At Schmidt Associates, we are honored to support Butler University in its mission to transform lives through education. Founders College, a new two-year college at Butler University, is now welcoming its first students in fall 2025. This forward-thinking initiative offers accessible, affordable, and career-focused associate degrees, designed to meet the needs of students who may not have considered a college education attainable. In partnership with the Come to Believe Network, Founders College represents a transformative model for higher education—one that opens doors to opportunity while minimizing financial burden.

Affordable, Career-Focused Education

Founders College removes financial barriers, offering two-year associate degrees in fields such as:

• Business management
• Data analytics
• Healthcare
• Youth development

With little to no debt to students, Founders College allows graduates to avoid the financial burdens typically associated with higher education. For those who continue at Butler, most complete their bachelor’s degrees for around $10,000.

What makes the Come to Believe model exceptional is its success in driving impressive student outcomes, including:

• Graduation rates four to six times higher than the national average for two-year colleges
• Nearly 80% of graduates continue on to pursue bachelor’s degrees

This speaks to the comprehensive support system that Founders College provides.

Renovating Spaces for Learning and Growth

Schmidt Associates led the full-service renovation of approximately 8,000 square feet of library and adjacent spaces in the CTS building, transforming them into vibrant learning environments that inspire collaboration and invigorate community. This full-service project for Schmidt Associates included all construction and engineering. Butler University seized the opportunity to repurpose underutilized spaces, transforming them into classrooms, workspaces, faculty offices, and a local food pantry to support student needs.

These spaces are designed with students in mind, offering the resources and support necessary for both academic and personal growth.

“This is why we do what we do as designers, architects, and engineers. I often say that space shapes behavior—but really, it’s much larger than that.”

— Sara Richey, Client Liaison, Schmidt Associates

Whole-Student Support

Founder’s College will emphasize wraparound services addressing the entire student experience. From day one, students will have access to:

• A dedicated advisor to guide them through their academic journey
• Career coaching and paid internships for hands-on learning
• Block scheduling to accommodate work and family commitments
• Access to labs, libraries, and other Butler resources

This approach will ensure students have the tools to succeed in and out of the classroom.

“When you come here, you feel like you’re a part of it. You see the splatters of blue that say it’s Butler. You see images of the bulldog that reinforce that identity. But you also get the serene feeling of what the CTS building is—its calmness, its invitation to step away from the world and really just learn and grow.”

— Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Dean, Founders College

A Community-Driven Vision for the Future

Founders College is about more than earning a degree—it’s about fostering a sense of community and preparing students to make a positive impact. For many students, this is the first time a family member has attended college, enabling them to gain valuable skills and credentials while becoming advocates and leaders in their communities

“That was the big challenge. But honestly, the design hit every single part of it. Even in the background, you see the green imagery—they brought in what the building represents: nature, and the individual adding to the space from the outside. You feel like the inside and the outside are the same. As a person, you feel like you can think, do, and become anything in this space.”

— Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Dean, Founders College

At Schmidt Associates, we are proud to contribute to this forward-thinking initiative. As a purpose-driven firm rooted in servant leadership, we believe everyone should have access to quality education, with diversity and equity at the heart of our work. We are creating spaces that promote collaboration, learning, and personal development. The impact of Founders College extends far beyond campus, benefiting students, families, and the broader Central Indiana community.

We congratulate Butler University for reimagining what higher education can be. By offering affordable education and supporting students every step of the way, Butler and the Come to Believe Network are setting a powerful example of how institutions can lead with compassion and purpose. Together, we’re not just building a college—we’re building a future where education is accessible to all.