Trustees approve new electronic research administration system; Doctor of Psychology and University College at Purdue Northwest; chilled water capacity enhancement projects

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (April 14) gave approval for a new Electronic Research Administration (eRA) system, a Doctor of Psychology program at Purdue Northwest and establishment of the Purdue Northwest University College.

The Huron Research Suite will replace existing, outdated research administration systems. Intended to serve all Purdue campuses and affiliated organizations, this next-generation eRA system will facilitate the link among all research processes, including pre-award, negotiations, post-award, regulatory compliance and research security activities.

Purdue’s Office of Research will administer the new integrated eRA system. By automating the processes to apply for research grants; manage research funding; and perform regulatory, ethics, training and compliance, the Office of Research will be better able to support its researchers, faculty and staff and help them operate more efficiently.

Working with the Huron Consulting Group, the phased rollout will begin this summer and be completed by late 2025. The total project cost is expected to be approximately $9.9 million over a 28-month project schedule. This budget includes Huron subscription costs, professional service fees and internal costs for staffing and managing the project.

Additionally, the board approved a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program at Purdue Northwest, beginning in fall 2023, and establishment of the Purdue Northwest University College.

The PsyD program will provide a professional career path for licensure in clinical psychology. It is designed to respond to the rapidly increasing demand for mental health professionals in the northwest Indiana region. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, has classified Lake, Porter and La Porte counties, and most of the surrounding counties, as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, providing career opportunities for residents with a strong interest in remaining in the northwest Indiana region, and will serve area residents by providing mental health professionals to meet the need. The PsyD program curriculum includes subsets of courses that can be used toward a terminal master’s degree, which can be awarded after completion of the appropriate coursework. Students who do not matriculate into the PsyD program will be able to attain a Master of Science degree.

University College will share the existing academic infrastructure and degree-granting authority of the Purdue Northwest Honors College to provide an academic home for Purdue Northwest’s exploratory students – the largest group of incoming freshmen each year. Students who enter the university as exploratory are guided along a pathway to select and declare a major in a degree program of study in their area of interest. The Honors College and University College will be led by one dean, share academic and curricular oversight by the Honors College’s existing Faculty Council, and share academic advising and student support services.

Trustees also gave approval to plan, finance, construct and award construction contracts for chilled water capacity enhancement at Purdue West Lafayette, allowing production and distribution of chilled water to keep pace with campus growth and strategic research initiatives. This project includes a new cooling tower and supporting equipment at the Wade Utility Plant, an approximately 1,600-gross-square-foot auxiliary controls building, a new chilled water line from the Wade Utility Plant to the central academic campus and seven smaller projects to increase the reliability and efficiency of chilled water distribution to campus buildings. The reliable production and distribution of chilled water supports facility health and comfort and is essential to ongoing and future world-changing research. Construction is scheduled to start in February 2024 and be completed in May 2026 at an estimated cost of $65.5 million, paid by operating funds – reserves.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities 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 https://stories.purdue.edu.

Sources: Karen Plaut

Ken Sandel

Kenneth C. Holford

Mike Cline

Jay Wasson