The University Honors and Awards initiative began collecting data in 2010 and is an ongoing research effort focused on documenting the impressive history of awards and honors affiliated with Indiana University. In Phase I of the project, culminating with the launch of the website, we have focused on 7 award categories and 43 individual awards, locating names of recipients and years of awards along with existing biographical information about these individuals. Some records are complete and others require additional research and writing. For example, the honorary degrees given throughout the 19th century have very little information while the records of current faculty members are more robust.

Phase II of the project will expand the biographical information (accuracy and volume) of the existing 43 awards and will add over 75 alumni awards given by the university and individual campuses, schools, departments, and programs. Additional research awards will be added during Phase II of the project as well.