Thriving at IWU

Once you have a basic foundation at IWU, you are ready to advance your engagement in the classroom, on campus, and within the community. You will build upon your skills and strengths, seek challenges, and move into a deeper level of academic and professional development. Think strategically about how to make the most of your time and IWU while also positioning yourself for success beyond IWU.

Check-In Questions

Use the links in these prompts for resources that can help you

• Are you making sure your wellness is a priority?
• Have you found a good place to study and feel productive?
• Have you made anything in the IDEA Center Maker Space?
• Have you thought about becoming an RA or a TOL?
• Are you considering a post-baccalaureate fellowship?
• Are your study skills keeping up with the academic rigor of your coursework?
• Are you going to live off campus soon?
• Would a Summer Term course help with your plans?

Documents to Update/Add to Your Pathways Folder on Google Drive

• Your current resume/CV
• A current photo of yourself
• Your current Pathways Plan
• Thriving Reflection Questions
• A favorite paper or project from a class you have taken
• Copy of your FOCUS 2 Results from the Hart Career Center
• List of experiences you might be able to use for future graduate school essays

Thriving Reflection Questions

Think about these questions as during this dynamic time of your IWU journey:

• What are 3 things you have learned about yourself since starting at IWU?
• Which 3 campus activities have been your favorite and why?
• What are 3 pieces of advice you have been offered about being successful at IWU? 

What you should do

Connect with your support network and talk with them about your progress at IWU. Discuss your achievements and challenges and ask for input and advice. Make sure your support network grows along with you and add new people that will be valuable as you move forward. 

Think about what you will do after IWU and what you might need to do now in preparation for those important big steps! Exciting opportunities include work, graduate school, post-baccalaureate fellowships, as well as national and global service programs. Start early and get prepared.

Declare a major(s)/minor/concentration. Advance in your focus area of study by developing your discipline-specific study skills and seeking out research and presentation opportunities. Make connections with upper-level students and faculty in your department by participating in clubs and honor societies. 

Embrace the liberal arts. You will continue to take courses within the shared curriculum even as you hone in on a major. A class that was not your first choice in registration could end up being one of your favorites. Look for classes that involve community partnerships, learn from a new professor, or take a travel course. 

Seek leadership opportunities. You might be an elected or appointed position or perhaps you can step forward with a new idea that you bring to life. You can also show your leadership skills by launching a business venture with The Petrick Idea Center or the Small Business Development Center. 

Learn beyond the classroom by attending a lecture series, film festival, colloquia, discussions, convocations, art shows in the gallery, and theatre and music performances.  Participate in campus-wide events like the Founders’ Day Convocation where speakers have included Pulitzer Prize winner, Jorie Graham; climate change expert, Naomi Oreskes; and Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician that exposed the Flint water crisis.

Look for internships and fellowships on Handshake including opportunities unique to IWU such as the Eckley Summer Scholars and Artists Fellowship, the Technos International Week, the Pembroke Program at Oxford University. Talk with the Hart Career Center staff or your academic advisor if you need help finding the right internship for you. 

Get inspired at the Study Abroad fair and make a follow up appointment with the Study Abroad Office to discuss your options. There are hundreds of opportunities in over 70 countries and options for every major and budget. Read student blogs or watch these videos to learn about the value of study abroad. 

Explore undergraduate research opportunities. Conducting research can be a very rewarding part of your academic career. Make sure you attend the John Wesley Powell Conference on campus in the spring. Talk with your academic advisor about research opportunities available to you. 

Be an entrepreneur! Look for the Titan New Venture Challenge and pitch your idea for a chance at $5000. Students have invented new apps, medical devices, and chocolate sweetened with honey. You do not have to be an entrepreneur major to apply.

Think about paid or volunteer work on campus or out in the community. Hands-on experience can teach you essential professional skills and provide valuable learning opportunities. There are lots of great work study jobs on campus. 

Your academic advisor and other campus mentors will ask you about

• What type of vocation is appealing to you as you develop your ideas about your life post-IWU and how we can help you achieve your dreams
• Your sense of balance between all the activities that require your time and energy and if you need any support
• Breakthrough moments you have encountered through successes you achieved and/or challenges you faced as you become more invested at IWU