories and defeats.
The university is spearheaded by well-known educator Dr. Eugene White, who has created a work plan called Martin University President’s Plan 2014-2019, to ensure Martin U. has more ups than downs in its future.
“I surveyed all of the students, faculty, staff and administrators. We tabulated their answers and prioritized them. From those responses, we began to put together this plan,” said White, who became the university’s president in November 2013. “My plan is a to-do list. It deals with things we must get done in order to place the university in a sound position.”
People must keep in mind that the President’s Plan is not comprehensive, but includes imperative items White believes must be accomplished as soon as possible. The plan is also broken down into two parts outlined with goals, objectives, activities and benchmarks.
The first part has 10 aspirations White believes will move the university to a sound operational status.
High on the priority list is improving the university’s financial stability. The school had to quickly settle a debt with the U.S. Department of Education. Furthermore, Martin relies heavily on student tuition. White is working to find other reliable sources of income to solidify the university’s future.
The school must also address accreditation concerns. Currently, the school is accredited but with probation due to various citations such as a financial shortfall resulting in layoffs, which led the Higher Learning Commission to question Martin’s academic efficiency; and low retention and graduation rates. Last month 61 students graduated from Martin University.
Other citations include high turnover. White said Martin University has had four presidents in the past three years.
“They have a team coming in September. We’re doing a self-study now and we think we’ll be ready when they return,” said White. “We need to have legitimacy in our diploma. So we will definitely make sure we get this right.”
Other objectives include enhancing current programs and identify new programs to better serve students. Students have already seen the benefits of this goal in a new one-on-one mentoring program with hopes of higher student retention and graduation. The school even created a student choir. In the fall, students will arrive on campus and find a student canteen in their revitalized student center.
White wants to prioritize needed facility repairs; implement the revised enrollment plan; and create an entrepreneurship major in the School of Business.
White also has goals of creating a new School of Education that will specifically focus on Pre-K through grade 5.
The second part of the President’s Plan includes construction or purchase of a facility to house Martin U.’s child care center; hire a director of university and community relations; construct a Martin University president’s house on the campus; renovate the Andrew J. Brown Building; and construct a new student athletic and health facility.
Student housing is also in Martin University’s future.
“Students who have come to me seem to appreciate the things we’ve done thus far, but we have a lot more work to do,” said White.
The Martin University President’s Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees last August and is currently in effect.
“The board liked Dr. White’s vision. But the burden isn’t all on Dr. White. The board has to be there, the community, students, and alumni all have to be there to take Martin to the next level,” said state Rep. John Bartlett, D-Indianapolis, and chairperson of the Martin University Board of Trustees. “The worst is behind us. Martin has a long life ahead.”
The plan is a working document allowing Martin U. and others, such as the President’s Advisory Committee composed of people from the business community, and local community groups, to review and revise the plan as needed.
Though many ambitious plans are scheduled to take place, Martin University wants to remain a “haven of hope” for those seeking post-secondary education and is banking on this plan to keep the school doors open for another 30 plus years.
“When you’re an IU, Purdue or Ball State, you have over 100 years of experience in graduates. You have a cushion for error. You have a student from Kelley School of Business who can’t balance the books, they’re not going to blame IU, they’re going to blame the student,” said White. “If we have someone from our business administration program who makes a mistake, they’re going to blame Martin. Its because we’re young and we have to build up that recognition.”
The new goals also aim to make Martin U. competitive and attractive but school brass also wants the culture put in place by the late founder of Martin University, Father Boniface Hardin, and founder Sister Jane Schilling to remain intact – a small institution for a diverse range of students who want to use their education to better their lives and make an impact on society.
While keeping to that culture, White hopes the new changes will boost school pride. He also hopes the changes will encourage the community to show their support for an institution right in the heart of their neighborhood.
“We’re the only predominantly Black university in Indiana. If people want Martin to be a certain way, you’re going to have to get involved and support it. We’re a university for the average person, but it’s the average person who will make or break us,” said White. “We have to value this university and value our own. We need the community to rally behind us.”
