Purdue announces name for new public university: Purdue University Global to serve working adults, online

Purdue President Mitch Daniels discusses the new public university that will help fill the need for postsecondary education for working adults and others while addressing the explosive growth in online education. (Purdue University file photo/John Underwood) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University on Thursday (Jan. 11) announced the name of its new online public university for working adults — Purdue University Global. The name was approved by the Executive Committee of the Purdue University Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees of Purdue NewU.

The name will become effective when the acquisition of Kaplan University by Purdue clears the last step in the approval process – review by the Higher Learning Commission, the regional accreditor for both Purdue University and Kaplan University, which is scheduled for Feb. 22.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education in August voted unanimously to approve the acquisition. The U.S. Department of Education gave its approval in September with a stipulation that the institution’s name include the word Purdue. The HLC, Department of Education and ICHE each requested notification of the official name in advance of the completion of the approval process and transaction closing.

The name was selected after extensive qualitative and quantitative research, which included input from faculty, staff, students and alumni of both institutions, as well as employers and other stakeholders.

“Our campuses are typically named after the physical locations where they hold classes. Purdue University Global can be accessed from anywhere in the world, at any time,” said Purdue President Mitch Daniels. “The name proved appealing and meaningful to our various stakeholders – most importantly prospective students.”

Purdue currently serves students on two levels: Through its flagship campus in West Lafayette, its two regional campuses in Fort Wayne and Northwest Indiana, as well as close to 6,000 science, engineering and technology students on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus. In addition, Purdue students can earn degrees at nine technology centers in communities across the state that are part of Purdue Polytechnic Institute. The new entity will become a third level in the Purdue system and will operate almost exclusively online.

Betty Vandenbosch, president of Kaplan University, who will become chancellor of Purdue University Global added, “The name is respectful of Purdue’s exceptional reputation, but also distinct from Purdue’s other campuses.”

The announcement follows several other actions since Purdue announced its decision last year to acquire Kaplan University from Kaplan Inc. In mid-June, trustees of the new university approved plans to offer a tuition discount of approximately 45 percent for Indiana resident students and free tuition for Purdue employees. In December, the board voted to approve a Statement of Ethical Principles and Pledge to Students, a code by which all Purdue University Global faculty, administrators, staff and support team members, as well as service partners, vendors, collaborators and others associates will be required to conduct themselves.

Additional information about today’s announcement and more, including an FAQ, is available at www.PurdueNewU.org. 

About Purdue University:

Purdue University, a top public research institution, offers higher education at its highest proven value. Committed to affordability, the university has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels. Committed to student success, Purdue is changing the student experience with greater focus on faculty-student interaction and creative use of technology. Committed to pursuing scientific discoveries and engineered solutions, Purdue has streamlined pathways for faculty and student innovators who have a vision for moving the world forward.

About Kaplan University:

Kaplan University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, serves approximately 29,000 online and campus-based students. The university has 14 campuses and learning centers in Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Maine, Missouri and Wisconsin. The university strives to help adult students by providing practical, student-centered education that prepares them for careers in some of the fastest growing industries. KU has been a leading innovator in higher education, including its pioneering role in delivering online degree programs, its long-time commitment to competency-based education linking mastery of discipline specific and professional competencies, and through its Research Pipeline designed to improve student learning and persistence by testing experimental interventions against empirical evidence. KU’s Concord Law School offered the first fully online law degree. 

About Kaplan Inc.:

Kaplan Inc. serves over 1 million students globally each year through its array of higher education, test preparation, professional education, English-language training and university preparation and offerings to individuals, institutions and businesses. Across its nearly 80-year history, first as small test-prep pioneer and then an early online education leader and now a global education provider, Kaplan has been recognized for expanding educational access and using technology and learning science innovations to continually improve outcomes for its students and partners. Kaplan has operations in over 30 countries, employs more than 15,000 full- and part-time professionals, and maintains relationships and partnerships with more than 1,000 school districts, colleges and universities, and over 2,600 corporations and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.