Indianapolis, IN – Through a collaboration between Marian University, the City of Indianapolis, and Boston College’s Mary E. Walsh Center for Thriving Children, the new ConnectIndy dashboard has launched with the first two years of Indianapolis’ City Connects program data. The dashboard identifies the strengths, needs, and interests of Marion County K-12 students and highlights opportunities for further community engagement and support.
“The goal of ConnectIndy is to show what matters most to our students, schools and communities,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “From cooking classes and robotics clubs to reading and math support, our young people have a wide range of interests and needs that can be met through local partnerships with nonprofits and businesses. With the dashboard, these partnerships will be more effective by targeting already-identified needs and interests.”
With this dashboard and information from public schools implementing City Connects across Indianapolis, community stakeholders will see the relationship between student interests and ongoing initiatives. Service providers will get insight into areas of need to better target their support, and philanthropic partners will be able to ensure their investments prioritize what really matters to Indianapolis students, families, and schools.
The dashboard was created as part of the City’s investment in City Connects, a systemic, cost-effective approach to addressing the out-of-school factors that impact student learning. With the support of the City’s American Rescue Plan allocation, Marian University implemented City Connects in 12 far eastside schools starting in 2022. Thanks to this funding, the ConnectIndy dashboard provides insight into the work happening in the nearly 30 schools utilizing the City Connects practice across Indianapolis. The dashboard includes profiles of schools implementing City Connects, data on the number of services and resources provided to students, and a city-wide resource map.
“The goal is to have all students do well in our community,” said Kenith Britt, Ph.D., chancellor and chief operating officer at Marian University. “Unfortunately, teachers today are asked to do so much more than teach, and too many students have challenges at home that keep them from thriving. City Connects identifies these challenges and uses additional school personnel to connect all students and families to resources they need. ConnectIndy will shine a light on the great work happening in our schools and provide opportunities for the community to better support students that will give them the support they need to succeed.”
Founded by Boston College more than 20 years ago, City Connects is research-based and has been proven to improve academic achievement, reduce chronic absenteeism, and decrease dropout rates. Boston College and Marian University partnered to bring City Connects to Indiana in 2021. Through its Center for Vibrant Schools, Marian University currently supports more than 55 schools implementing City Connects, impacting nearly 25,000 students throughout the state.
The ConnectIndy dashboard can be viewed at ConnectIndy.org.
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About Marian University
Founded in 1937, Marian University is the only Catholic university in Indianapolis and central Indiana, serving more than 5,100 students, including 4,000 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students, earning degrees in the arts, business, education, engineering, math, medicine, nursing, ministry, and the natural and physical sciences. The university's high-impact, experiential curriculum provides hands-on, collaborative learning opportunities. Marian University has earned the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a national doctoral/professional university. In 2013, Marian University established its College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first new school of medicine in Indiana in more than 100 years, and in 2023, opened the new E. S. Witchger School of Engineering as part of the university’s continuing efforts to graduate students that help meet the Midwest’s growing STEM workforce needs. The university also provides undergraduate nursing education at Marian University’s Ancilla College in Plymouth, Indiana. Marian's national champion varsity athletic programs include the 2012 and 2015 NAIA Football Championship, the 2016 and 2017 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship, the 2019 NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship, various track and field events, and nearly 50 USA Cycling national championships. Follow Marian University on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tik Tok and Twitter.