Butler University unveiled a renovated campus space for its new two-year Founder’s College opening in August.
The program aims to provide students from low-wealth backgrounds with a debt-free track to an associate degree and options to pursue a four-year degree at reduced costs.
Among the first of its kind in the country, the college covers all student expenses via private donations, including a $2.5 million gift from Indianapolis philanthropist and alumna Marianne Glick and her spouse, Mike Woods.
Founded in 1855 by abolitionist Ovid Butler, the university has a history of inclusivity. It was among the first schools to admit women and students of color equally. It established the nation’s first endowed chair for a female professor.
Additionally, the funds support renovations to a 9,000-square-foot building that the Christian Theological Seminary previously utilized as a library.
“Founder’s College is a bold extension of Butler’s founding mission — to expand access to education and opportunity,” Butler University President James Danko said. He stressed the university’s commitment to “intentionality and personalized education,” citing the program’s emphasis on removing financial obstacles.
The renovated space includes three classrooms, common areas, staff offices and outdoor access. Students share campus amenities such as libraries, dining halls and clubs.
Founding Dean Carolyn Gentle-Genitty described the facility as a “promise” to help students “author their own ending” through accessible resources like career coaches, counselors and academic advisors.
“From entering the space, the smell and feel is one of welcome,” Gentle-Genitty said.
Founder’s College targets recent high school graduates or those within two years of completing high school. It offers four interdisciplinary majors: Business Data Analytics, Business Management Studies, Healthcare Studies and Youth and Community Advocacy.
According to the university, graduates can transition into four-year Butler programs with minimal debt.
The college’s launch addresses declining enrollment rates, particularly among first-generation students.
Applications for Founder’s College’s inaugural fall 2025 class are open. More details are available at butler.edu/founders.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
