Purdue University Fort Wayne is the largest University in northeast Indiana. As a Metropolitan University, it is uniquely positioned to serve the region as a crossroads of intellectual, social, economic, and cultural advancement and expand our global reach through research, scholarship, and creative expression.
Challenging academics are combined with a focus on student success across many prestigious degree programs, taught by nearly 350 full-time faculty. More than 8,300 degree-seeking students of diverse ages, ethnicities, and nationalities pursue their education on the nearly 700-acre campus. More than half of the students are first-generation college students, 15% are from underrepresented populations, and 73% of students receive some form of financial assistance to achieve their academic and career goals.
A majority of the growing alumni network of 57,000 live and work in northeast Indiana, contributing to the region's economy, vitality, and intellectual strength.
Purdue University Fort Wayne is a comprehensive university that provides local access to globally recognized baccalaureate and graduate programs that drive our students' intellectual, social, economic, and cultural advancement and our region.
Purdue Fort Wayne will be the University of choice for the citizens of northeast Indiana and beyond. It will be recognized for a transformative learning environment characterized by intensive mentoring, excellence in faculty scholarship and knowledge creation, integration of life and work experiences, and community engagement. The University will be known for exceptional retention, persistence, graduation rates, respected signature programs, and graduates prepared to improve the quality of life in their communities and compete locally, regionally, and globally.
Purdue University Fort Wayne is committed to creating an environment that enhances learning by recognizing all individuals' inherent worth at the University. Diversity stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life. The term diversity encompasses differences in culture, background, and experience among individuals and groups. Such differences include, but are not necessarily limited to, differences of race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, class, age, and disabilities, political and religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status.
Designed for students who want to get the most out of their college education, the Purdue University Fort Wayne Honors Program is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program open to students of any major. Participation is voluntary, and students can begin the program at any point in their college careers. Completion of the program requirements merits the reception of a certificate and a medal engraved with the student's name, the only medal that is currently bestowed at the graduation ceremony.
At Purdue Fort Wayne (formerly IPFW), you can experience all the perks of a big-name university—at the right size for you. Earn a degree in business, education, music, engineering, science, art, communication, and so much more. Get personalized attention, and enjoy hands-on opportunities.
More than a higher education source, Purdue Fort Wayne is a kaleidoscope of theatre, music, art, dance, sports, continuing education opportunities, and community resources. Every year, the University hosts nearly 2,500 free events, from lectures and artistic performances to comedians and cook-outs. Through the Omnibus Lecture Series, local audiences experience nationally acclaimed lectures and performances, such as Hal Holbrook's legendary "Mark Twain Tonight!"
Sold-out crowds of music and theatre lovers thrill to the rich programs at the Rhinehart Music Center and the Williams Theatre. At the same time, art aficionados indulge in the continually changing exhibits at the Visual Arts Gallery.
After many years of offering courses at separate locations in Fort Wayne, Indiana University and Purdue University opened the combined campus of IPFW in 1964.
The 1970s were a time of rapid growth, accompanied by the campus administration's formal merger in 1975. A regional campus of both Indiana University and Purdue University, IPFW is managed by Purdue University under a management agreement that is renewed every five years. In the 1980s, an academic structure was created to emphasize relationships among departments rather than departments' relationships to Indiana or Purdue mission assignments.
Major facilities opened during the early 1990s included the Visual Arts Building, Williams Theatre, and the Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Building. A new campus facilities master plan was completed in 1995, and IPFW's first Strategic Plan was completed that same year. The Science Building opened in 1998.
IPFW proactively grew its facilities to handle students' swelling ranks, which totaled over 10,500 by 2000. The Crescent Avenue Bridge, dedicated in fall 2003, connected the main campus to the new Waterfield Campus across Crescent Avenue. Student Housing on the Waterfield Campus opened in fall 2004, giving students their first opportunity to live and learn at IPFW. Student Housing expanded when two more buildings opened in fall 2007. The John and Ruth Rhinehart Music Center opened in fall 2007. The Holiday Inn at IPFW and the Coliseum joined the campus family in 2008.
IPFW's newest additions include the Ron Venderly Family Bridge (2009), and the Medical Education Building (2009). Phase 3 of Student Housing, which added four more buildings with new floor plans tailored to student requests and a new clubhouse building, opened in 2010. Work is currently underway on the Keith Busse Steel Dynamics Alumni Center (projected completion in 2010) and the Student Services Complex (projected completion in 2011). The campus set a new enrollment record in 2010-2011 of 14,192 total students.
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