Opening Remarks

Dan Carpenter

Assistant Vice Provost for
Student Success Innovations

I am pleased to share our annual report from Student Success Programs. The core of this report is a detailed overview of each of our eight programs. These reports are a result of our internal continuous improvement process. We combine these programmatic overviews into an annual report to be transparent about our work and invite opportunities to collaborate with partners across campus.

Please enjoy the report that follows, spend some time reviewing each of the program reports and reach out if you see an opportunity for us to work together in support of Purdue students. I continue to be proud of this team's work and their commitment to serving Purdue students in West Lafayette, in Indianapolis and online. Here's to another great year serving Boilermakers!

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Meet Our Team Notable Updates Team Photos Program Reports

Meet the staff from:

Teresa Harris

Veterans Success Center

Alfredo Rosales

Disability Resource Center

Hannah Keeler

Orientation Programs

Nanda Dhananjaya

Disability Resource Center

Katie Dufault

Academic Success Center

Dennis Bowling

Student Success Admin

Rhianna Kuperus

Student Success Admin

Jo Cardarelli

Academic Success Center

Bahiyyih Baker

Purdue Testing Services

Max Dryer

Student Success Admin

Madison Mahurin

Disability Resource Center

Samantha Gunther

Horizons

Craig Johnson

Orientation Programs

Lisa Yates

Disability Resource Center

Yao Yang

Student Success Admin

Virginia Johnson

Orientation Programs

Quinton Skibinski

Purdue Promise

Mandie Greiwe

Disability Resource Center

Chélei Doud-Brooks

Horizons

Maggie O'Connor

Student Success Admin

Sarah Peterson

Academic Success Center

Wendy Mouser

Veterans Success Center

Mary Kirk

Academic Success Center

Pete Celeste

Disability Resource Center

Morgan Gamble

Veterans Success Center

Brittany Allensworth

Horizons

Genevieve White

Disability Resource Center

Maggie Smith

Orientation Programs

Eileen White

Disability Resource Center

Summer Bowman

Purdue Promise

Dan Carpenter

Student Success Admin

Jacque Rickett

Orientation Programs

Gina Zaccagnini

Academic Success Center

Megan Borg

Disability Resource Center

Alisa Montgomery

Disability Resource Center

Bryan Arbic

Veterans Success Center

Jamie Jones

Purdue Promise

Sandra Cash

Disability Resource Center

Kimberly Heslin

Veterans Success Center

Jazmine Clifton

Purdue Promise

Taylor Haville

Disability Resource Center

Jazmyn Nichols

Horizons

Tim Elliott

Veterans Success Center

Melissa Maggard

Purdue Promise

Susan Lausier

Disability Resource Center

Alison Webb

Orientation Programs

Katie Whalen

Disability Resource Center

Karen Jacobsen

Academic Success Center

Heidi Smart

Disability Resource Center

Adina Loomis

Orientation Programs

Jossette Bailey

Disability Resource Center

Keara Wilson

Basic Needs Program

Jordan Grammas

Disability Resource Center

Karen Zerby

Student Success Admin

Catherine Shepherd

Disability Resource Center

Dave Oney

Purdue Testing Services

Lee Ann Schiffhauer

Academic Success Center

Brandon Chafin

Disability Resource Center

Connie Washburn

Student Success Admin

Nicole Martin

Disability Resource Center

Martina McQuay

Purdue Promise

Brent Roach

Horizons

Kelsey Jordan

Purdue Testing Services

Desmine Robinson

Purdue Promise

Cindy Hedgecough

Disability Resource Center

Whitney Johnson

Orientation Programs

Jay Snedeker

Purdue Promise

Kim Donoho

Purdue Testing Services

Katelyn Simon

Purdue Promise

Betsy Kiel

Disability Resource Center

Orientation Programs celebrates a successful 2025 Boiler Gold Rush in West Lafayette and Indianapolis

This summer, Orientation Programs brought energy and connection to students and families in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Staff and interns collaborated at retreats, welcomed over 1,600 attendees during Summer Visit Days, and launched new Boilermakers into their journey with Purdue 101 and 102. In May, 6,024 students completed Purdue 101, unlocking a $6,024 donation to the ACE Campus Food Pantry — enough to provide more than 18,000 meals for the community.

The season concluded with Boiler Gold Rush International (BGRi) and Boiler Gold Rush (BGR), where more than 8,400 students were supported by over 800 trained student leaders. For the first time, BGRi was held in Indianapolis, marking a milestone in expanding Purdue’s welcome experience. Across August, the @allaboardpurdue Instagram shared 361 pieces of content that generated more than 2.7 million views, 35,000 interactions, and 3,700 new followers — showcasing the excitement and impact of Purdue’s orientation programs.

Visit Orientation Programs Website

VMSC helps university earn Tier 1 Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana award

From student application to graduation, Purdue University is being recognized for its service to military-affiliated students through the state of Indiana’s highest form of achievement, a Tier 1 Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana award, in its inaugural year.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education named Purdue’s main campus a top-tier supportive environment for military-affiliated students, alongside Purdue University Fort Wayne and Purdue University Northwest. Purdue is the only four-year institution in Indiana to receive this distinction.

Purdue reached a 90% achievement level for the honor in 37 standards across eight categories, including admissions and enrollment, financial support, institutional support systems, student support services, student engagement, and career and community engagement.

“The Veteran and Military Success Center at Purdue works to support military-affiliated students in a variety of ways — this distinction recognizes that,” said Morgan Gamble, director of the VMSC. “Our efforts through academic opportunities and student support are at the heart of the Collegiate Purple Star designation.”

