Many outreach projects involve students, and these kinds of activities provide them with valuable perspective and hands-on experience. Participating in solving real problems in real communities develops students' leadership skills and gives them a better understanding of the societal importance of their own leadership potential. Involvement with Indiana communities also engages them in ways that may lead them to stay in or return to the state to work after graduation.

Even projects that engage only faculty benefit students because they provide faculty members with real-life examples and experience to share with students in class and provide a venue for faculty to apply their expertise in ways that can create new knowledge.