Indiana University cuts ribbon on new Capital Campus in Washington, D.C.

Written from press release

WASHINGTON — Indiana University officials and students cut the ribbon Tuesday on the university’s new Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., formally launching a permanent IU presence in the nation’s capital, according an IU press release.

The eight-story facility, located at 1619 Massachusetts Ave. NW, is intended to expand student opportunities, raise the visibility of IU research and connect the university community with policymakers, alumni, nonprofit leaders and industry partners, according to IU.

Indiana University President Pamela Whitten joined students for the ribbon cutting, which marked the official launch of the campus.

“By bringing our students, faculty and alumni closer to the institutions and conversations shaping our world, we are opening doors to life-changing experiences, elevating IU research and preparing tomorrow’s leaders to serve with purpose and impact,” Whitten said in the news release. “Through the Capital Campus, our students will gain the real-world experience they need to lead in Indiana and beyond.”

The Capital Campus includes classrooms, meeting and event spaces, offices and on-site student housing. IU officials said the facility will serve as a hub for academic programming, research collaboration and strategic partnerships in Washington.

The campus brings together and expands IU’s existing Washington-based academic programs and business operations. It will connect students across disciplines with internships, coursework, immersive learning and alumni networking opportunities throughout Washington.

Among the first programs operating through the Capital Campus are the Hamilton Lugar Washington, D.C., Global Policy Program; the Regionals Summer D.C. Program; and the Washington Leadership Program through the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, which IU said will continue its 40-year run this fall. The campus also will host students this fall through the IU Internship in Politics, Opportunity, Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship from the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Political Science.

Ken Iwama, IU vice president for regional campuses and online education, said the campus will give students direct access to academic and professional experiences that can shape careers.

“It also creates a central gathering place for the IU community — including one of the university’s largest alumni chapters — to connect and collaborate,” Iwama said.

Earlier this year, IU appointed Don DeMaria as executive director of the Capital Campus. DeMaria will guide the campus’s growth, help establish partnerships and expand access to Washington-based experiences for students across the university.

“The Capital Campus is focused on ensuring that students have meaningful experiences while they’re working alongside policymakers, connecting with employers and gaining the immersive experience that launches careers,” DeMaria said.

Several members of Indiana’s congressional delegation praised the opening, including U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Jim Banks, and U.S. Reps. Rudy Yakym, Erin Houchin and Jefferson Shreve.

IU officials said the campus also is intended to raise the visibility of university research and scholarship among Washington stakeholders, including policymakers and business leaders.

https://news.iu.edu/live/news/51148-indiana-university-officially-launches-capital

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