August 21, 2025

JASPER, Ind. - As the 2025-26 academic year opened this week, the Vincennes University Board of Trustees met at the VU Jasper Campus on Wednesday, Aug. 20, to review promising enrollment figures and new opportunities shaping the University's impact in Indianapolis.

Director of Admissions Sarah McLin shared encouraging enrollment gains. She reported that the Fall Semester 2025 enrollment at the Vincennes Campus rose to 2,481 students, a 5% increase and the highest since 2023. At the Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis, enrollment surged 39% over last year.

VU Jasper is also demonstrating significant momentum. Assistant Vice President and VUJ Dean Adam Watkins (pictured above) shared that the Jasper Campus exceeded its new full-time student enrollment target, achieving a 23% increase. Attendance at PreVU events rose an impressive 133%, and applications increased 19% over the previous year.

Watkins also highlighted VUJ partnerships, including with the Patoka Valley Career and Technical Cooperative, where high school students will again collaborate with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a local family as part of their coursework. He noted that another partner, Deaconess Memorial Medical Center, has been instrumental in helping develop VU Jasper's new Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic certificate program, which has its first cohort for the Fall Semester 2025.

Vice President of Government and Legal Affairs Tony Hahn highlighted VU’s role in the Riverside Education and Innovation District (REID), a bold initiative led by Marian University that will transform the former Larue Carter state hospital campus in the Near Northwest Area (NNW) of Indianapolis into a hub for lifelong learning that supports literacy, early childhood education, and workforce development as a way of revitalizing the neighborhood and advancing educational attainment. VU plans to offer a mix of career and technical education (CTE) programs, including dual enrollment programs for high school students, for adult education programs outside of traditional school hours, and for apprenticeship programs with major companies in the Indianapolis area.

VU is experiencing  promising growth in its bachelor’s degree programs, especially online offerings, fueled by targeted marketing campaigns that highlight the flexibility and value of a VU education. These initiatives, introduced by Sarah Fortune, Senior Director of External Relations, reflect a larger commitment to brand consistency through compelling video storytelling and unified messaging. At the same time, VU is leaning into its powerful origin story: founded by U.S. President William Henry Harrison, whose father Benjamin Harrison signed the Declaration of Independence. This legacy positions VU as the true “original Trailblazers,” carrying forward a tradition of bold leadership while driving innovation and growth in higher education today.

To ensure that this message is delivered with one clear, powerful voice across the entire institution, VU has also introduced a new Brand Book Enhancement—a systemwide resource designed to unify the University’s identity, strengthen recognition, and align all communications under a consistent and inspiring brand.

In other business,

• The Trustees approved Vice President for Financial Services Conya Wampler as the Treasurer for the Board of Trustees.
• The Board voted to promote Caleb Levi Ramsey, Director of IT Security, to Professional Staff Level IV, and Jennifer Holscher, Director of Institutional Research, to Professional Staff Level III.