The Purdue University Board of Trustees today (Feb. 4) ratified two faculty positions and approved two new programs, a posthumous degree and resolutions of appreciation for friends of the university.

Purdue University’s Board of Trustees today (Feb. 4) approved a $20 million allocation toward a phenotyping greenhouse facility. A component of Plant Sciences 2.0, one of the five strategic initiatives of Purdue’s Next Moves, the facility will expand opportunities for non-invasive sensor-based phenotyping and add nearly 5,000 square feet of greenhouse research space.

Purdue University’s Board of Trustees today (Feb. 4) voted to approve the new metrics on which President Mitch Daniels’ performance will be measured for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

In his report to the Board of Trustees today (Feb. 4), President Mitch Daniels provided an update on recent and forthcoming additions to the Discovery Park District adjacent to the Purdue campus. He also updated the trustees on efforts to bring commercial air service to Purdue’s airport.

In a presentation to the board today (Feb. 4), Theresa Mayer, executive vice president for research and partnerships, provided an update on the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI), one of Purdue’s Next Moves initiatives. The nonprofit applied research arm of Purdue, PARI is focused on three target areas: national security and technology, technology acceleration, and global development and innovation.

Purdue will expand its hub of hypersonics research with the addition of a center focused on developing high-temperature materials and creating new manufacturing processes to build and join these materials, which will extend hypersonic vehicles’ capabilities and apply to other industries. The new Hypersonics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center is the first contract through the Purdue Applied Research Institute, the University’s new nonprofit applied research arm.

Patrick Wolfe, the Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science and Miller Family Professor of Statistics and Computer Science, provided an update on the College of Science in his presentation to the Board of Trustees today (Feb. 4). He highlighted growth in undergraduate enrollment and improved student success, noting that the College of Science is better serving record numbers of students across the university – and on a significantly reduced cost base per capita. Wolfe said Purdue Science has undergone an unprecedented transformation and is poised to accelerate its rise in ranking and reputation.

At the recommendation of President Mitch Daniels, the Purdue University Board of Trustees today (Feb. 4) approved for 2022 the addition of a three-day winter recess on Dec. 27-29 for faculty and staff on Purdue’s West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses. The three days are in addition to approved University holidays already scheduled on Dec. 23, 26 and 30, and Jan. 2, 2023.