Indiana University President Pamela Whitten and former Purdue University President Mitch Daniels agreed to split IUPUI in 2022. IU Indianapolis officially opens July 1.
(Tyler Carrell, Indiana University)
Indiana University Indianapolis officially launches July 1, marking the end of a 55-year partnership with Purdue University and the beginning IU’s own urban research campus.
IU and state leaders are investing millions — particularly in STEM initiatives on campus — and building relationships in Indianapolis as IUPUI dissolves. Indiana University Indianapolis will enroll about 20,000 students. More students come from Marion County than any other area.
Chancellor and Vice Provost Latha Ramchand said when a student is admitted to the college, IU Indianapolis has a responsibility to make sure they graduate on time and with more options than when they began.
“All that informs what we do inside the classroom, outside the classroom,” Ramchand said. “It's a huge responsibility. But this is the exciting part.”
Purdue will take over IUPUI’s engineering, computer science and tech program. IU Indianapolis will retain all other academic programs.
In 2022, President Pamela Whitten and former Purdue President Mitch Daniels agreed to dissolve IUPUI. IU retained administrative duties and athletics in the split.
In 2023, Whitten said the division will allow both schools to focus on their strengths.
“This agreement will be a stepping stone for both Indiana University and Purdue University toward even greater possibilities for innovation and collaboration and impact for our students in the city of Indianapolis,” she said.
IU announced major investments into the Indianapolis campus as well as plans to partner with the city’s businesses, start-up industry and local schools.
IU Indianapolis campus recently struck a deal with all public schools in the city, and it will automatically admit eligible high schooler seniors. The campus and Indianapolis Public Schools partnered to remove barriers to attending college.
Ramchand said she hopes to engage with students and families who might not have considered college.
“I often say these roles are … they seem like fancy titles. They don't really mean anything unless that student succeeds,” Ramchand said. “When every student succeeds, that's the day I feel like I've earned my title. Until then it's just a placeholder.”
In one of the most recent developments on campus, the Board of Trustees approved a plan to build a$110 million athletic centerfor Jaguars and local athletes.
Whitten has reiterated the growing science, medical and research opportunities in Indianapolis.
AScience and Technology Corridor at Michigan and West Streets is in the works after receiving $60 million from the state. Whitten also announced plans to create two new research institutes: The Institute for Convergent Bioscience and Biotechnology and the Institute for Human Health and Wellness.
The university is spending millions to update laboratory space, fund faculty recruitment and support faculty startup costs. The School of Medicine continues to receive research funding and donations.
Ramchand wants to take IU Indianapolis’ research beyond publishing.
“What about the research can be converted into an action plan that we can then start implementing, so your research actually makes a difference in my life?” Ramchand said.
Ramchand said the goal was to make the transition into two separate campuses as seamless as possible. Though the two institutions changed their names, she said IU and Purdue’s relationship will continue.
She said faculty and staff have a sense of loss or grief as IUPUI comes to an end. But Ramchand’s goal is to preserve values of collaboration while pursuing new opportunities.
“Because good ideas are not the prerogative of any one institution,” Ramchand said. “Good ideas — especially good ideas that will help us overcome some of our biggest challenges in society — we need good minds from all over the world working on those ideas. They're just a stone's throw away from here.”
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright.
