By Casey Smith
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery announced that he will step down in October after three years in the role, citing a recent health scare and a desire to pursue personal and professional writing projects.

Indiana Higher Education Commissioner Chris Lowery announced on Tuesday, July 29, that he plans to step down in October. Photo from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Lowery announced his resignation in a message sent to university and government officials. His departure will take effect Friday, Oct. 10.

“After considerable thought, contemplation, and prayer, I have decided to step away from my role as Commissioner for Higher Education,” Lowery wrote in the email obtained by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “Serving students has been the highest honor of my professional career, and one that has been humbling and blessed.”

CHE officials did not immediately reply to the Capital Chronicle’s request for comment.

Lowery, who previously held leadership roles at Ivy Tech Community College and in the private sector, was appointed to the state’s top higher education post in 2022.

He cited a “health scare” earlier this year that prompted his decision to step down.

“Everything is ok, but for a brief period I was left unsure and deeply reflective,” Lowery wrote. “Again, considerable thought, contemplation, and prayer went into this decision.”

During his tenure, Lowery spearheaded multiple policy overhauls, including a revamped higher education funding formula, a tuition freeze at public colleges, and efforts to simplify student aid access and boost completion rates.

He noted, too, that Indiana’s college completion rates and ranking have improved, up from 14th in the nation to 9th.

Even so, Indiana’s overall college-going rate has fallen in recent years. State data released earlier this month showed just 51.7% of the state’s 2023 high school graduates enrolled in college, a slight drop from the prior year and far below the state’s peak of 65% a decade ago.

Still, Lowery pointed to improvements in several key areas. He emphasized that the number of students enrolling annually in the state’s 21st Century Scholars program has grown from fewer than 20,000 to about 50,000 in three years. That is partially due to a move to automatic enrollment.

Filing rates for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, have jumped, as well — boosting Indiana’s rank from 39th in the nation to 15th.

Also under his leadership, Indiana became the first state to require a regular cycle of review for all of its public institutions’ degree programs. So far, more than 400 degree offerings have been eliminated, suspended or merged.

Lowery additionally highlighted that, for the first time, all public institutions in the state have adopted the commission’s recommendation to freeze tuition and fees for two years.

He said he plans to support his wife Jerilyn’s new writing and publishing venture while also “feed(ing) my own longtime desire to write and publish works of fiction and nonfiction.”

Lowery said he would continue to advocate for improved postsecondary attainment in Indiana, which he called “the decisive differentiator” for economic and social prosperity in the state.

“Hope grows in Indiana,” he said. “Please continue to expect the same from me, just from a different place.”

The 14-person commission will conduct a search and select a replacement.