Purdue Best Bets

May 8,1998 JOURNALISTS: Here are two ideas for news stories. Graduates making more, moving farther away Jobs for Purdue's May graduates are plentiful, especially if students are willing to move. That's according to Richard Stewart, director of Purdue's Center for Career Opportunities. Stewart says he's experienced just about every business cycle imaginable in his 38 years of placement work, and this year is marked by companies from all parts of the world swooping in to hire graduates in computer-related fields. "There seems to be an insatiable demand for employees with all types of computer-related experience," he says. "The demand is so high, in fact, that firms from the East Coast and West Coast are coming to Purdue and other Midwestern universities to recruit." He says that overall, 1998 is shaping up to be the third year in a row that Purdue and other colleges have very high placement rates in almost every major, with starting salaries up 4 percent to 8 percent from last year. CONTACT: Stewart, (765) 494-3981. More than 4,500 to graduate in West Lafayette About 4,515 Purdue students are eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, in Elliott Hall of Music on the West Lafayette campus. Ceremonies will be at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day. Purdue President Steven C. Beering and a representative of the Purdue Alumni Association will address graduates at each ceremony. Journalists who want to cover commencement will need tickets and should reserve space for camera equipment. CONTACT: Roy Johnson, associate registrar, (765) 494-6161, e-mail, rajohn@delta.reg.purdue.edu, or Mike Willis, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-0371, e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu Commencement ceremonies also are scheduled at the following times at other Purdue campuses: Tuesday May 12. Purdue North Central. 7:30 p.m. Valparaiso University Chapel. Wednesday May 13. Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne . 7 p.m. Fort Wayne Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Center. Tuesday, May 19. Purdue Calumet at Hammond . 6 p.m. North Lawshe Lawn. Wednesday, May 20. Purdue North Central. 1 p.m. Westville Correctional Center. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page