Founded in 1930, Indiana Technical College offered an accelerated engineering degree to provide a pathway for engineering students into the workforce during the Great Depression. Today, we are known as Indiana Tech, a comprehensive university with the core purpose of providing career-focused, professional programs of higher education. What follows are highlights and milestones for each decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the early 1900s, John A. Kalbfleisch came to the United States from his native Palmerston, Ontario, Canada, to teach and, ultimately, lead institutions of higher education. From 1906 through 1927, he was an educator at International Business College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and served as its president during his last two years there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1930, Kalbfleisch founded Indiana Technical College (what is now Indiana Tech). He envisioned a new approach to formal education. His model featured accelerated coursework\u2014focused on engineering, science and mathematics\u2014that would quickly prepare students to enter a rapidly evolving field of engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kalbfleisch faced a tough sell, however. The nation was still reeling from the Wall Street stock market crash of 1929 and in the midst of the economic downturn that ensued, the Great Depression. For two years, Kalbfleisch and his wife, Katherine, traveled by car through Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and places beyond to sell their vision to prospective students and their parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Money was so tight for this fledgling university at its startup, it lacked furnishings and equipment in some areas. There are stories from this time that students actually bartered items that could help the school fulfill its teaching mission in lieu of paying tuition. Among the items exchanged for classes were a 1929 Chevrolet, honey, chickens, brooms and 100-pound bags of popcorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kalbfleisch couple persevered, however, and opened the original location of Indiana Technical College in the 200 block of East Washington Boulevard in a former mortuary. Classes began there in 1931 with 179 students enrolled that first year. A bachelor\u2019s degree in electrical, structural, civil or radio engineering could be completed in 24 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kalbfleisch, the pressure of starting Indiana Technical College took its toll on his health. He died on Feb. 9, 1936, of a heart attack at age 55.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately for the university, it hired Archie T. Keene in July 1936 to take the reins and lead it into a great era of prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keene came to Indiana Tech from the University of Detroit where he was chair of the speech department. Although his background was not in engineering sciences, Keene was a dynamic, energetic man of vision who understood quality education and how to manage money in an educational setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under his leadership, which lasted until 1963, Indiana Tech experienced profound changes as it grew in size, impact and reputation around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n