On 65 acres about five miles due south of downtown Indianapolis lies the University of Indianapolis, a private school affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It abuts the University Heights and Carson Heights neighborhoods near the junction of Shelby Street and Hannah Avenue.
It was founded in 1902 and for many years was known as Indiana Central College. In 1975, it became known officially as Indiana Central University, and in 1986, the name changed again to the University of Indianapolis. The name game didn’t end there; since the last name change, the school has been better known by the shorthand UIndy (pronounced U-Indy).
It was founded in 1902 and for many years was known as Indiana Central College. In 1975, it became known officially as Indiana Central University, and in 1986, the name changed again to the University of Indianapolis. The name game didn’t end there; since the last name change, the school has been better known by the shorthand UIndy (pronounced U-Indy).
There was much speculation that the school made the final name change when it did because it was concerned that a public institution in town with a much longer name (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis) also was considering adopting the name and would grab it first.
For IUPUI, a mouthful of words when the name is recited or written longhand and snicker-cajoling moniker when the acronym is pronounced (Ooo-ee, Poo-ee), such a change would have been logical. Alas, today, more than a decade after I made my game day visit to UIndy, IUPUI is indeed transitioning to name changes as well.
Indiana and Purdue universities have agreed to separate from their joint roles in the Indianapolis institution and create separate campuses in the capital city. As of July 1, 2024, they will be known respectively as Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue (University) in Indianapolis. The IUPUI moniker will be retired.
The University of Indianapolis school adopted “UIndy” as its official short identifier to avoid being referred to as U of I, a shorthand already used by the universities of Illinois, Iowa and Idaho.
UIndy’s campus (the aforementioned 65 acres) is the smallest of those that were part of the game day project. Indeed, it is a compact campus with limited space. Its Smith Mall is modest, but it does include a long, rectangular reflection pool surrounded by Krannert Memorial Library on the west, Esch and Ransburg halls on the south, Schwitzer Student Center on the east and Lilly Science and Martin halls on the north.
Of the school’s 5,500 enrollment, 4,500 are undergraduates. The average class size is 17 and the student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1, according to UIndy’s website. The school offers more than 100 undergraduate degree programs, 40+ master’s degrees and five doctoral programs.
The University of Indianapolis school adopted “UIndy” as its official short identifier to avoid being referred to as U of I, a shorthand already used by the universities of Illinois, Iowa and Idaho.
UIndy’s campus (the aforementioned 65 acres) is the smallest of those that were part of the game day project. Indeed, it is a compact campus with limited space. Its Smith Mall is modest, but it does include a long, rectangular reflection pool surrounded by Krannert Memorial Library on the west, Esch and Ransburg halls on the south, Schwitzer Student Center on the east and Lilly Science and Martin halls on the north.
Of the school’s 5,500 enrollment, 4,500 are undergraduates. The average class size is 17 and the student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1, according to UIndy’s website. The school offers more than 100 undergraduate degree programs, 40+ master’s degrees and five doctoral programs.
Its largest programs are in occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, business, education and communication. UIndy awards more doctorate degrees than all but the four largest universities in Indiana (IU, Purdue, Ball State and Notre Dame).
The bulk of the campus can be found within the perimeters of State, Hannah and National avenues and Shelby Street. Good Hall, the oldest building on campus, opened when the school did, in 1905, and lies south of Hannah Avenue along the school's southern perimeter.
One of the newest facilities on campus when I made my visit was the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, at the southwest corner of campus near the intersection of Hannah and Shelby. It is a two-tiered Viennese-style structure that encompasses instruction and practice rooms, an art gallery and the 500-seat Ruth Lily Performance Hall used for lectures, concerts and student and faculty recitals, many of which are free and open to the public.
Across campus on the east end are the major athletics facilities, including Nicoson Hall arena (where the school's basketball teams, the Greyhounds, play their home games), Key Stadium (where the football and soccer teams play), Ruth Lily Fitness Center (which houses the natatorium and wrestling program), the UIndy Tennis Center and Greyhound Park baseball field.
Leading off the post is a floral arrangement in the median of Hanna Avenue. The city of Indianapolis spent considerable time in the early 2010s to rebuild this section of Hanna on the UIndy campus, primarily to add safety features but also to add the medians and this landscaping.
To view a full gallery of campus images from my visit to UIndy, follow the link in this sentence.
Esch Hall, as seen from the front and its main entrance (above and first photo below) and from the side overlooking Smith Mall (second and third photos below).
The Smith Mall, including the reflection pool (above), looking north toward Lilly Science and Martin halls, and the fountain (below).
Above: Lilly Science Hall, overlooking the mall from the north.
To view a full gallery of campus images from my visit to UIndy, follow the link in this sentence.
Above: Landscaping at the west end of Smith Mall.
Above: Schwitzer Student Center overlooks Smith Mall from the east end.
Above: The front of Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.
Above and below: Inside the DeHaan Fine Arts Center.
Above: Good Hall, which today is home to the Shaheen College of Arts and Sciences.
Ransburg Auditorium and the campus bell tower from afar (above), and a closeup of the front facade (below).
To view a gallery of images of the campus from a shoot on June 26, 2024, follow the link in this sentence. To view a Photo Potpourri blog post about that shoot, follow the link in this sentence.
Next up: Chapter 17, Wabash College vs. DePauw University, Nov. 2012
Previously in Game Day Revisited:
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