Parents & Families E-Newsletter - February 2012
Dear Parents and Families,
You invest a great deal in your student’s Purdue education. That is why we have made a commitment to protecting the value and quality of their Purdue degree.
One way we are delivering on this promise is through our Ten-year (decadal) Funding Plan. We embarked on this plan last spring, and over the past few months we have made significant progress. We recently announced the formation of the Innovation and Commercialization Center, designed to help our faculty and students move their discoveries more quickly to market. More relevant, perhaps, to many of our students was the announcement of our plan to move over the next 8-10 years to a balanced trimester schedule.
In February Purdue celebrates Black History Month with a number of events available for students and their families on campus and in the community. We welcome nationally known historian Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas, who will deliver our keynote address on February 15 in Fowler Hall, Stewart Center. Collier-Thomas will speak on "Black Women in American Culture and History." We also look forward to the Langston Hughes Project, which on February 29 will bring poetry, a jazz quartet and visual imagery celebrating Hughes’ work to Fowler Hall. I hope your Purdue student will take advantage of these and other campus events.
Parents and families are a wonderful resource of support and encouragement for our students, and I thank you for helping them follow their dreams.
Sincerely,
France A. Cordova
President
Administrative Announcements
Decadal funding plan includes academic trimester
Purdue rolled out the first initiative of its decadal funding plan — proceeding with steps toward a balanced trimester. The trimester initiative is designed to enhance students’ academic opportunities as well as help them move more quickly toward graduation. Read more.
Commencement slated for May 11-13
Spring 2012 commencement information is available on the Office of the Registrar website: Below is the ceremony schedule for schools and colleges.
| Division I Friday, May 11, 8 p.m. |
Education, Engineering |
| Division II Saturday, May 12, 9:30 a.m. |
Liberal Arts, Technology |
| Division III Saturday, May 12, 2:30 p.m. |
Science, Management, Agriculture |
| Division IV Sunday, May 13, 9:30 a.m. |
Graduate School (all colleges), DVM, DP |
| Division V Sunday, May 13, 2:30 p.m. |
Health and Human Sciences, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine |
Housing contract renewals began Jan. 17
The website for current students to renew housing contracts for the 2012-13 academic year is now open. Details are available in the January edition of the University Residence Halls newsletter. Read more.
Scholarship deadline is Feb. 15
The deadline is approaching for many 2012-13 scholarship opportunities that require a separate application. Information about and applications for these scholarships are available on the Division of Financial Aid website.
Summer aid application opens March 19
Students seeking financial aid for the summer 2012 session may apply online beginning March 19. Information about summer aid eligibility and instructions to estimate the amount of summer aid your student may qualify for are available on the Division of Financial Aid website.
Campus Life
Quidditch team takes World Cup title
Purdue’s Quidditch team took home the World Cup title in its division at the fifth International Quidditch Association’s World Cup in New York City. Going into the tournament the team’s record was 0-7, but Purdue went undefeated throughout the tournament. Read more.
Dance Marathon event gets One Brick Higher Award
The Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM) was recently recognized with the One Brick Higher Award. PUDM officers received the award on Jan. 24 at the President's Forum in the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom. Since 2005, PUDM has raised nearly $900,000 for Riley Hospital for Children. Read more.
Paint Crew nominated for Student Section of the Year
The Paint Crew, Purdue’s student spirit section for basketball, was recently nominated for the Naismith Student Section of the Year Award. Nearly 80 schools representing 21 conferences are vying for the title. Fans should vote by Feb. 12 for Purdue’s Paint Crew by visiting the I Love College Hoops Facebook fan page. “Like” the fan page and then click on “Student Section Vote” in the left sidebar to vote.
The latest edition of Boiler Bytes debuts
The latest edition of Purdue's news magazine “Boiler Bytes” premiered on the Big Ten Network in January and featured segments on the Equine Sports Medicine Center, University organizations that assist military veterans and the Boilermaker Special and its keepers – the Reamer Club. These segments and all Boiler Bytes episodes can be viewed on the Boiler Bytes website. To view the newest bytes on the site, click the "browse tab" and then "most recent" below the video screen.
Student-athletes experience fall success
Intercollegiate Athletics had many highpoints and successful team
season records during the fall semester. Among the accomplishments were:
Football: The team finished 7-6 overall and 4-4 in conference play (third place in the Leaders Division) and received its first bowl bid since 2007 by winning two of its final three games. The team went on to defeat Western Michigan 37-32 at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit. The Boilermakers led the nation in kickoff returns with a school record 28.7-yard average.
Volleyball: The volleyball team advanced to the NCAA third round (Sweet 16) for the sixth time in program history and the fifth time since 2005 and finished the season with a 29-5 record, including a 16-4 mark in Big Ten play (second place). AVCA Mideast Region and Big Ten Coach of the Year Dave Shondell led his team to its best overall mark since 1985 (34-4), best league mark since 1985 (17-1) and best conference finish since 1987 (second).
Soccer: The soccer team was alive in the Big Ten Tournament chase until the final day of the season. A season highlight was the 8-2 win over Indiana on Oct. 13. The Boilermakers, who finished 7-11-2 overall and 4-6-1 in conference play, tied a single-game record for goals while extending their unbeaten streak against the Hoosiers to 15 consecutive games (12 win and three ties).
Cross Country: The men’s cross country team won four races and the women’s cross country won two during the 2011 season. The highlight of the year came at the Indiana Intercollegiates when the men’s team won the state championship for the first time since 2001.
