Navigating IUB: New Faculty Guide

Navigating Your New Community: Finding where to go and what to do

July 22, 2025 

Welcome to IU Bloomington! We are thrilled to have you join our vibrant academic community and the beautiful Bloomington area. As the Executive Director of Community Engagement, it’s my pleasure to extend a warm welcome as you begin this exciting chapter. 

IU Bloomington is not only a world-class institution for teaching and research, but also a deeply connected part of the local community. As you settle in, I encourage you to explore the resources available to help make Bloomington feel like home. The Visit Bloomington website is a great starting point, containing recommendations for restaurants, things to do, and local events, in addition to helpful general information about our community.  

I encourage you to get outside and explore Bloomington’s award-winning parks (there are 32!), trails, pools, sports programs and complexes and Lake Monroe, the largest reservoir in the state. The Hoosier National Forest, complete with more than 200,000 acres of lush woodland, is the perfect place to hike, bike, and horseback ride. Bloomington also boasts a vibrant and diverse arts and culture scene with an eclectic mix of Midwestern values, international influences, and intellectual pursuits. Those elements are represented across the city and campus at places like the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, Lilly Library, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Eskenazi Museum of Art, and the hundreds of performances hosted by the world-renowned Jacobs School of Music.  

Whether you’re looking for a neighborhood to call home, ways to get involved locally, or simply the best place for coffee downtown, let me know how I can help. We can work together to connect with local organizations, find the best school for your family, identify volunteer opportunities, and pencil events on your calendar.  

I hope you find Bloomington as welcoming and inspiring as I do. Wishing you a smooth transition and a rewarding year ahead!  

 

Rachael Jones McAfee 

Executive Director of Community Engagement 
Indiana University Bloomington 

IU Employment has its benefits

Did you know that as an IU employee you get a special rate for car rentals from companies like Enterprise/National, AVIS, and BUDGET or discounted rates at select Indiana area hotels? Feel like you need to move more? IU employees can purchase memberships at IU Recreational Sports at a discounted rate or join a free, university-sponsored program or workshop on important personal health-related topics through Healthy IU. Need a new computer or wireless headphones? Check out the amazing deals available to all IU employees through companies like Apple, Dell, and Microsoft.  

Looking for entertainment options? There’s still time to subscribe to the IU Auditorium’s 2025-2026 season, or just pick your favorite show with single-seat (or small group) tickets available to most shows. Sports fan? IU employees receive a 10% discount on football season tickets and free admission to other IU varsity sports like volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, swimming and diving, women’s basketball, baseball, and softball. We are all so excited to welcome back “Hoosier The Bison” as IU-Bloomington’s official mascot, making its first public appearance at the IU Football season opener on August, 30, 2025!

Keep an eye out for special programs sponsored by the OVPFAA including our new Hoosiers Connect group mentoring program, the upcoming New Faculty Orientation and Welcome Picnic, or the first New Faculty social event, Pre-Lotus World Music & Arts Festival reception on September 26, 2025.