ISU approves new academic initiatives at Board of Trustees meeting
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— On Friday, the Indiana State University Board of Trustees met and approved multiple new initiatives to give students more opportunities and better align programs with workforce needs.
Dr. Christopher Olsen, the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, presented a new undergraduate certificate in unmanned systems. This certificate will provide specialized drone technology training to students.
'The new Unmanned Systems certificate provides a flexible, skills-based credential that complements a variety of majors,' said Provost Olsen. 'It opens doors for students to explore the rapidly evolving field of drone technology while enhancing their ability to gather, interpret, and apply data, particularly in fields such as environmental science, engineering, and public safety. Additionally, the program is designed to accommodate professionals and lifelong learners who may not be pursuing a degree but are interested in gaining practical expertise for career advancement or personal enrichment.'
The board also approved updates to the undergraduate catalog to expand Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) opportunities. This revised policy will allow the recognition of learning acquired outside the classroom, such as military experience, professional training, and independent study.
'As our student demographics and needs continue to evolve, we're committed to meeting learners where they are,' said Maribeth Stevens, Vice President for Enrollment Management. 'Expanded CPL and specialized credentials like the Unmanned Systems certificate reflect our focus on access, affordability, and career alignment, especially for adult learners, transfer students, and others seeking flexible, workforce-ready pathways.'
The board made other changes as well, including approving the disposition of surplus real estate to the City of Terre Haute,
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBS News
24 minutes ago
- CBS News
Denver's Ballpark General Improvement District hires new leader from Chicago Cubs' Wrigleyville
The Ballpark General Improvement District surrounding Coors Field in Denver began its ambassador program three months ago after businesses and residents chose to tax themselves to fund the GID. Its role is to help make the area safer and cleaner for residents and visitors. Now, the district has a new leader with a new vision. The search for its first executive director was national, but in a sea of more than 350 applicants it was a Ballpark neighborhood resident who got the job. Kate McKenna's first day was Wednesday but is already looking at ways to expand their efforts. Mckenna also lives in the area and has already seen an enormous change over the last three months. "The amount of what I call linger longer; people, positive loitering, the cleanliness, the friendliness, has just been tenfold," said McKenna. Kate McKenna CBS McKenna moved to the area from Chicago a year ago and was excited about the opportunity to lead the improvement efforts as the first executive director. "Strategically, we're looking for clean, green, and safe as our main initiatives. And I would say that my role is going to be pivotal in being the administration behind that, making sure that the promises are met, that the accountability is there, and that we maintain focus while bringing the community together. Really a liaison of sorts." She previously worked with the improvement district surrounding Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs play, and will lean on their success as inspiration. Her hope is that more people will be drawn to the area year-round by supporting the neighborhood's culture and business. CBS "We do have that sort of heart and culture here, beyond just the MLB team. I think being able to replicate some of their successes by making sure that we're advocating and patronizing the small businesses before and after and during the games, if you earn a ticket holder, is really what's going to keep us in that forward momentum." The area could get a more colorful makeover in the future. "My personal desire is to paint everything," she said. "It's a very accessible and very positive change for any neighborhood. Even if it's just project-by-project basis, you're going to see a lot of new and exciting things in the area."


TechCrunch
34 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Building More Scalable GenAI Applications for Startups and Developers
In this TechCrunch Sessions: AI event, Oracle shares a rundown of how MySQL HeatWave empowers you in building AI-based solutions in areas such as personal productivity, automating workflows for compliance, service, or support, and increasing efficiencies in healthcare, among others. By leveraging HeatWave's built-in vector store, in-database LLMs, in-database machine learning capabilities, and massively parallel processing architecture, teams can develop richer GenAI applications that incorporate real-time data, advanced personalization, and complex retrieval-augmented generation techniques without the need for separate, specialized databases or complex ETL processes. This approach simplifies the GenAI development stack, accelerates time-to-market, and allows startups and developers to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure management, ultimately enabling the creation of more powerful, responsive, and scalable GenAI solutions. And for the rest of our Sessions: AI programming, check out our playlist here.


Bloomberg
34 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
South Korea Says Trump Agrees to Ramp Up Tariff Talks With Lee
South Korea said newly elected President Lee Jae-myung spoke for the first time with Donald Trump and agreed to seek 'tangible results' in trade negotiations, after the US leader imposed a 25% tariff on all imports from its Asian ally. 'The two presidents agreed to work toward a mutually satisfactory agreement on tariff consultations between South Korea and the US as soon as possible,' presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a statement after Friday's talks. The nations would have 'working-level negotiations,' she added.