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IU’s College of Arts and Sciences has launched the Pillars Undergraduate Experience, a new undergraduate program designed to help students gain skills and real-world experience in their respective fields.  

IU created the initiative after national criticism of higher education not properly preparing undergraduates for success post-graduation. 

The program highlights four key pillars: research, career readiness, intentional life design, and immersive learning. 

The Pillars Experience unofficially started in 2015 when IU established the Walter career center. The program was developed by consulting with college students, faculty, alumni and employers. 

The Pillars Undergraduate Experience reflects IU’s 2030 plan that focuses on student success and opportunity. 

Read More: IU 2030 Strategic Plan brings new areas of focus to university  

IU officials say this is the first initiative in the country that redefines liberal arts and sciences undergraduate education. It will launch this summer. 

The Pillars Undergraduate Experience focuses on ensuring undergraduate students graduate with skills that employers value. Specific courses will help students develop resume writing, interviewing, networking and job search strategies. 

This week on Noon Edition we’ll talk with the deans of IU’s College of Arts and Sciences to hear more about IU’s new initiative. 

Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].  

You can also record your questions and send them in through email.  

Rick Van Kooten, Executive Dean, Professor of Physics 

Joe Lovejoy, Assistant Dean, Executive Director, Walter Center for Career Achievement 

Lauren Garcia, Undergraduate senior majoring in Microbiology 

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In January, the Trump administration signed executive orders suspending U.S. refugee admissions programs. Bloomington’s refugee support organizations have felt the impact and expressed concerns about the stance on deportations by Gov. Mike Braun and Trump.  

Read More: Legal immigrants still worried about deportation under Trump 

Organizations like Exodus and The Bloomington Refugee Support Network have helped refugees integrate in Bloomington. 

Exodus, which has offices in Indianapolis and Bloomington, works to bring refugees to the state, including 800 last year. 

Indiana University has partnered with Exodus to provide support and opportunities for students to volunteer and teach English. The Exodus Bloomington office has helped more than 60 of its clients find jobs and opportunities in IU. 

But Exodus announced that it will be locking its doors and conducting programs and classes virtually as a response to Braun’s executive order for police to cooperate with federal agents on immigration. 

The Bloomington Refugee Support Network helps newly arriving families readjust in Bloomington. 

Pete Lenzen, director of The Bloomington Refugee Support Network, has expressed concern for the safety of refugees coming to Indiana and seeking asylum. 

This week on Noon Edition, we’ll talk with experts from Exodus the Bloomington Support Network and IU to get their insights on Bloomington's refugee programs. 

Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].  

You can also record your questions and send them in through email. 

Guest: 

Pete Lenzen, Director of the Bloomington Refugee Support Network 

Elizabeth Dunn, IU director of refugee studies and author 

Cassandra Sanborn, Exodus Director of Development  

Kirkwood Avenue will close to vehicle traffic from Indiana Avenue to Walnut Street starting April 4. The decision was made to increase community engagement and commerce for local businesses.

Read more: City board finalizes 2025 Kirkwood Outdoor Dining Program

The Kirkwood Outdoor Dining Program began in 2020 during the pandemic to provide outside seating to local restaurants that had to adjust to indoor social distancing.

Council members want to close Kirkwood for community matters but not for economic reasons, as was done in the past. Certain council members view Kirkwood as an experience rather than a walkable street.

The closure of Kirkwood has raised concerns for businesses downtown; only half said in a recent survey that they support the closure.

Read more: City considers long-term extension of Kirkwood outdoor dining program

Accessibility worries were brought up during the city council vote, with community members expressing concerns about accessibility for people with disabilities and the elderly. Some say that will lead to isolation of certain community groups.

This year, Kirkwood is scheduled to close on April 4 and reopen Nov. 10, weather permitting.

This week on Noon Edition we’ll discuss the closure of Kirkwood and what local residents can expect.

Join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to [email protected].  

You can also record your questions and send them in through email. 

Jane Kupersmith, Bloomington's Director of Economic and Sustainable Development

Isak Asare, Bloomington City Council member

Rev. Matt Seddon, Rector of the Trinity Episcopal Church 

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On the first day of his term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that added a 75-day period of non-enforcement on the TikTok ban. Three days earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok and on Jan. 18 the app was banned on all U.S devices.

TikTok is currently facing scrutiny for collecting user data and allegedly sharing it with the Chinese government and knowingly allowing harmful activities on TikTok Live. 

The supreme court ban was issued because of concerns of manipulation of content by the Chinese government and obtaining access to user data. Congress passed the legislation to ban TikTok unless the platform was sold to a government-approved cooperative. 

TikTok CEO Shou Chew attended President Trump’s inauguration, as did the CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg and X owner Elon Musk.

With over 170 million Americans using TikTok daily, President Trump is looking to reinstate TikTok permanently. Generation Z makes up 60 percent of the TikTok userbase.

