Purdue@DC to host faculty conversation on Intergovernmental Personnel Act agreements

Purdue@DC will host an information session to introduce faculty to opportunities afforded by Intergovernmental Personnel Act agreements (IPAs). The discussion will take place at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 29 in Stewart Center, Room 206.

The discussion will be led by Mark Lewis, CEO of the Purdue Applied Research Institute and former IPA. For planning purposes, faculty can indicate their interest in attending here.

IPAs offer faculty the opportunity to share their unique subject matter expertise with federal agencies to help solve problems, assist with technology integration, and contribute to the development and implementation of policies and programs. IPAs build recognition for their expertise, enhance the university’s influence, and offer service to the country while maintaining university employment.

Since 2014, 34 Purdue faculty have received 55 IPA awards. The largest number have been with the National Science Foundation. IPAs have included assignments with DARPA, the National Security Agency, NASA, the State Department, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Military Academy, the Department of Veterans Affairs and various VA medical centers.

IPAs offer departments value in terms of faculty growth and impact on the academic unit. These include:

• Increased awareness of faculty expertise
• Potential partners for the academic unit 
• Support for a university priority

Through the Purdue@DC initiative, Purdue seeks to expand its presence and contributions in Washington, D.C. Faculty engagement as IPAs offers one approach for increased presence and impact in the nation’s capital, as do providing expert testimony and serving on advisory boards.