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July 15, 2009
President France A. Córdova celebrates second anniversary at Purdue
France A. Córdova celebrated her second anniversary as president of Purdue University on July 16.
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Over the past year, Córdova has focused on the implementation of the University's strategic plan, "New Synergies," which lays out the ambitious goals of launching tomorrow's leaders, promoting discovery with delivery and meeting global challenges.
"As I finish my second year here at Purdue, one of the accomplishments I am most proud of is progress we've made on the 'New Synergies' strategic plan. This plan combines the exemplary and diverse ideas of our campus community and stakeholders, and will help position Purdue among the top-ranked research universities in the world," Córdova says. "Our students are the beneficiaries as we turn the concepts of the plan into reality. I appreciate all of the wonderful efforts that have been made so far by our faculty and staff, and I encourage others to get involved in our exciting future."
Among the achievements during the past two years:
* Purdue's Access & Success campaign, launched in spring 2008, continues to ensure that students have access to a Purdue education and the support to succeed once they arrive on campus. To date, more than $100 million has been raised for programs and scholarships. The first scholarships were awarded in the fall 2008 semester.
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Recipients of the Trustees and Presidential scholarships that were created as a part of the campaign have received a total of $10.7 million. In April, Córdova announced the launch of the new Purdue Marquis Scholarship Program, which will help Indiana students who are in the top half of their class, who qualify for minimal or no state and federal aid, and whose families are middle class, earning between $40,000 and $100,000 annually. Selected Indiana students will be funded at $2,000 per year, starting with the 2009-10 freshman class.
* The University continues to work on attracting the state's and the nation's top students. The academic characteristics of Purdue's 2009 freshman applicant pool surpassed that of the previous year. This year's freshman applicants averaged a 22-point SAT score increase on the 2400-point scale and a 16-point increase on the critical reading and math 1600-point scale. The students' average class rank has increased by three percentage points. This year's admitted student group includes Indiana's Top Young Scientist, Chelsea Arthur from New Carlisle, Ind.
* To help ensure that students succeed academically once at Purdue, the University announced in June that it will require incoming students to have completed four years of high school math. Studies show that high school students who take senior-level math increase their odds of completing a bachelor's degree by 73 percent. The requirement will take effect for the fall 2011 incoming class.
* Design work is moving forward to renovate and expand the Recreational Sports Center, a project that illustrates Purdue's commitment to students' health, fitness and overall well-being. The new design of the 52-year-old center will enhance exercise space devoted to cardiovascular fitness, weight training, jogging, walking and group exercise. Racquetball courts, gyms and other facilities, including locker rooms, common space and dining areas, will be improved. The Indiana Legislature recently approved the $98 million project.
* Purdue is laying plans to centralize services and resources in a student "hub" that fosters academic excellence and diversity, and student life and leadership. Thanks to generous donors, the University has already received a pledge of $4 million to create a new facility for Purdue Musical Organizations.
* Purdue has taken major steps toward engaging students in experiential learning and is working to transform some of its "gateway" classes that currently seat hundreds of students -- and ultimately defeat large numbers of them -- into exciting venues for learning. This year the College of Engineering inaugurated a new state-of-the-art learning lab that puts students into smaller classes as early as their first year, giving them more hands-on experience and improved chances for success. During the two semesters the Ideas to Innovation Learning Laboratory has been open, attendance for first-year engineering students jumped almost 20 percentage points to 98 percent. The number of students withdrawing or earning non-passing grades fell from 10 percent to 5 percent.
* National searches during the Córdova presidency have brought exceptionally talented people to cabinet-level administration and to deanships at Purdue.
* Córdova announced July 9 the appointment of G. Christine Taylor, associate vice president for institutional diversity at Miami University of Ohio, as the University's first vice provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. The position, created as part of the "New Synergies" strategic plan, will provide strategic leadership and vision relating to Purdue's efforts to embrace and promote diversity. The appointment, effective Aug. 24, is subject to approval by the University's Board of Trustees.
* For the eighth consecutive year, Purdue has surpassed $200 million in private giving. In FY 2009, the University raised $213,780,046.
* Purdue and Indiana University will jointly create and lead the Indiana Innovation Alliance, a broad-based research alliance that will help the state grow its bio- and life-sciences industries, improve public health and increase the number of physicians being trained in Indiana. The alliance will bring together a wide spectrum of businesses, government and universities to share research facilities and other resources to expand the state's capacity to support new and existing companies in the biology and health-related fields. The Indiana General Assembly authorized $20 million for the project over the 2009-11 biennium.