This week on Noon Edition we’ll talk with IU professors of cyber security and media ethics, as well as a TikTok content creator.

Ava Wilson, Indiana University undergraduate and TikTok content creator

Lois Scheidt, IU instructor in adolescent internet use and digital ethics

Scott Shackelford, executive director, Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research

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IU Bloomington ranked fifth nationally in number of students studying abroad during the 2022-23 academic year. 

Nearly 4,000 students from all IU campuses traveled to more than 70 countries. Over the past two decades, IU ranks in the top 20 among schools in number of students who studied abroad.

Read more: IU launches Ghana Gateway, hopes to grow African partnerships 

IU Education Abroad’s most popular programs include Amsterdam, Kenya, Grand Cayman Islands and Japan.

IU Indianapolis, Kokomo, and South Bend also have study abroad programs where students can go to Germany, Poland, Austria and Amsterdam. IU Bloomington has more students traveling abroad than any other university in the state. 

IU Bloomington also ranks in the top 40 of universities in hosting international students. It has more than 6,300 international students from over 120 countries. 

This week on Noon Edition, we’ll talk with directors and student advisors about IU’s Education Abroad growth. 

Guest: 

Jennifer Engel, Associate Vice President for Education Abroad 

Shelby Gosser, Education Abroad peer Advisor  

Liz Utley, Education Abroad peer Adviso

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President Joe Biden has declared January 9 a National Day of Mourning for the recent passing of former president Jimmy Carter at age 100. 

Carter served one term as president and was trounced in his reelection bid in 1980 by Ronald Reagan. But Carter went on to become a beloved former president who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and built homes for Habitat for Humanity. 

Among the last places Carter visited for Habitat for Humanity was Mishawaka and South Bend, Ind., in 2018.  

Read More: Indiana leaders remember Jimmy Carter for his humanitarian work  

During his presidency, Carter presided over a poor economy and a failed rescue of American hostages in Iran. He also won a historic agreement between Israel and Egypt known as the Camp David Accords. Carter’s Nobel Prize was for his work for international peace. 

This week on Noon Edition we’ll talk with Indiana historians to get their insights on Carter’s presidency and his impact on U.S history. 

Guests: 

Kathryn Brownell, Associate professor of history at Purdue University 

Jim Williams, President & CEO at Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County 

Marjorie Hershey, Professor of political science at Indiana University 

Meredith Evans, Director of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum 

The Indiana General Assembly will convene on Jan. 8 to begin crafting laws for the upcoming year. 

The 100 representatives and 50 senators look to tackle a multitude of issues for 2025, with education being a top priority. Indiana ranked seventh in the U.S for Pre-K through 12 grade. However, lawmakers look to increase pay to help fill teacher shortages, fund summer schools and improve services for students with disabilities. 

Read More: Vouchers for Indiana students with disabilities hits record enrollment 

Lawmakers also will have to pass a new budget to run the state for the next two years. That will include discussions on Indiana’s Medicaid program, which is second only to education in percentage of the state’s budget. 

The two-year budget passed in 2023 was for $44.5 billion.

Read More: How do I follow Indiana’s legislative session? Here’s your guide to demystify the process  

One bill already filed for the upcoming session looks to abolish the state’s death penalty. It comes on the heels of last month’s execution of Joseph Corcoran, the first person put to death by the state since 2009.

Read More: Indiana resumes death penalty after 15-year pause  

Like it has for the past decade, the GOP will have a super-majority in both chambers of the statehouse. But, for the first time in eight years, they’ll be sending legislation to a new governor’s desk. Republican Mike Braun will be sworn in on Jan. 13 to succeed term-limited Eric Holcomb. 

This week on Noon Edition, we’ll talk with Indiana senators and house of representative to hear their insights and get a preview on the upcoming legislative session. 

Guests: 

Shelli Yoder, Democrat, Indiana State Senator, District 40 

Matt Pierce, Democrat, Indiana State Representative, District 61

Bruce Borders, Republican, Indiana State Representative, District 45

Join our host Bob Zaltsberg in a pre-recorded Noon Edition featuring WFIU reporters looking back on 2024 and discussing their favorite and most popular stories. 

We’ll hear from Ethan Sandweiss, Bente Bouthier and Aubrey Wright. They covered news stories including the eclipse, elections and the federal housing program. 

Read More: IU loses $1.3 million on eclipse day event  

They also covered the Dunn Meadow protests and the university’s response; the no-confidence votes against IU President Pamela Whitten; the splitting of IUPUI; and John Mellencamp's statue unveiling. 

Read More: IU honors Mellencamp’s Hoosier roots with statue  

This week on a pre-recorded Noon Edition, you’ll hear from our local reporters and their favorite stories from 2024.

You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews. We will not be accepting calls this show.

Ethan Sandweiss, WFIU reporter 

Bente Bouthier, WFIU reporter 

Aubrey Wright, WFIU reporter