IU Northwest is the result of growth and change that began in 1921 when the university offered its first formal classes in Lake County as part of a program sponsored by the Gary Public School System. Under various names and in various locations, Indiana University has been serving the needs of higher education in Northwest Indiana ever since, with our first building being founded on our current location in 1959. In 1983, IU Northwest began offering continuing education/lifelong learning courses for non-credit through the Adult Education program. The program was expanded to included online course offerings in 2008. The Adult Education program has been offered through the IU Northwest Center for Urban and Regional Excellence since 2012.