Indiana University & Purdue University to Transform IUPUI Into Two Separate Academic Institutions

Indiana University (IU) and Purdue University will split the Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) into two separate academic institutions in which the two universities will offer their own programs, IU and Purdue have announced.

The decision was approved on Friday by the IU Board of Trustees and the executive committee of Purdue’s Board of Trustees, thus ending the 52-year-old joint venture, Erudera.com reports.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines a cooperation platform through which two universities will expand research in Indianapolis and increase funding for joint research initiatives, including the establishment of a joint biosciences engineering institute.

According to a media release issued by Indiana University, the new institute is expected to harness the power of universities’ collective academic and research strengths and the continuing cooperation between Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and other health disciplines offered at Purdue.

The presidents of the two universities said that the joint institute is an example of how the agreement will bring both universities together to make changes in Indianapolis and across the state.

IU President Pam Whitten described the agreement as a historic moment for the university, Indianapolis, and the entire state. Whitten stressed that IUPUI’s accomplishments for more than 50 years are pushing IU to become one of the leading research universities in the country.

“In addition to expanding our science and technology programs, we plan to grow across the board, create more opportunities for students, and become even more deeply integrated with the Indianapolis community through close relationships with local businesses, nonprofits, sports organizations, and more,” Whitten added.

Meanwhile, Purdue’s President Mitch Daniels said that the new decision to split universities will enable an increase in the number of Purdue’s STEM graduates and will also provide more opportunities to students and faculty both in Indianapolis and in West Lafayette.

“Our state and its largest city require a world-class, high-technology research presence of the quality Purdue represents,” President Daniels said.

Commenting on the new vision, Indiana Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Kevin Brinegar said that it would likely attract more students and prepare the latter for the current and future labor market.

Currently, Indiana University owns and manages the IUPUI campus, whereas Pursue awards the academic degrees. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Indiana University will take over the operation of the School of Science at IUPUI, except for the Computer Science Department, which will be operated by Purdue.

IU will also expand the number of students pursuing health science careers to keep more graduates in the state and improve the pipeline of doctors and nurses. The same will achieve partnerships in new research areas intending to benefit the country with start-ups and through increased funding.

There are several other activities that will be allocated under MOU, including a new branch of Purdue Applied Research Institute on or near the current IUPUI.

So far, IUPUI is the third largest four-year university in Indiana, enrolling a total of 27,000 students.

image source: IUPUI's twitter page