Purdue Northwest chosen as name for unified regional campus
July 18, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue Board of Trustees on Friday (July 18) approved Purdue University Northwest - to be commonly referred to as Purdue Northwest (PNW) - as the name of the unified Calumet and North Central campuses.
James B. Dworkin, chancellor of Purdue North Central, and Thomas L. Keon, chancellor of Purdue Calumet, praised the campus naming as a key step forward in their unification efforts. Combining the campuses reflects Purdue's continuing emphasis on administrative cost savings and promoting student affordability and accessibility, they said.
"I am very happy that our naming process is complete," Dworkin said.
"This is a major step forward in our campus unification. Our unification effort reflects our commitment to ensuring the academic and administrative excellence of Purdue North Central and Purdue Calumet. Both campuses have established themselves as valued members of the Northwest Indiana community, and we're pleased that the trustees kept this goal in mind with the selection of Purdue University Northwest."
Keon added that the name selection underscores a sense of cohesiveness that will serve both of the campus locations going forward.
"Northwest Indiana is ready for a more enriched Purdue University with excellent academic programs, experienced faculty and quality students," he said. "Coming together as Purdue University Northwest reflects our commitment to working closely together to create an even stronger presence in the many communities we serve."
The name's adoption will be phased in over the next two years as work continues to unify administrative oversight functions into one central office and provide opportunities for students to seamlessly pursue degree programs at either campus location. For now, Purdue University Northwest will be used in activities connected with the continued unification plan. Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central will begin to market academic programs as one regional campus after gaining accreditation to do so by the Higher Learning Commission.
The target date for completion of unification is July 1, 2016. Announced Feb. 26, the unification will include a formal plan that will be presented to trustees at a later meeting.
Once unification is complete, the two campus locations will be respectively identified as the Purdue University Northwest-Calumet campus and the Purdue University Northwest-North Central campus.
Current students will not see their curriculum, coursework or graduation requirements change. Incoming students will still apply and enroll at the campus location of their choice.
In addition to approving the name, trustees authorized the two chancellors to develop a new logo and to create new nomenclature to distinguish the existing regional campus references.
Writer: Amanda Hamon Kunz, 765-496-1325, ahamon@purdue.edu
Sources: Thomas L. Keon, 219-989-2203, Thomas.Keon@purduecal.edu
James B. Dworkin, 219-785-5331, jdworkin@pnc.edu
Note to Journalists: Media interested in speaking with chancellors James B. Dworkin and Thomas L. Keon about the unified campus naming can take part in a Friday (July 18) conference call. Journalists wanting to participate in the call, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time (10:30 a.m. CDT), should dial 866-867-9049.
