For 52 years, Indiana University + Purdue University have been joined together to bring their programs to downtown Indianapolis with IUPUI — and now it’s taking the first steps to revamp the collaboration.
Friday, the universities announced their new vision for IUPUI, which will transform the public university into separate academic organizations where IU and Purdue will each govern their own programs. The goal of the change is to end confusion + drive growth in enrollment, job-ready graduates, research, and prestige.
“This is a historic moment for Indianapolis, for IU, and for our entire state,” said IU President Pam Whitten.
“What we are announcing [...] responds to calls we have heard from Indianapolis and across the state for a bigger and more visible Purdue in Indianapolis,” said Purdue President Mitch Daniels.
So what does this mean for the future of IUPUI?
First, the name “IUPUI” will be no more. IU will change its name to “IU Indianapolis” + Purdue has yet to announce its new name.
Alyson Essex, a graduate student at IUPUI, works in a lab at the IUSM Medical Science building. | Photo by IUPUI
Other things that will change:
- The universities will work together on a new biosciences engineering institute.
- IU will take over operations of what is now the School of Science at IUPUI.
- IU will expand its Bloomington-based Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering with new computer science programs in Indianapolis.
- Purdue will assume responsibility for engineering, computer science and technology “as a fully integrated expansion” of Purdue West Lafayette.
- Purdue plans to open a branch of its Applied Research Institute on or near the current IUPUI campus.
The campus will remain in its current location downtown + will continue to be fully owned and operated by IU. Purdue students and faculty can learn more about what this means for them in this FAQ .
The realignment is scheduled to be completed by the fall 2024 semester.