2026 In-Person International Parent Welcome
West Lafayette: August 14 - 17, 2026
Indianapolis: August 14 - 17, 2026
Parents and guests are encouraged to attend the International Parent Welcome events hosted by the Programming and Engagement team in Global Programs. Global Programs and International Student Services will be hosting events intended to introduce information about student life; the roles of Purdue University and the campus community during a student’s academic career; and what it means to be a Boilermaker.
We hope to see you at Purdue in August as we welcome the newest members of our Boilermaker family!
We also encourage parents and families to get plugged into the Parent & Family Connections (opens in new window) community. Make sure to subscribe to the monthly newsletter to stay in the know and to receive the latest information.
Questions and FAQs
Have a question? Or need more information about the International Parent Welcome event, feel free to reach out to us at ISSprogramming@purdue.edu (opens in new window).
Registration Information
West Lafayette
The International Parent Welcome for West Lafayette will take place from Friday, August 14th, 2026, to Monday, August 17th, 2026. All parents, guests, and family members are welcome to join. Participants should register through their student registration for BGRi at MyPurdue no later than July 31, 2026.
Indianapolis
The International Parent Welcome for Indianapolis will take place from Friday, August 14th, 2026, to Monday, August 17th, 2026. All parents, guests, and family members are welcome to join. Participants should register through their student registration for BGRi at MyPurdue no later than July 31, 2026.
West Lafayette Schedule of Events
2026 Schedule
Friday, August 14, 2026
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM: BGRi Student & Parent Check in
Cordova Recreational Center, Black and Gold Gym, 355 N Martin Jischke Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Saturday, August 15, 2026
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Parent Welcome
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: BGRi Opening Ceremony
Stewart Center (STEW), Loeb Playhouse, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Walking Tour
Departing from Stewart Center (STEW), Loeb Playhouse, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM: Lunch
Chauncy Hill
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: About ISS & Maintaining Student Visa Status
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Parent & Family Connections
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Parent Welcome Reception
Dauch Alumni Center, 403 West Wood St, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Sunday, August 16, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: International Parent Panel
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM: Lunch & Card Writing
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), Room 11132, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Immigration Counselor Question & Answer Session
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Monday, August 17, 2026
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Campus Partner Presentations
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Academic Advisor Chat
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Lunch & Visit Offices
Chauncy Hill & Campus
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: International Student Safety
Stewart Center (STEW), Loeb Playhouse, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
4:15 PM - 5:00 PM: Parent Thank you & Send off
Stewart Center (STEW), Lobby, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: BGRi Closing Ceremony
Stewart Center (STEW), Loeb Playhouse, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Indianapolis Schedule of Events
2026 Schedule
Friday, August 14. 2026
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM: BGRi Student & Parent Check in
Purdue Student Center, 520 Indiana Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Refreshments
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Parent Welcome
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Campus Partners Resource Fair
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Saturday, August 15, 2026
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Coffee
North Halll, 820 West North St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: BGRi Opening Ceremony
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: International Parent Panel
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Banking 101
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Shuttle to West Lafayette Campus
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: West Lafayette Campus Tour
Stewart Center (STEW), 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Parent Welcome Reception
Dauch Alumni Center, 403 West Wood St, West Lafayette, IN 47907
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Shuttle to Indianapolis Campus
Stewart Center (STEW), 128 Memorial MAll Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Sunday, August 17 (2025)
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Coffee & Pastries
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Card Writing
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM: Lunch & About ISS & Maintaining Student Visa Status
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: ISS Session
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Counselor Question & Answer Session
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Walking Tour
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Monday, August 18 (2025)
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM: Free Time to Shop & Explore
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: BGRi Closing Ceremony
Madame Walker Theatre, 617 Indiana Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Getting to Purdue
West Lafayette
Purdue West Lafayette is conveniently located near Interstate 65. We’re about one hour north of Indianapolis and two hours south of Chicago. Whether you choose to travel on your own or through commercial services, West Lafayette is easily accessible. There are many lodging options available in the surrounding area just a short drive away from Purdue, as well as options on or within walking distance of campus. Use the resources below to help you plan for your trip.
Commercial Travel Services
Air Travel
- Purdue University Airport (opens in new window) (LAF): Located on campus, offers daily service to and from Chicago O’Hare
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND): 65 miles south of West Lafayette
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD): 140 miles north of West Lafayette
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW): 130 miles north of West Lafayette
Airport Shuttle Services
Lafayette Limo (opens in new window)
- IND to/from campus: Regular daily service, reservations recommended
- ORD to/from campus: Prepaid service, runs based on reservations only
Reindeer Shuttle (opens in new window)
- IND to/from campus: Regular daily service, reservations recommended
- ORD to/from campus: Regular daily service, reservations recommended
Ground Travel
These services are available to the local area, stopping at a station in downtown Lafayette. Visitors can ride Greater Lafayette’s CityBus (opens in new window) system or hop on a rideshare service to Purdue (about 1.5 miles away).
Indianapolis
Primarily located in the heart of downtown, our Indianapolis expansion covers the city in its entirety with multiple facilities across Indiana’s capital. Known as the “Crossroads of America,” personal and commercial travel to Indianapolis is easy to navigate with Chicago, Louisville and Cincinnati all within a three-hour drive. When it comes to lodging, enjoy the conveniences of a major city with many options on or near our Purdue location. Use the resources below to help you plan your trip.
Commercial Travel Services
Air Travel
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND): Located 15 miles from downtown Indianapolis
Airport Shuttle Services
- IndyGo (opens in new window) offers $4 per day passes for all fixed bus routes throughout Indianapolis as well as fixed route service from the airport to downtown for $1.75 per ride.
- Taxi services are available with a $15 minimum charge for all fares from the airport, regardless of distance.
- Uber and Lyft rideshare services are also available.
Ground Travel
- Amtrak (opens in new window)
- FlixBus (opens in new window)
- Megabus (opens in new window)
- Greyhound (opens in new window)
Lodging Information
West Lafayette
Visitors are encouraged to arrange lodging early as lodging options fill up quickly. Please be aware that guests are not allowed to stay with students in their University Residences.
Purdue West Lafayette is very walkable, and the Union Club Hotel (opens in new window) in the Purdue Memorial Union is a convenient on-campus location for overnight visitors.
There are a variety of other lodging options in the Greater Lafayette area — some within walking distance. Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette (opens in new window) is a great resource to locate nearby hotels, campgrounds and vacation rentals to fit your needs.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis hosts a wide variety of lodging options. The Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown (opens in new window) is a location close to Purdue for overnight visitors.
Visit Indy (opens in new window) is a helpful resource for locating nearby hotels, restaurants, attractions and more.
Visitor Information
West Lafayette
Once you are able to visit campus we encourage you to explore the Greater Lafayette area. The area has a lot to offer, whether you are looking at exploring local foods, visiting a near by park, or taking a walk through the downtown Farmers Market. Information about these resources and more can be found on the following pages:
Indianapolis
We suggest parents review the VisitIndy webpage (opens in new window) to see what the area has to offer and to plan what attractions and events they would like to visit during their time in Indianapolis. Indianapolis has numerous restaraunts, museums, galleries, and entertainment events to enjoy.
Visitor Parking
West Lafayette
If you plan on driving to campus it is going to be very important that you plan ahead. Free parking on campus is limited and most parking require purchasing a permit ahead of schedule. Learn more about parking by visiting the visitor parking (opens in new window) services website.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis hosts several paid parking garages for those who choose to rent vehicles while they are attending the International Parent Welcome. Utilizing the campus and city bus systems via IndyGo (opens in new window) is a way to navigate the city and campus without needing a vehicle.