About Indiana University Northwest

Description of the video:

College is a time for learning, exploring and growing. It’s when you get to shape the person you want to be and the life you want to live.

And at Indiana University Northwest, it’s a journey you don’t take alone. Our award-winning faculty, caring staff and encouraging support teams are here for you every step of the way.

We care about your future, we care about your success—and it shows. This year, many of our students have persevered in the face of the pandemic and have done their best to thrive in their own way.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I transitioned from high school to college, especially in the middle of COVID-19.

In high school, my online classes were very different than they are here. The technology is different and the classes are more engaging and I’m learning so much more. Some of my classes are online and some of my classes are in person. It all depends on your course of study.

My professors have been very supportive and understanding. The work really hard to make sure that I am doing well in school and in life.

Many of the hands-on learning opportunities students enjoy are still available, they just look a little differently.

One of the cool things about being a student here is the strong interaction between faculty and staff. We are a pretty small campus so there are lots of opportunities at IU Northwest you won’t find anywhere else.

For example, I am conducting research alongside my biology professor. We are studying antibiotic-resistant bacteria and ways to stay one step ahead of superbugs.

The pandemic hasn’t slowed down our research. We’ve been taking extra safety precautions like wearing masks and sanitizing the lab very thoroughly.

Efforts like these, as well as an ambitious testing program, have led to low rates of COVID-19 on campus. IU researchers recently found that infection risk was not higher among students attending more in-person courses, making IU Northwest one of the safest campuses in the state.

The fact that everyone works so hard on campus to keep us safe means a lot to me. It shows me that people care and it feels good to know that my professors and friends on campus have my back.

When I doubt myself, I think about all that love and support and remember why I am in school in the first place: to help me achieve my dream. And it encourages me to keep going.

At IU Northwest, we want students to succeed because we know that the payoff is tremendous. College degree holders earn more money and have more job stability, with a recent study showing that the average bachelor’s degree holder from IU Northwest sees an increase of more than $20,000 in earnings each year, compared to someone with a high school diploma working in Indiana.

But perhaps more importantly, the adversity we are all facing now is leading to new ways of doing things and teaching us to overcome any obstacles in our way.

The silver lining is that these reimagined experiences are preparing students to enter a world where innovation and resilience is needed more than ever.

If you are wondering if you can still have fun in college while dealing with a pandemic, the answer is definitely, Yes!

With 70 student-led clubs on campus, our student volunteer leaders have been working around the clock to make sure we stay connected to each other.

We’ve hosted drive-in movie nights, food drives and giveaways, Philanthropy Week, Zoom games, sporting events and so much more.

We’re all in this together, so why not have fun together!

Yeah, it’s been great! If you’re thinking about putting off college, don’t!

I’ve really pushed myself this semester … and I am so glad I did, because it’s worth it!

To learn more about how you too can thrive at IU Northwest, visit northwest.iu.edu today.