Jan. 20, 2020 marks Indiana University’s bicentennial and planning for the big celebration is well underway. The Office of the Bicentennial has programs in the works to celebrate, chronicle, and explore IU’s history as well as to inspire our next 100 years.
In partnership with the IU Alumni Association, the Office of the Bicentennial has identified four activities that our chartered communities can take part in this fiscal year (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019) to make this a global celebration for all alumni:
Recognizing IU Excellence
During the 2019–2020 academic year, IU will honor individuals and organizations with the Bicentennial Medal. The medal will be awarded for personal, professional, artistic, or philanthropic efforts that have broadened the reach of IU around the world. Each chartered community is encouraged to gather and submit nominations for a Bicentennial Medal recipient.
Leave Your Mark
IU’s historical marker program commemorates significant places, people, events, and organizations that have made an impact on IU’s history. Each chartered community and its members are encouraged to nominate subjects for these markers, which will be installed on all IU campuses.
IU Bicentennial Speakers Bureau
The Office of the Bicentennial has resident experts who are available to speak at chartered community events. Presentation topics may range from general IU history to a deeper examination of a specific person, issue, or organization in IU’s 200 years. The Bicentennial Speakers Bureau will cover the transportation and lodging costs for its speakers, who include James Capshew, IU historian; Kelly Kish, IU Bicentennial director; Jeremy Hackerd, IU Bicentennial project manager; and Kristin Browning Leaman, IU Bicentennial archivist.
Share Your Story
The IU Bicentennial Oral History Project captures interviews with IU alumni, faculty, and staff to supplement the university’s archive. These stories are vital to understanding IU’s history and will provide researchers with valuable information about the university’s development. Our chartered communities are invited to host a sign-up drive to identify alumni who are interested in sharing their stories and to collect their contact information.
Next fiscal year (July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020) we will ask all chartered alumni communities to celebrate by hosting a birthday party of sorts for Indiana University on Jan. 20, 2020. More information to come!
To find out more about the Bicentennial Chartered Communities Campaign, visit the landing page on the Volunteer Leaders Intranet. There you can find out about the assets that accompany each activity, activate the campaign, and review reporting requirements. And as always, reach out to me directly at mcafee@iu.edu.
We are excited to celebrate with you!