* The number of current and retired faculty who are members of the National Academies grew to 26 this past academic year. Purdue now has 22 current and retired faculty members of the National Academy of Engineering. Mark S. Lundstrom, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Doraiswami Ramkrishna, professor of chemical engineering, were elected to the National Academy of Engineering this year. H. Jay Melosh, Distinguished Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Physics who will join Purdue in August, is one of our three members of the National Academy of Science. President Emeritus Steven C. Beering is a member of the Institute of Medicine.
* Purdue increased its sponsored research funding for fiscal year 2009 to $342 million, building on the record $333.4 million generated in FY 2008.
* Purdue recently received $20 million bonding authority from the Indiana General Assembly for a new drug discovery facility. Córdova worked with Gov. Mitch Daniels to further the project, which will serve to keep Purdue and the state at the forefront of pharmaceutical research and drug discovery.
* Purdue Research Park continues to spur economic growth in Indiana's high-tech sector and now includes parks in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany. Purdue Research Park at AmeriPlex-Indianapolis, which opened in January, is a $12.8 million technology center that will accommodate up to 75 businesses and create 1,500 jobs, mostly in life sciences and high-tech areas.
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Two new buildings opened in West Lafayette, the 80,000-square-foot Innovation Center that houses a national software solution center for EDS, an HP company, and the 105,000-square-foot Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center. It houses the Purdue Research Foundation offices and will provide space for up to 26 companies and support about 275 jobs. The Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette now has about 364,000 square feet of incubation space, making it the largest business incubator complex in the state. Within the park are 160 businesses, of which more than 100 are high-tech, that employ more than 3,700 people.
* Plans for Purdue's new Global Public Policy Institute were unveiled at the Board of Trustees meeting on July 10. The institute will cultivate solid, evidence-based research for policy-makers, help to create synergies between researchers across disciplinary lines in order to address global challenges, and benefit students through internships and degrees in public policy.
* Córdova extended the University's partnership with Cummins Inc. and Cummins College of Engineering for Women during a 10-day trip to India and Hong Kong. Córdova's trip, a year in the planning, featured visits to educational institutions and businesses, as well as meetings with alumni, parents and major donors.
* To assist employees in balancing the demands of work life and family life, Purdue in October adopted a parental leave benefit allowing both male and female faculty, staff and graduate staff to take paid time off for a birth or adoption. In addition, the University is conducting a major review of benefit programs to enhance their value and is offering a new life insurance program that offers higher levels of coverage, better rates, and the convenience of online enrollment.
* The University has taken specific steps to soften the blow of tough economic times on employees. While the University has cut spending, the workforce has been kept virtually intact. Purdue is absorbing the employees’ share of medical plan premium increases for the 2010 calendar year. In addition, parking permit fees will not increase for 2009-10. The University had instituted a six-year plan of increases in 2003 to move the parking program toward fiscal self-sufficiency. The last increase was in 2007.
* The Board of Trustees in February approved Purdue's new campus master plan, which promotes a compact design, modifications to enhance efficiency of public transit, integrating living and learning areas on campus, preserving as much of the University-controlled land west of campus as possible as woodlands or meadowlands, and creating a more intuitive street system that encourages more two-way traffic to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
* Córdova has advanced Purdue’s commitment to sustainability, a topic she teaches to her President's Leadership Class of outstanding freshmen. Sustainability has guided several initiatives over the past year: the creation of BoilerRide, a carpool and ride-sharing program; the celebration of the University's first Green Week on Sept. 15-19, 2008; and use of sustainable building design and construction in the addition of the Roger B. Gatewood Wing at the Mechanical Engineering Building and expansion of the Ray W. Herrick Laboratories. Both buildings are designed to be LEED-certified, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Marriott Hall, a $12 million building that will house the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, also may be LEED-certified.
* Purdue Athletics enjoyed many highlights in 2008-09, including:
-- The appointment of Danny Hope as associate head coach of Purdue football (January 2008) then head coach (January 2009).
-- Finish in 38th place in 2008-09 among 278 schools in the NCAA Division I all-sports Directors' Cup, led by these top 25 national finishes: women's basketball (5), men's basketball (9), women's volleyball (9), women's golf (10), men's swimming and diving (13), softball (17), women's outdoor track and field (20), women's swimming and diving (21), wrestling (23).
-- Individual achievements, including golfer Maria Hernandez, NCAA individual champion; diver David Boudia, NCAA champion in 3-meter and platform; javelin thrower Kara Patterson, repeat USA champion; and basketball player Robbie Hummel, member of U.S. squad at World University Games.
"It's been an exciting year here at Purdue, and this is just the beginning," Córdova says. "Together, we can build on this foundation and continue to realize the energizing vision of 'New Synergies.'"