Purdue Board to Vote on IPFW

(Image courtesy of IPFW)

The Purdue University Board of Trustees will vote Friday on the proposed realignment of IPFW into two separate Fort Wayne institutions. The move, which was approved by Indiana University trustees earlier this month, has received support from the presidents of both universities.

Purdue President Mitch Daniels told Inside Indiana Business this week that the decision is best for both the campus and the region. "I think it’s an exciting challenge to us. It wasn’t our idea. Many commissions have said something new ought to happen. We have to deal with what’s best for the entire campus and the greater Fort Wayne region and, somewhat reluctantly, over time we became persuaded that this sort of change was in the best interest of the campus and we’re going to do the best we can to implement it."

Daniels and IU President Michael McRobbie held a news conference Tuesday explaining their support for the proposal. Many students were in attendance protesting the decision. Earlier this week, the IPFW Alumni Association Board of Directors announced its opposition to the realignment proposal as well.

The board will meet beginning at 9:00 a.m. Friday.