Ahead of IUPUI split, Purdue holds inauguration of Indianapolis campus

Purdue, local, and state officials gathered in Monument Circle Thursday to celebrate the launch of the university’s campus in Indianapolis.

Officials say the split from IUPUI will create more jobs and opportunities in the capital city.

The split was first announced two years ago, with both Purdue and Indiana University using the intervening time to plan the separation of the joint venture.
The two schools had for fifty years supported the collaborative venture in Indianapolis.

Governor Eric Holcomb called the split transformational.

“It’s exciting for Indiana University, it’s exciting Purdue University, it’s exciting for Indiana,” he said.

Students in Indianapolis will still receive their degrees through the University’s West Lafayette campus - something that will allow the school to grow its student body.

Former Purdue President Mitch Daniels helped orchestrate the split and thanked IU’s President Pamela Whitten for her support of the move.

“We needed our own identity, we needed frankly to bring this campus up to Purdue’s standards - both the faculty and students,” he said.

The university will officially split off from IUPUI on July 1, with a starting class of some 2,500 students. Officials said they hope to eventually have a student body of 10,000 in Indianapolis.

Purdue President Mung Chiang said the hope is to keep students in Indiana and attract businesses to the city.

“It’s about economic growth and it’s about brain gain for our capital city and central Indiana,” he said.