Butler University reimagines education, healthcare colleges

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler University says a shifting landscape and workforce led it to reimagine its approach to education.

As a result, the university is renaming two of its academic colleges. The College of Pharmacy and Health Professions will become the College of Health Professions. The College of Education will become the College of Education and Human Development.

The changes take effect on June 1, 2026. Both academic schools will add new programming.

Butler made the changes after consulting with faculty, staff and advisory councils. It also took input from industry stakeholders, “who emphasized the importance of preparing graduates for emerging roles within their respective fields,” according to a news release.

The College of Health Professions includes a Bachelor of Science in nursing program that launched in August. Several other programs are under consideration, including respiratory therapy, social work, nutrition and patient care management.

“We are building more healthcare offerings to meet workforce demands and improve patient care across settings,” said Dr. Robert Soltis, dean of the College of Health Professions. “These additional programs will strengthen our legacy programs in pharmacy and PA studies through shared resources and interprofessional activities.”

The College of Education and Human Development will include early childhood and K–12 education, adult learning, mental health counseling, sports and kinesiology. The name change reflects a “shifting market” in which students are pursuing degrees beyond educator preparation.

“This new name reflects who we are today and where we’re going in the future,” said Brooke Kandel, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “Our students are passionate about improving lives—in schools and communities and through health and wellness. The program now reflects the full range of needs related to human development.”

University officials said the name changes go beyond simple rebranding. They’re aimed at addressing workforce shortages in K-12 education and the healthcare sector.

“These changes are more than cosmetic—they represent a bold step forward in how we prepare students to meet the growing demands of careers in education and healthcare,” Butler University President James Danko said. “By expanding our programmatic offerings and updating our college names, we’re aligning our academic identity with where these professions are headed.”