What’s Wrong With Hoosier Higher Ed Options?

The end goal of helping get more young people to college is an excellent one. The outreach to out-of-state universities is confusing.

Indy Parks and Recreation received a grant from a variety of local sources for the Indy Youth Achievers program. For those who qualify, training in the form of a series of workshops and community service projects precedes the campus tours. A press release states that "nearly 100 youth will check out life at Old Dominion University, Duquesne University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, University of Louisville, Western Kentucky University and Bellarmine University." For the uninitiated, that includes stops, in order, in Norfolk, Virgnia; Pittsburgh; Teaneck, New Jersey and two Kentucky cities — Louisville and Bowling Green.

Good program, good schools, but why such far-flung locations for Indianapolis-area youths? Maybe, or at least I hope, there is a good answer out there. Does anyone know?