IU Kokomo actively engaged with the NCI region by convening and facilitating a regional meeting that introduced the idea of forming a Regional Planning Council (RPC).This meeting was held in December 2012, was hosted on the IU Kokomo campus, and facilitated by the IU Kokomo Chancellor. This meeting brought together representatives from six counties in north central Indiana including LEDOs, mayors, and county commissioners and council members. After much discussion and several meetings, the planning group agreed on a funding formula and budget, and agreed to present the RPC to the Commissioners/Council members of each of the six founding counties to secure funding for the operation of the organization. In 2013-14, IU Kokomo hosted/facilitated 16 meetings to accomplish tasks such as writing and gaining approval for the organization’s Bylaws; the make-up of the Board of Directors and Executive Board, the election of officers, the search, selection and hiring of an Executive Director, and securing funding from each of the six partner counties.

The organization, under the leadership of the Executive Director, the North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council applied for and was granted 501.c.3 status as a not-for-profit organization in the state of Indiana.  The RPC has had a successful first full year of operation; in 2015, the organization secured $418,228 in grant funds for various projects throughout the NCI region, including a $250,000 award for Workforce Development Incumbent Worker Training. To date the RPC has had a direct impact of $3,996,937 and has a ROI of $5.97 in the six county region it serves.  Indiana University Kokomo remains engaged as a strong partner in the RPC; the Chancellor serves on the Board of Directors, and meetings of the Board, as well as the Executive Board, continue to be hosted by the IU Kokomo campus.

The purpose of the Scripps Spelling Bee is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.  IU Kokomo sponsors and  hosts the North Central Indiana Regional Spelling Bee.  The winner of the regional spelling bee moves on to represent north central Indiana in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. 

FSA is responsible for our area’s domestic violence shelter and related wrap-around services. The shelter serves women and children of several surrounding counties, all of which are located with Indiana University Kokomo’s service region. In collaboration with FSA, the campus hosts an annual combined event called the Angel Walk/Not On Our Campus, Not In Our Community. This event was developed jointly by FSA and our Office of Student Life as a fundraiser for the Shelter. The event includes a survivor story, a one-mile walk, and poster sessions by students. Over the past twelve years over $212,000 has been raised.

Science Rocks! is a free summer camp for middle-school students. Participants get to do exciting projects in biology, chemistry, and geology (with a focus on health-related issues). There are also activities in physics including building and launching rockets. All activities are led by IU Kokomo science faculty with help from student teaching assistants.