Academic All-Big Ten: Fifty-nine Purdue student-athletes received Academic All-Big Ten recognition for the fall sports of cross country, football, soccer and volleyball. Football had a program record 20 honorees. Soccer player Mollie Kuramoto was one of 14 conference student-athletes recognized for a 4.0 grade point average. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten honors, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and be at least a sophomore.
Meet 5 Students Who are Example Makers
They have learned. They have grown. They have been inspired. Today they're ready to give back. Meet five students who know what it means to receive guidance and support. Now they are eager to pay it forward — ready to mentor the next generation of inspiration. Meet 5 Students who are Example Makers. Read more.
Purdue Student Concert Committee selects The Band Perry
The Band Perry, with special guests Brett Eldredge and the Levi Riggs Band, will perform at Elliott Hall of Music at 7 p.m. March 4. The performance is presented by Purdue Convocations and the Purdue Student Concert Committee. Read more.
Ticket information
Spring Cultural Arts Series features more than a dozen activities
Speakers, field trips, art exhibits and music performances are among the activities scheduled for the Spring Cultural Arts Series. This month’s events include a talk by Bettye Collier-Thomas, a nationally known historian of African American history with particular expertise in the areas of civil rights, politics, religion and women's history. Visit the Purdue Black Cultural Center’s website for more information on the series.
MLK Week focused on the 'Fierce Urgency of Now'
Purdue honored the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a week of activities both on and off campus under the theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now."
The keynote speaker for the celebration was Bernice Johnson Reagon, professor emerita of history at American University and curator emerita at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Prof. Ken Ridgway, a member of the Lenape (Delaware) Nation and Purdue faculty member since 1992, received Purdue’s 2011 Dreamer Award for his work in connecting the University with the Native American community.
A food drive, choral salute and a day of service were among the activities.Read more.
View event photo gallery
Purdue performers offer singing Valentines
Purdue Musical Organizations will perform singing valentines for the upcoming holiday. On Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, a group of PMO students will sing a romantic tune and deliver a rose, cookie and personalized card to locations throughout the Greater Lafayette area or sing a song by phone to long-distance loves. Read more
Site features Purdue's Momentum Makers
The Momentum Makers series recognizes the extraordinary efforts put
forth by Purdue staff members to support and enhance the work of students, faculty and colleagues. These staff members are passionate about their jobs, active in the community, enthusiastic about cross-campus collaboration and desire for more both professionally and personally. To view this month’s featured momentum makers, visit the Momentum Makers website.
Faculty make a world of difference
A new website titled Difference Makers features the impact of Purdue faculty on many global fronts – homeland security, energy and sustainability. This month’s topic focuses on sports and society. Purdue faculty bring a variety of viewpoints to the playing field as they study the impact of sports on society -- improving the way we pay, play and watch.
Visit the Difference Makers website.
Student Support Services
College Goal Sunday scheduled for Feb. 12
College Goal Sunday will offer families and students assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on Sunday, Feb. 12. Locally, the event will take place at the Ivy Tech Community College auditorium, 1170 S Creasy Lane, starting at 2 p.m. For more information and a list of all Indiana College Goal Sunday locations, visit the College Goal Sunday website.
Read more.
Most Purdue freshmen report satisfaction with their first year
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Freshman Elizabeth Gorski received the grand prize from Coach Sharon Versyp for her participation in the Foundations of Excellence survey. She also gets to invite nine friends to a Lady Boilermakers game of her choice. |
A survey was distributed to all first-year students (about 8,200) near the end of the first semester to assess their satisfaction at Purdue so far. And most Purdue freshmen have a very favorable opinion of the University. This finding comes from an examination of the first-year experience that is underway as part of the Foundations of Excellence program.
The survey response rate was 28 percent and of those new students who responded, 71 percent believe their academic needs are being met at a “high” or “very high” level and 90 percent say Purdue has helped them to succeed at college. The survey also found areas for improvement, especially with the concerns of international students.
To ensure a response rate that was statistically valid, students who completed the survey received a treat – a $2.50 coupon to use at the dining courts and were entered into a grand prize drawing for a Purdue women's basketball jersey signed by the team and 10 tickets to a women’s game of their choice. Read more.
As the Foundations of Excellence process continues, further analysis and discussion that will promote policies that ensure all Purdue students get the help they need to thrive on campus.
RSC on schedule for fall 2012 opening
Progress continues on renovations and expansion to the Recreational Sports Center 
slated to open in its new form in fall 2012. To keep abreast of the changes and where services are being offered in the interim, click on the following links:
- Current locations, services, hours, and programs
- View the progress (photo gallery)
- Construction timetable
Challenge Scholarship offers support to Indiana students
Indiana students will have more Purdue scholarship opportunities thanks to a new $6.7 million challenge announced in October by President France A Córdova. As of mid January, the Challenge Scholarship had generated nearly $1.8 million in gifts and pledges ($3.6 million with the match). Read more.
PurdueBoard provides eco-friendly way to spread news
Gone are the days of sidewalks littered with flyers and tape. PurdueBoard, an online messaging service provided by theOffice of the Vice President for Student Affairs, keeps students abreast of the latest student news and events and allows them to post their announcements, callouts, activities and special events to the PurdueBoard website. PurdueBoard then re-broadcasts those electronic flyers to Facebook, Twitter, BoilerTV in the residence halls, MyPurdue portal, mobile apps, digital signs around campus, email subscriptions and RSS feeds. Parents and families also can join the PurdueBoard community on Facebook or Twitter.