Learn More

Academic Success Center continues to prepare students through annual Test Drive event, peer-led tutoring in Indianapolis

The ASC hosted more than 700 students for Test Drive: The Elliott Exam Experience event on Sept. 9. The mock exam event allows students to take a practice test in Elliott Hall to help students evaluate and prepare for both their exam content and the testing environment. In addition to supporting select math, chemistry, physics, economics, and management courses, this year Test Drive also included a “non-content” exam for students enrolled in courses that have an Elliott exam but were not participating in the event.

Learn More

Horizons and Purdue Promise embark on summer study abroad trips to Spain and Morocco

The Purdue Promise study abroad program provided participating scholars with a transformative educational experience in Spain, strengthening their cultural awareness, global understanding, and personal confidence. Through a combination of academic sessions, site visits, and immersive cultural activities, students gained new perspectives on leadership, identity, and the world beyond campus.

The trip also fostered a strong sense of community, bringing together students who began as strangers and returned as a cohesive, supportive group. By making international learning accessible to students who may not otherwise have the opportunity, Purdue Promise demonstrated its commitment to holistic growth, equity, and high-impact experiential learning that enriches both student success and long-term personal development.

The Horizons study-abroad program offers students an affordable, high-impact pathway to international experience and personal growth. By subsidizing the cost by nearly 65% compared to traditional study-abroad options and offering grant aid when needed, Horizons removes economic barriers and ensures global learning is within reach.

Through immersive cultural experiences, exposure to diverse global contexts and structured reflection, students develop intercultural awareness, leadership skills and broadened worldviews that strengthen both their academic and professional trajectories. The program also fosters belonging and community, empowering participants not only to navigate but thrive in a globalized world, aligning with Horizons’ mission.

Purdue Promise Blogs Horizons Blogs

Span Plan transitions to become Basic Needs Program

Student Success Programs is pleased to announce the launch of Purdue’s Basic Needs Program, replacing Span Plan Nontraditional Student Services. The Basic Needs Program improves student success by providing support to those who have unmet basic needs that can be addressed with community resources, including food assistance, housing, transportation, health care, child care and technology.

Although Span Plan programming has ended, legacy scholarships for eligible nontraditional students (academic and child care) remain available and are managed by the Basic Needs Program. The current application cycle is closed.

Four student success programs directors stand for a picture in Krach Leadership center

Pictured: Keara Wilson, Director of Basic Needs Program

There are multiple ways to refer students or explore available resources through the Basic Needs Program: visit the Basic Needs Program website, email basicneeds@purdue.edu , or submit a referral directly in BoilerConnect under Student Life and Wellness.

Visit Basic Needs Program Website

Disability Resource Center moves locations, West Lafayette to 1st floor of Young Hall, Indy to Student Center

Purdue University’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) has relocated its West Lafayette offices to the first floor of Young Hall. Additionally, the DRC's office in Indianapolis has moved to the Purdue Student Center. These moves enhance accessibility and visibility, making it easier for students, faculty and staff to locate and engage with the center’s services.

These new spaces offer improved offices for DRC staff as well as welcoming communal areas designed to foster connection and collaboration among students who utilize the center’s resources.

Visit DRC website

Image showing Elliott Hall of Music seating during Test Drive 2022, with the room full of testing students

Purdue Testing Services facilitates record number of accommodated exams during finals week

During the 2024 fall finals week, Purdue Testing Services (PTS) facilitated 2,627 accommodated exams in West Lafayette while the Disability Resource Center (DRC) facilitated 116 accommodated tests in Indianapolis. Managing these accommodations is a carefully orchestrated effort that involves multiple teams working behind the scenes all semester long.

At its core, accommodated testing is about creating the right environment for student success.

"Students need an environment where they can successfully perform on an exam. For students with disabilities, this often means adjusting the testing environment to meet their needs," says Dan Carpenter, assistant vice provost for Student Success Innovation.

The journey for students requiring accommodated finals starts at the DRC. Students who need accommodations meet with an experienced access consultant to have an in-depth conversation about their unique needs.

"Our office determines reasonable accommodations for students," explains director Mandie Greiwe. "A student may need more time, a different physical environment or some particular auxiliary aid or service than others in the class.”

After appropriate accommodations are determined, students must send course accommodation letters to their instructors. While some instructors handle accommodations independently, they can also request support from PTS.

"We used to facilitate about 600 exams during finals week. Now, we do about 600 exams any given week of the semester," says Kelsey Jordan, PTS director.

The demand for accommodated testing has skyrocketed since Jordan arrived in 2015. For the Fall 2024 semester, PTS facilitated over 10,000 accommodated exams — 16% more final exams than the previous year.

Read Full Story Here

Image showing students gathered around large colorful glowing pole, excitedly yelling

Purdue Promise expands to serve all 21st Century Scholars

Starting with the fall 2025 incoming class, Purdue Promise will expand its services to all 21st Century Scholars at Purdue. This expansion will increase the number of students benefiting from the program’s specialized resources from around 900 students to nearly 3,000 over time, ensuring that every eligible scholar receives financial support and individualized coaching.

Purdue Promise has supported income-eligible Indiana 21st Century Scholars for over a decade, providing financial assistance, individualized coaching and holistic services designed to help them navigate college successfully. Over the years, these efforts have paved the way for hundreds of Indiana students to receive a high-quality Purdue education at an affordable price.

In addition to financial support and coaching, Purdue Promise also encourages students to engage with their community through various enrichment opportunities. One notable initiative is the study abroad program launched in 2016, which creates affordable opportunities for students to gain global leadership experiences in countries such as Spain and Scotland. Additionally, the program hosts social mingles in West Lafayette and Indianapolis so students can build connections and develop a strong support network among their peers.

Visit the Purdue Promise Website