Introducing Boldly Butler, the new strategic direction and comprehensive campaign for Butler University

The Butler Beyond strategic direction, publicly unveiled on October 5, 2019, guided our work as a University community over the past six years. At the heart of Butler Beyond was an acceptance of the reality of a changing higher education landscape that mandated us to evolve. Together, we charted a bold course for Butler’s future anchored in the idea of dual transformation—enhancing our traditional undergraduate residential experience while simultaneously developing new models of education to serve learners of all life stages and backgrounds.

Butler Beyond undeniably transformed the University and our community for the better. State-of-the-art academic facilities like Dugan Hall and Levinson Family Hall were built to match the talent of our exceptional students and faculty. The Transformation Lab, the University’s innovation incubator, was created and has become a national model of excellence. Online, adult education, graduate programs, and corporate partnerships were significantly expanded. Founder’s College was successfully launched, delivering on our promise to o.er a Butler degree that is accessible to high-ability, low-wealth members of our community at little or no cost. Through Butler Beyond, we rapidly adapted to meet the needs of our students and community, and as a result built a powerful foundation for continued growth.

We now plan for the future amid a higher education environment that presents a wide array of new challenges. Distrust in institutions has become pervasive across our society. Universities have been caught in the crossfire of ever intensifying political divisions. Students who are entering university experienced intense K-12 learning gaps due to pandemic emergency remote instruction. And, a negative national narrative of declining ROI and lifelong student debt has led some to question the very value of higher education. These challenges, coupled with ongoing demographic pressures, have led to declining college enrollments, resulting in more than 70 colleges and universities closing their doors since 2020.

In the face of these challenges, Butler has a clear vision for the future. We will not ignore or shy away from these obstacles but rather confront them by once more adapting to the present realities while remaining firmly grounded in our mission to “boldly innovate and broadly educate.” We will overcome doubts about the value of higher education by delivering a highly relevant and transformational student experience that prepares our students to achieve unparalleled professional success and to lead lives of deep meaning. And we will be a catalyst for the prosperity of our community as an anchor institution dedicated to the vitality of Central Indiana.

Building upon the strong foundation created during Butler Beyond, and with this clear vision guiding our way, we are prepared to face the future boldly.

Boldly Butler is our commitment to setting the standard for delivering a transformative education with local impact and global reach. To achieve this strategic vision, we’ve launched

the Boldly Butler comprehensive fundraising campaign, the largest in Butler’s history, with a goal of raising $325 million by May 31, 2030. Additionally, revenue from athletics fans and arts patrons, and co-investment with corporate and community partners, will total over $500 million invested in our students and community by 2030.

Driving this bold vision are three core commitments that will guide our three-year strategic planning and propel us through the end of the decade and beyond:

Transformational Learning Experiences

We commit to delivering highly relevant, engaging, and personalized transformational learning experiences that prepare all learners to achieve professional success and lead lives of meaning.

We will:

• Guarantee every Butler graduate is prepared to achieve professional success and lead meaningful lives by embedding high-impact experiential learning opportunities, expanding the Lacy School of Business’s No.1-ranked career mentor program, and extending the nationally recognized BU|BeWell model for holistic well-being to all Butler students.
• Advance Butler’s founding mission and lifelong learning models by successfully delivering, growing, and expanding innovative pathways that meet learners’ needs at every stage of life.
• Create greater opportunities for interdisciplinary programs that align with areas of market growth, preparing graduates to thrive in emerging fields and contribute to society in impactful ways.
• Lead the dynamic future of health education and contribute to the wellness of our region by excelling as a national leader in the preparation of health professionals through a significant interdisciplinary expansion of the health sciences that aligns with workforce needs and addresses the social drivers of health in our community.
• Set our community’s most promising students on a path to success by expanding student scholarship support and guaranteeing that any graduate of Founder’s College can continue to complete a four-year Butler degree for little or no debt.

Dynamic Campus & Community

We commit to building a dynamic campus and community that enriches our students’ experience and enhances our neighbors’ lives by propelling the economic and cultural vitality of Central Indiana.

We will:

• Strengthen Butler’s national prominence in Arts and Athletics by advancing the development of the Midtown Arts District and achieving Top 25 success in Men’s and Women’s Basketball, elevating the University’s visibility and impact on a national stage.
• Transform the campus experience through gateway development projects that enhance gathering spaces, foster connectivity, and create a more vibrant and welcoming environment for students, alumni, and the community.
• Deepen Butler’s role as a trusted partner in Midtown Indianapolis by expanding collaboration with institutions, neighbors, and community-based organizations to drive shared growth and opportunity.

Thriving Butler

We commit to creating a thriving Butler, recognized as a premier national university with global reach, centered on a culture of growth, and built to endure.

We will:

• Elevate Butler’s national reputation as a leader in transformational learning, expanding enrollment reach, and deepening alumni engagement.
• Establish Global Hubs that extend Butler’s international presence by building upon Butler’s strength in study abroad and the newly launched Global Degree Model, creating new opportunities for students and faculty to engage in cross-cultural learning, research, and collaboration.
• Foster a vibrant and inclusive campus culture by intentionally supporting employee development and advancing opportunities that strengthen belonging and professional growth across the Butler community.
• Harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence to enhance teaching and learning, accelerate research, and drive operational excellence across the University.

Will you be bold?

Ready to take action? You can BE BOLD by making a gift to the Boldly Butler campaign today.

To learn more, please contact:

Dawn Dinwiddie, Senior Director of Campaigns 
ddinwiddie@butler.edu
boldly.butler.edu