Purdue trustees pay tribute to 2 university leaders
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's Board of Trustees on Friday (May 11) honored the top administrators of the West Lafayette and Fort Wayne campuses as they transition from their leadership roles.
Purdue President France A. Córdova and Indiana University-Purdue University Chancellor Michael A. Wartell are both nearing the completion of their terms. In recognition of their accomplishments and service to Purdue, trustees approved resolutions of appreciation and conferred emeritus status to both.
"These resolutions provide an opportunity for trustees to offer our thanks to two outstanding leaders," said board chairman Keith Krach. "France Córdova and Mike Wartell have been visionary leaders who are leaving behind a tremendous legacy for our students and the state of Indiana."
France A. Córdova
Córdova will transition from her post as Purdue president in July. Among her accomplishments cited in the resolution were: launching the university's "New Synergies" strategic plan; leading the university to record levels in research funding, reputational rankings, student retention rates, and freshman ACT and SAT scores; raising more than $1 billion in private gifts, including the $304 million Access and Success scholarship campaign for high-achieving low- and middle-income students, which is scheduled to conclude in 2014; beginning Purdue's West Coast Partnership Center and creating the Global Policy Research Institute, which addresses challenges in areas such as food, health, safety and energy; overseeing campus developments that include academic and athletic facilities, the Life and Health Sciences Park, the Center for Student Excellence and Leadership, and renovations to the Recreational Sports Center and Mackey Arena; and overseeing development of the Decadal Funding Plan to increase sources of revenue beyond tuition and state appropriations by doubling financial capacity through continued cost-cutting, expanding online degree and professional education offerings, encouraging more robust use of campus facilities through summer teaching, and ramping up research commercialization and external funding.
Michael A. Wartell
Wartell, who is ending his term on June 30, is IPFW's longest-serving chancellor, having initially been appointed in 1994. Among his leadership accomplishments cited by trustees are: expansion of academic programs from 130 to more than 200; increases in enrollment from 11,000 to 14,000 students, making it the state's fifth-largest university; a 150 percent increase in minority enrollment; addition of residential housing, shifting from a commuter to a more traditional campus; the addition of 40 new buildings, construction totaling $175 million and expansion of the campus by 100 acres; growth of the endowment from $17 million to $56 million, while $100 million has been raised in private donations; and the launch of a four-year medical education program.
Source: France A. Córdova, president@purdue.edu
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