Jeffrey M. Linder, a senior executive at Clarian Health Partners Inc., has been named to the position of associate vice president for state government relations at Indiana University. Linder will form a state relations team with John Grew, who was recently promoted to the position of executive director of state relations and policy analysis. The team will serve as the university's primary representatives to all state departments and agencies as well as the Indiana General Assembly.

Kirk White, director of community relations at Indiana University, is taking a one-year military leave of absence to serve a second tour of duty in Afghanistan but has much to look forward to upon his return. White has been promoted to the newly created position of assistant vice president for university relations and engagement and will have an expanded portfolio of responsibilities that include business relations and economic development in the Bloomington area as well as his continuing duties in the public affairs arena.

The William T. Patten Foundation, under the auspices of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, announced the Patten Lecture Series for 2009-2010. Lecturers will be Henry Louis Gates Jr., Andrew H. Knoll, and W. J. T. Mitchell.

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie presented the Sue H. Talbot Distinguished HHE Member Award to Community Captains Pat and Ken Shidler of Bloomington, at a ceremony Tuesday in Indianapolis. The presentation was in conjunction with the 18th Annual Hoosiers for Higher Education Statehouse Visit.

A veteran state legislator was recognized by Hoosiers for Higher Education for her significant contributions to higher education and Indiana University. IU President Michael A. McRobbie presented the Welsh-Bowen Distinguished Public Official Award to Sen. Teresa Lubbers, R-Indianapolis. The award is named for former Indiana Governors Matthew Welsh and Otis "Doc" Bowen.

Indiana University and Purdue University will join forces Feb. 17 for the 18th annual Hoosiers for Higher Education Statehouse Visit and Indiana Innovation Alliance Day, making the case to state legislators for the Alliance and its importance to the state's economic future.

Enrollment at Indiana University's eight campuses for the 2008-09 spring semester reached a record high of 97,155 students, an increase of 3,754, or 4 percent, from last spring's total enrollment.

Indiana University has always strived to design its Web sites as invaluable communications tools for everyone wanting to know more about the Big Ten institution. A new ranking affirms how IU is seen by users of the Internet worldwide.

Valerie Peña of Bloomington has been appointed to the newly created position of executive director and chief of staff for the Office of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Indiana University. Peña, senior vice president of Oliver Wine Co., will begin her new duties Dec. 1. She will report to Mike Sample, vice president for public affairs and government relations.

IU and Purdue may be oil and water when it comes to athletics, but thanks to the Indiana Innovation Alliance, an effort to foster life sciences research and partnerships throughout Indiana, they're more like . . . Indiana corn and butter. Persimmons and pudding. YouTube and viral marketing. A new, 30-second YouTube video, available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp2F5i2lpoI, expresses the partnership in a humorous tone that gets the point across: IU and Purdue are actually working together. The spot hints at a new, research-based collaboration between the two powerhouse universities that will ultimately result in better health and more jobs in the state.

Thomas A. Morrison, a senior administrator at Ball State University, has been chosen as Indiana University's chief liaison and representative to members of the Indiana General Assembly. He will join IU on Oct. 13 as associate vice president for public affairs and state relations.

Fairgoers will have a chance to handle cannon balls salvaged from Caribbean shipwrecks, take part in hands-on science games and experiments, pick up free gifts and prizes -- and learn more about how "IU is Red Hot" -- on Aug. 7 during IU Day at the Indiana State Fair. The day-long celebration will feature more than 50 booths dispensing family-oriented fun and information about Indiana University.

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie announced today that he has chosen Eugene R. "Gene" Tempel to succeed Curtis R. Simic as president of the IU Foundation. Tempel will be the seventh leader of the nonprofit organization established in 1936 as Indiana University's fundraising partner.

A total of 16,049 graduates will be eligible for degrees from Indiana University during May commencement ceremonies at eight campuses. IU commencement week begins in Bloomington on May 3 (Saturday) and concludes at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on May 14 (Wednesday).

Indiana University will host openhouse sessions next week at IUPUI and on the IU Bloomington campus to give the university community an opportunity to engage in the early stages of creating a comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide future campus growth and development on its two largest campuses.

Go online to watch today's 3 p.m. press conference at which IU President Michael McRobbie will respond to the NCAA's "notice of allegations" received by IU last week. He will take questions from the media following his initial response.

To watch, go online to: http://broadcast.iu.edu/sport/sampson/index.html

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie presented the Sue H. Talbot Distinguished HHE Member Award to John E. Sullivan of Greenwood, a community captain with Hoosiers for Higher Education. The presentation was made in a ceremony in conjunction with the 17th Annual Hoosiers for Higher Education Statehouse Visit.

Indiana University scientists and leaders will gather to promote Indiana's life sciences research and support IU's 2008 legislative agenda at the Indiana State House on Wednesday, Feb. 13, as part of the annual State House Visit and Life Sciences Day. IU President Michael A. McRobbie and IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson will offer remarks during the event sponsored by Hoosiers for Higher Education at 1 p.m. in the North Atrium of the State House before an expected 400 guests.

New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities, Indiana University's unique arts and humanities grant program, has announced a new round of 30 grant winners. The New Frontiers program is funded by a $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc.

Supporters of higher education from around Indiana will travel to the state Capitol in Indianapolis on Wednesday, Feb. 13, for the 17th annual Hoosiers for Higher Education Statehouse Visit and IU Life Sciences Day. An afternoon program, in the North Atrium of the Statehouse, will include remarks by Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie and IU Bloomington Provost Karen Hanson.

The Indiana University Board of Trustees today (Jan. 31) approved the site plan for construction of the 803-bed Ashton student housing complex, the first step in a multi-stage plan to upgrade campus housing at IU Bloomington. Located on the east side of campus, the complex will provide apartment-style units comparable to popular off-campus student housing in Bloomington.