The first IU extension course was offered in Indianapolis in 1891. A formal Extension Division was established in 1912, expanding the program throughout the state. The new extension centers allowed students throughout Indiana to begin taking IU classes closer to home before transferring to the Bloomington campus to complete their degrees.

Extension courses in sociology were offered in South Bend by 1913. The earliest bulletin that we currently have in our collection details an extension course in political science taught in South Bend for the 1915-1916 school year.

These early extension courses were taught not by IU professors but by community leaders, including Louise Studebaker, daughter of one of the five brothers behind the Studebaker Automobile Company; and Rabbi Abraham Cronbach, who went on to co-found the pacifist Jewish Peace Fellowship and advocate clemency for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. According to the South Bend News-Times, instructors worked from an "outline of the study of people and conditions of today" supplied by Indiana University.

During the Great Depression, many area students could not afford to go to Bloomington or could not leave their families short of a paycheck. The superintendents of area schools asked IU to provide a wider variety of classes in South Bend. A center was opened in Central High School in 1933, and a full freshman year of credit classes was offered. The center first operated under the name Extension Center, then was known as the South Bend-Mishawaka Center from the mid-1930s. Initial enrollment totaled 200 students. Courses were taught by local high school teachers with advanced degrees and the occasional faculty member who traveled from Bloomington once a week.

In 1935, student enrollment exceeded 500, leading to more classes offered at more places, including Madison School and the YMCA.

In 1940, the university appointed a resident director for the South Bend-Mishawaka Extension Center. This marked a shift in the perception of the program in the eyes of the administration and the community. Area residents grew to recognize the benefit of college education and appreciate the convenience of local access. Enrollment doubled in the ten years between 1940 and 1950, reaching 1,370 credit-seeking students. The curriculum was largely confined to introductory undergraduate courses and professional development (like shorthand, letter writing, and public speaking).

By 1960, the extension program outgrew its space, and courses were restricted to the evenings when the high school was not otherwise used. A solution was needed to allow for a more collegiate environment. The South Bend-Mishawaka Center was built on land along the St. Joseph River between the two cities. The building is now known as Northside Hall and is still a part of campus today.

After over 50 years offering extension courses, Indiana University South Bend was one of the first two extension centers (along with Gary) to be established as a stand-alone degree granting university in 1965 with the approval of the Indiana General Assembly. The university awarded its first four-year degrees in 1967. The first two bachelor's degrees to be offered were Elementary Education and Business Administration. Master's degrees were subsequently approved in 1968 and awarded in 1970.

Historical note adapted from text of "IU South Bend: 200 Years in the Making" exhibition curated by Jay VanderVeen and available online at the following link: https://iusbarchives.omeka.net/exhibits/show/200-years-in-the-making/introduction