INDIANAPOLIS (August 13, 2025) – Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is celebrating a milestone 40 years in the making: the anniversary of its adult education programs, which began in 1985 and forever changed the university’s trajectory.

The first program under what was then called LEAP, or Leadership Education for Adult Professionals, launched July 29, 1985, in Marion, Ind., with a Bachelor of Science in Management cohort of 18 students. At a time when degree programs for working adults were still rare, especially among Christian universities, IWU became one of the first institutions in the country to offer an accelerated, cohort-based model tailored to adult learners. That early innovation laid the foundation for what would become one of the largest and most respected adult education programs in the nation.

“Over the past 40 years, IWU has faithfully responded to the needs of adult learners,” said Jon Kulaga, president of IWU. “We began with a vision to serve working adults in Indiana and have grown into a national provider of faith-integrated education. This journey is a testament to the university’s commitment to accessibility, affordability, flexibility, innovation, and Christ-centered learning.”

That commitment quickly paid dividends. Within a few years, IWU’s adult programs had reshaped the university’s identity, fueling a period of rapid growth and transformation. In 1987, Marion College became Indiana Wesleyan University, reflecting a broader vision and a growing footprint. By the mid-1990s, IWU was enrolling thousands of working adults in programs across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Continuing its history of innovation, the university launched its first fully online program in 1998, one of the first in the country, embracing a model that would become central to its national expansion. In April 2024, IWU’s online programs set an all-time program record of 11,672 students.

Today, IWU still enrolls nearly 12,000 adult and remote learners, offering online and onsite programs in business, nursing, education, technology, counseling, and more. Its flexible one-course-at-a-time format, designed specifically for working professionals, has allowed tens of thousands of students to complete degrees while balancing careers and family responsibilities.

“What began as a few evening classes in Marion and Kokomo has grown into a nationwide community of adult learners,” said Eileen Hulme, chancellor of IWU’s online programs. “We’ve empowered first-generation college students, career changers, and military service members to reach their goals and impact their communities. Some of our students have previously pursued a college education but weren’t able to finish – now they can, thanks to our online degrees.”

The success of the adult division also positioned IWU as a national leader in faith-based higher education, the largest university in the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), and the largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Looking forward, IWU is expanding its online offerings to meet the evolving needs of today’s learners. From short-form certificates to workforce-aligned training and new degrees in fields like artificial intelligence, the university continues to innovate while remaining anchored in its founding mission.

“From a handful of adult students in 1985 to tens of thousands across the globe today, our story is one of transformation through education,” said Kulaga. “As we look to the next 40 years, we remain committed to serving both traditional and adult learners with excellence and integrity — all from a Christ-centered perspective on learning.”

Indiana Wesleyan University’s legacy in adult education began with a bold experiment. Four decades later, that experiment stands as one of the most successful and influential parts of the IWU story.