Jischke receives Indianapolis residents' input on Purdue's future
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The input was sought as part of the President's Executive Roundtable Luncheon. In a speech, Jischke highlighted the accomplishments of the university's strategic plan.
"Purdue has helped to advance Indiana toward increased prosperity with the support of residents in communities like Indianapolis," Jischke said. "Now, it's time to set new goals. Our Board of Trustees and I look forward to receiving ideas from Indianapolis as we prepare for Purdue's future role in our state."
Jischke invited questions and comments after a brief presentation on the implementation of the current strategic plan, which will conclude on June 30. Ideas also can be submitted on a new strategic plan Web site.
Jischke also will seek input during visits to various areas around the state, including:
• Nov. 16, Valparaiso.
• Dec. 14, Hancock County, including Greenfield.
• Jan. 25, Johnson County.
• Feb. 27, southwest region, including Evansville.
• March 15, Anderson.
An additional visit is being planned for Fort Wayne. All input is welcome, but Jischke suggested five topics for the Indianapolis session:
• How has Purdue benefited Indianapolis, and what needs might be unmet?
• How can the university partner at the county level to accomplish even more?
• What do businesses, citizens and young people in Indianapolis need from a major research university located one hour north?
• What does Purdue need from Indianapolis to help it accomplish mutual goals?
• How can Purdue improve its learning environment to better prepare students for the future?
Purdue's current strategic plan focuses on three missions: learning, discovery and engagement. One of the goals identified in the plan includes adding 300 new faculty positions to reduce the reliance on teaching assistants. Purdue has hired almost 250 of the additional 300 faculty sought and is on track to meet the goal.
Another goal is to increase the diversity of Purdue campuses. Student diversity is at an all-time high, with an enrollment this fall of more than 200 additional students who identified themselves as African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic or Native American. Jischke says more work needs to be done, but the percentage of minority students in the freshman class grew by 14.6 percent, while total undergraduate diversity grew by nearly 5 percent.
The current plan calls for investing more than $800 million in new construction, of which $519 million is funded by private gifts. Of that $800 million, $464 million in new construction is completed, $184 million is in progress and $141 million is anticipated.
This fall, Purdue opened the $25 million Biomedical Engineering Building and the $20 million Lawson Computer Science Building. The $53 million Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering is under construction and will open next year.
Construction also is moving ahead at Purdue's Discovery Park, where progress continues in expanding interdisciplinary research efforts and spurring economic development. The $330 million park features 10 centers, including the $10 million Discovery Learning Center, for which the university broke ground on Sept. 21. It houses interdisciplinary research focused on new approaches to teaching and learning science, technology, engineering and math.
At the Indianapolis luncheon, the president also announced a $1 million alliance between Purdue's Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Sheild to study how engineering principles can improve the delivery of health care.
Another focus of the current strategic plan is for Purdue to expand engagement for economic development and K-12 education linkages within Indiana. One way in which Purdue has advanced economic development is to assist in establishing technology parks throughout Indiana. The newest such park will be the Purdue Technology Center of New Albany, which is expected to open by the fall of 2008.
To assist K-12 teachers and students, several Purdue colleges and schools sponsor outreach programs. Science Bound, a program Jischke initiated, mentors eighth-grade to 12th-grade Indianapolis Public Schools students and encourages them to take classes in preparation for future careers in science, engineering, technology, agriculture and math-science education. Upon acceptance, Science Bound students receive an opportunity to earn a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to Purdue to study in an approved scientific or technical field. Approximately 15 Science Bound students will begin their academic careers at Purdue next fall.
The strategic plan also addresses a need to expand scholarships and financial aid so that no talented student will be denied the opportunity to study at Purdue. To answer some of this need, Jischke established the Purdue Opportunity Awards program, which pays for tuition, room and board for a high-need incoming freshman from each of the state's 92 counties. Total Purdue student financial aid system-wide exceeded $480 million last year.
The strategic plan initiatives are funded through the $1.5 billion Campaign for Purdue, which has raised $1.426 billion to date.
Jischke said that while these achievements are cause for celebration, it is important to sustain the momentum.
"While we have picked up the pace, much remains to be accomplished," he said. "I am eager to gather ideas on new directions and destinations for Purdue."
Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Source: Martin C. Jischke (765) 494-2098
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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