Indiana University President Michael McRobbie has outlined steps the institution will take to deal with the continuing economic downturn. He has asked all units to slow hiring for non-faculty positions and is calling on each vice president and chancellor to submit a list of contingency measures that can be rapidly introduced if necessary to save money. McRobbie says so far IU has not been hit as severely as other universities, in part because its financial leaders converted variable rate debt to fixed rates before the credit in part because its financial leaders converted variable rate debt to fixed rates before the credit freeze hit. He made the comments during his first State of the University address.

Global moving company to relocate HQ in Indiana

Global moving and relocation giant SIRVA Inc. plans to centralize its national headquarters in Fort Wayne creating 240 jobs by 2011. The company, which operates Allied Van Lines and northAmerican Van Lines, will invest more than $16 million to centralize its Illinois-based national moving services operations to a 288,000 square-foot regional business support center on the city's northwest side. SIRVA will begin hiring workers in 2009 following improvements to the Indiana facility.

Roche Diagnostics announces job cuts

Indianapolis-based Roche Diagnostics is eliminating approximately 200 positions. Company spokeswoman Wendy Baker-Stein says efforts are underway to help the affected employees find other jobs within the company, but they may have to relocate. She says the restructuring is part of an on-going process to review efficiencies and other aspects within the company.

Indianapolis-Denver leadership exchange set

A delegation from Indianapolis is hoping to gather ideas from community leaders in Denver on several issues including mass transit, urban education and economic growth. The Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce will lead the trip to the Colorado city from October 19 through the 21. Sixty business leaders will be on the trip, which has a key goal of gathering more information about the Denver Regional Transportation District. It serves a population of 2.5 million in an eight county area with more than 80 light rail vehicles and roughly 1,000 buses.

WellPoint to create prize for health care innovations

Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. (NYSE: WLP) is partnering with the philanthropic organization X PRIZE Foundation to design a $10 million or more competition that would encourage participants to create ways to address the nation's health care system challenges. The two sponsors will solicit participation from interested parties including employers, health care providers and consumers. WellPoint has also agreed to test the selected finalists' entries.