1. State-IT: Facilitating Student Donations to the University Archives
By: Kayla Siddell
Katie Sutrina-Haney
Indiana State University

2. Abstract
The University Archives Department at Indiana State University (ISU) assists faculty, students, and the public by providing access to and preservation of primary resources and ISU history. Despite the resources and services available, archival holdings are often underused and receive few donations from students and student organizations. These students are often unaware of the function and uses of the archives. To address these concerns, Special Collections staff have created a website utilizing the Omeka platform called STATE-IT to engage students with the University Archives. This site houses digital archival materials, digital exhibits, and oral histories. STATE-IT also provides a quick and easy access point for students to contribute images, documents, and other historical items. This paper focuses on how creating an interactive component increases students’ motivation to contribute to and use the University Archives, providing a look into the past and highlighting their current experiences and perspectives as ISU students.

3. Indiana State University (ISU), located in Terre Haute, Indiana, was established in 1865 as Indiana State Normal School, a public school dedicated to educating teachers.
Now contains seven colleges with more than 100 majors. The degrees offered include Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate and Educational Specialist.
The university is relatively small with a total enrollment of 13,584 for fall 2015 with 2,784 as first-time freshmen. ISU has over 100,000 living alumni and a campus of 435 acres.
About our school

4. Cunningham Memorial Library

5. Special Collections

6. Products and Services Services Products Reading Room Sycamore Scholars
Digitization Laboratory
Wabash Valley visions and Voices
Classes
University Archives
Tours

7. What were our needs?
We noticed that student organization donations had decreased significantly and we were not growing those collections.
We did not know what organizations were being created or how to stay in contact through the high rate of turn-over.
With technology changing, we realized we needed a digital solution.
We needed a way to engage students and build and maintain relationships.

8. What is STATE-IT?
The Indiana State University’s STATE-IT site is designed to be a collection of past and present stories, images, videos, and recordings donated by students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana.  
The site was designed to serve as a social hub and a digital access point for the University Archives.

9. The Process Omeka Repurposing Designing
Florida Memory
Planning and creating collections
Choosing a name

10. Uses of STATE-IT Digitized exhibits Sports Teams Events Athletics
3 times yearly
Events
Athletics
Oral Histories
Student Organizations
University Archives Records…
Greeks,
Academic clubs

11. Advertising and Marketing
Extravaganza at the ISU Library
Campus life
Attending Events
Provost
Student workers
Opportunistic approach

12. Where are we now? Site was launched 2 years ago
Advertising more aggressively
Coordinating with stakeholders
Fielding request to contribute to STATE-IT
Attending events to advertise

13. Lessons Learned Technology Issues Students are competitive
Need to demonstrate value
We need partners and collaboration
Student Organizations and their evolution
Bridging gaps

14. Future Plans Collection Requests Social Media Collection
Syllabus Collection
Student Organizations
Continued Advertising and Growth

16. Questions?

17. References
Buchanan, S. and Richardson, K. (2012). Representation through documentation: acquiring student and campus life records through the Bruin archives project. The American Archivist. Spring/Summer, Vol. 75, No. 1, pp Retrieved from ode=same-site
 Indiana State University. (n.d.). Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence. Retrieved from
 Indiana State University. (2017, Spring). Institutional research: Enrollment summary. Retrieved from

18. References
 Indiana State University. (n.d.) Student Organizations. Retrieved from
 Theimer, Kate. (2011, Spring). What is the Meaning of Archives 2.0. The American Archivist. Spring/Summer, Vol. 74, No. 1, pp Retrieved from
 Wagner, J., L. and Smith, D., A. (2012). Students as donors to university archives: a study of student perceptions with recommendations. The American Archivist. (Fall/Winter) Vol. 75, No. 2 pp

19. Contact Info:
Kayla Siddell
Katie Sutrina-Haney