Purdue News
Purdue NewsDecember 23, 1997
Murray will succeed James F. Blakesley, who is retiring as director but will retain a half-time position with the office.
The office provides class schedules for more than 35,000 students on campus and is responsible for assigning and projecting classroom, office and related facilities needs of the university.
Murray joined the office in 1983 as management systems coordinator. He was appointed assistant director in 1990 and associate director in 1992.
Murray earned all his degrees from Purdue. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1979; his master's degree in industrial administration in 1980; and his master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1982.
"Purdue's Office of Space Management and Academic Scheduling has been a trend-setter among academic institutions," said Robert L. Ringel, executive vice president for academic affairs. "We are proud of the accomplishments and fine reputation that the office has enjoyed under Jim Blakesley, and we are pleased Keith Murray has agreed to assume leadership. His formal undergraduate and graduate education in engineering and industrial administration, coupled with his years of experience as a senior staff member in the office, make him an ideal candidate for this appointment."
Among the innovations, Purdue was the first major university to use a computer to enroll students and schedule classes. Purdue's unique method of class scheduling utilizes a system whereby students are assigned classes based on curriculum needs, not class times. The system is designed so that students -- regardless of whether they are the first or the last to sign up for classes -- will be able to schedule the courses they need.
Blakesley started working at Purdue in 1950 when he joined the staff of then-president Frederick L. Hovde. Blakesley was assigned the task of meshing the scheduling and classroom requirements of the growing university. The programs developed by Blakesley and his staff over the past 47 years have been copied by institutions nationwide.
Source: Keith S. Murray, (765) 494-3911,
Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-9723; e-mail, beth_forbes@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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