Purdue trustees formally approve Purdue for Life reorganization, OK new projects to benefit research

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Executive Committee of the Purdue University Board of Trustees, acting on behalf of the full board, on Wednesday (March 3) voted to approve the formal completion of the Purdue for Life and Purdue Alumni Association reorganization, and OK’d two projects to benefit research activities on the West Lafayette campus.

Purdue announced in March 2020 the creation of the Purdue for Life Foundation as an organization designed to deepen ties to alumni and to drive and coordinate all alumni-facing activities for the university. Under the agreement and effective as of close of business March 31, Purdue for Life will encompass the Purdue Alumni Association, the University Development Office, John Purdue Club and President’s Council. As announced a year ago, Matt Folk, a 1991 Purdue electrical engineering graduate, serves as Purdue vice president for university advancement and alumni engagement and is the chief executive officer of Purdue for Life, overseeing the combined activities and goals of the aligned units. Final approval from the Purdue Alumni Association’s board of directors is anticipated next week.

Following approval by the Physical Facilities Committee of the board, the Executive Committee also approved the following items:

* To plan, finance, construct and award construction contracts for a 65,000-square-foot facility to house a HYPULSE wind tunnel and a Mach 8 wind tunnel. Construction is scheduled to begin in September. The project is estimated to cost $41 million. The building creates the space to house a previously announced Mach 8 quiet wind tunnel, for which Purdue received a $5.9 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory and the hypersonic pulse wind tunnel donated by Northrup Grumman Corp.

* To plan, finance, construct and award construction contracts to create 7,000 square feet of space to support various high-priority research activities. Construction is scheduled to begin in August. The project cost is estimated at $5.5 million.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu.

Sources: Matt Folk, mdfolk@PurdueForLife.org

Michael B. Cline, mbcline@purdue.edu

Theresa Mayer, tsmayer@purdue.edu

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