Purdue agreement offers avenue for Vincennes engineering students

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —A Purdue University agreement is extending the educational reach of the College of Engineering to students at Vincennes University.

Beginning with the fall 2017 semester, engineering students at the southwestern Indiana university who are pursuing their associate degree can take part in a direct admissions program to obtain their bachelor’s degree at Purdue.

Initially, the direct admissions agreement will apply to first-time, full-time students enrolling at Vincennes University. The students must meet specified criteria to transfer to Purdue.

The plan works toward maximizing education and degree completion opportunities for students.

 “The direct admissions agreement adds an important dimension to the existing partnership between Purdue and Vincennes,” said Leah Jamieson, Purdue’s John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering. “Most importantly, it represents the commitment of both institutions to continuing to grow the higher education opportunities in the state of Indiana.”

Vincennes Provost Laurel Smith said: “We are excited to build on the longstanding 2 + 2 articulation agreement for engineering that Purdue and Vincennes have maintained for many years. With the direct admission pathways, qualified students will benefit from excellent instruction at a reduced cost in order to enter engineering professions with significant opportunities in our state and beyond.

“I am pleased to have worked with the student-centered faculty, staff, and administration at both institutions to create this opportunity for Indiana students. This effort has yielded a genuine partnership, and we are eager to recruit and support a learning community that will nurture engineering students in Vincennes and West Lafayette.”

Vincennes students will be expected to complete their associate degree work to be eligible for direct admissions to Purdue. Students can transfer before obtaining their degree only with permission from both universities.

Direct admission prerequisites such as grade point average and required courses differ among the 15 engineering programs in which students at Purdue can major. Students must adhere to the guidelines to be eligible for direct admissions.

The agreement follows the history of student success in pursuing their education from Vincennes University to Purdue.

 “This agreement validates the quality level of the cooperative transfer partnership that Vincennes shares with Purdue,” said Paul Wilder, dean of Vincennes University’s College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics. “Many students have transferred from Vincennes to Purdue through the years to pursue agriculture, engineering, and science degrees with great success.”

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu

Source: Leah Jamieson, 765-494-5346, lhj@purdue.edu