Change Your World: The Power of New Ideas

Abstract

The IUPUI Common Theme Project grew out of an initiative by University College and is designed to promote campus unity, conversation, and collaboration across all disciplines on timely issues that connect IUPUI to central Indiana and the world. This Common Theme enables us to recognize and celebrate our successes as a campus as well as challenge ourselves to find new ways to make an impact in our community. It will introduce the campus and community to local social entrepreneurs who are willing to share their stories and engage students, faculty, and staff in events and activities that will encourage thought, debate, research, and innovation. This multidisciplinary theme presents many opportunities for cross-campus research, interaction with international students and faculty, and expanding study abroad programs. It generates myriad ways to incorporate service and experiential learning at the campus, community, or global level by building on current partnerships and establishing new ones that will evolve beyond IUPUI. Our greatest strengths are our highly diverse and creative population, broad range of disciplines and partnerships, and access to resources, which make IUPUI uniquely situated to engage in a Common Theme that has the potential to affect social change both great and small, locally and globally, giving everyone the potential to truly be a changemaker.