Indiana’s two world-class public research universities, Indiana University and Purdue University, are transforming their 53-year-old collaborative IUPUI vision with the creation of separate and independent urban campuses in the capital city: Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis.

The Boards of Trustees from both Indiana University and Purdue University approved a definitive agreement on Wednesday afternoon to formalize the separation of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. The agreement formalizes the creation of Indiana University Indianapolis, the new name for IU’s existing campus in Indianapolis, and Purdue University in Indianapolis, the first comprehensive urban campus of Purdue University. IU, the state’s largest research university, comprises a portfolio that includes seven campuses and two regional education centers statewide. Purdue’s flagship West Lafayette campus will be expanded to Purdue University in Indianapolis. Each university is slated to begin its separate Indianapolis operations in fall 2024.

The creation of independent campuses will enable the two higher education powerhouses to build upon their incredible legacies of excellence and impact to meet the needs of Indiana and its capital city for decades to come. Leveraging the strength of globally respected reputations independently, IU, Purdue, and the state of Indiana will each benefit from recently announced plans by each institution to expand extensive academic and research portfolios, increase talent attraction and retention programs, and invest millions of dollars in both individual and collaborative efforts.

“IU’s goal is nothing short of building one of the nation’s preeminent urban research universities, one defined by students transformed, discoveries made and communities strengthened,” IU President Pamela Whitten said. “Through this agreement we will unlock the remarkable potential of both institutions to meet the needs of our city and state. I am grateful for our many partners at Purdue University, and to the extensive state and community leadership, that have made today’s progress possible.”

“Today’s announcement launches transformative growth for our state’s land-grant university, and Boilermakers are excited to serve the people, businesses and communities of Indianapolis,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said. “Purdue will invest in, partner with, and together grow the tech-driven economy in central Indiana. We thank all of our partners at Indiana University and the many government, civic and business leaders who have been with us throughout this process. New opportunities for Purdue University in Indianapolis are limitless.”

How the realignment resolution will work

With today’s action by the Indiana University and Purdue University Boards of Trustees, all academic programs at IUPUI will transition to become part of IU Indianapolis in July 2024, with the exception of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology and Computer Science within School of Science, which will become part of Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Thanks to dedicated appropriations from the Indiana General Assembly, IU will significantly expand and renovate research and laboratory facilities to support growing numbers of STEM faculty, including through the School of Science. To meet crucial talent and research needs, IU is also expanding the nation’s first school of informatics – the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering – in Indianapolis. IU Indianapolis will offer new programs, including in applied computer science, while pursuing significantly expanded student enrollment at the Luddy School. These efforts will be central to IU’s recently announced SciTech Corridor, to be located at Michigan and West streets.

IU Indianapolis will also enhance the integration of its science programs with the IU School of Medicine and other allied health science schools, expanding the number of students who will be prepared for health science-based careers, improving the pipeline of doctors and nurses and keeping more graduates in the state.

In addition, IU will have responsibility for providing certain administrative services for both universities and for the intercollegiate athletic program. IU will continue to provide transformative educational experiences for the more than 20,000 students in other IU programs, such as business, law, nursing, social work and a wide range of other academic disciplines.

IU officials also noted the university’s partnership with the Madam Walker Legacy Center as a reflection of its commitment to embracing and engaging with a diverse array of community leaders, particularly in the neighborhood immediately adjacent to the current IUPUI campus. Both IU and Purdue also emphasized the importance of honoring the cultural and historic significance of Indiana Avenue, while ensuring shared progress that fosters thriving, culturally significant communities alongside two nationally regarded institutions of higher education.

The Purdue Board of Trustees voted to establish Purdue University in Indianapolis, Purdue’s first comprehensive urban campus, effective July 1, 2024. Purdue University in Indianapolis will assume responsibility for the existing engineering, computer science and technology programs at IUPUI and confer Purdue West Lafayette degrees. Purdue will also introduce programs from other colleges and departments in West Lafayette to Indianapolis, such as the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and create exciting opportunities for current West Lafayette faculty and students in Indianapolis to pursue research, internship or entrepreneurial opportunities with Indianapolis companies.

Purdue University in Indianapolis will create new knowledge and establish a strong pipeline of Boilermaker talent to the capital city, including some of the more than 30,000 STEM students currently enrolled in West Lafayette. Purdue University in Indianapolis will help connect talents and industry, maximize Indy’s unique strength in sports and biomedical technology, and fuel transformative job and economic growth in the region and state. 

Thanks to the state legislature’s support, Purdue anticipates substantially growing today’s Indianapolis enrollment; along with plans for a 28-acre campus footprint beyond the existing IUPUI Engineering & Technology buildings is the exploration of additional facilities throughout the city of Indianapolis. Understanding the historical significance of the area surrounding Indiana Avenue, Purdue will be an active participant in the “reimagining Indiana Avenue discussions” which will inform the development of the surrounding neighborhoods.    

The new Purdue University in Indianapolis will also serve as one bookend for a 65-mile-long Hard Tech Corridor in Indiana, stretching from downtown Indianapolis, through the LEAP Innovation District in Lebanon with new sites from companies such as Eli Lilly, all the way to Discovery Park District in West Lafayette.

Additionally, the agreement between the two universities allows both institutions to expand their academic and research offerings at their respective operations in Fort Wayne.