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It may be tempting imagine a farm woman and her daughter from a developing country like Thailand lack motivation or resources to become "modern" like us. Until you actually talk to them, you get a different vision of what the future holds. Actually the pictured woman above lives in one of the poorest areas of Thailand that is subject to frequent drought that diminishes their rice crops. The image itself is taken in her rice field a few months before planting season. This part of Thailand is in the northeast and known as the Isan region, where poor growing conditions prompt rural peoples to migrate for unskilled jobs in the country's capital, Bangkok. In fact, if you are in Bangkok it's quite common that a taxi driver or waitress will say they moved here from Isan since such migrations are often and frequent. But this farm woman like most of us is forward-looking. At the time of our meeting, she had two young adult sons who were studying at a vocational school to earn a degree in the trades. In the developing world a common refrain heard from farm people is they want to put their children through school for a better life. So they save what few resources they can assemble to that effort. It was unclear at that time what future this farm woman intended for her daughter, although education is a common recourse for Thai females as it is for males. However, the mother's life experiences taught it was too hard making a living off the land, so she looked forward to supporting their educations as the key to her offspring's brighter future. Although living in a different culture and economic situation, the farm woman and daughter above are forward-looking to a better life through education for her family like much of the rest of us here.

September 8 The History of IU Northwest

When you physically arrive at Indiana University Northwest, the last thought in your mind is how the campus got here. You see the shining limestone buildings and manicured lawns as if it were a fait accompli for Indiana University to simply decide to put down roots here. Yet what comprises IU Northwest today is the result of visions of community leaders reaching out to Indiana University--Bloomington as far back as the 1920s. And Indiana University responded by providing classes, instructors and facilities around the Region until today's permanent location at 35th Avenue and Broadway was finally opened in 1959. Through all this time, there were fierce debates, community struggles, building programs and even structural ruins that give you the campus upon which you walk today. Today's lecture will recount the community and university leaders and their educational vision whose goal, cited in the 1920s, remains relevant today:

University Extension recognizes the fact that education

is not to be regarded in Gary a privilege for a few nor for

a short period of youth but is to be universal and lifelong

for all

-- Albert Fertsch, Director of Adult Education, Gary Schools Corporation

Breakout Discussion: After the brief lecture we will reflect not on just how IU Northwest got here, but what it means to us in terms of our education. We will discuss IU Northwest's reputation in the community, why we chose to study here and the implications of at ending a "commuter campus."

September 15 and 17 The Future of IU Northwest

This week we build upon last week's explorations of IU Northwest's history and where you fit in to its presence. On September 15 we take it a step further to image what we consider to be an ideal university and how IU Northwest matches up to it in Class Discussion #2, and then we will move into a Breakout Session Discussion for you to give your ideas on how to improve Indiana University Northwest. This will lead up to students' September 17th Presentation #2 How to Improve IU Northwest