West Lafayette

The International Parent Welcome for West Lafayette will take place from Friday, August 15th, 2025, to Monday, August 18th, 2025. All parents, guests, and family members are welcome to join. Participants should register through their student registration for BGRi at MyPurdue no later than August 6, 2024.

Indianapolis

The International Parent Welcome for Indianapolis will take place from Friday, August 15th, 2025, to Monday, August 18th, 2025. All parents, guests, and family members are welcome to join. Participants should register through their student registration for BGRi at MyPurdue no later than August 6, 2024.

Friday, August 15

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM: BGRi Student & Parent Check in
Cordova Recreational Center, Black and Gold Gym, 355 N Martin Jischke Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47906

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Parent Welcome Dinner
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Saturday, August 16

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Parent Welcome
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: BGRi Opening Ceremony
Stewart Center (STEW), Loeb Playhouse, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Walking Tour
Departing from Stewart Center (STEW), Loeb Playhouse, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM: Lunch
Chauncy Hill

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: About ISS & Maintaining Student Visa Status
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Parent & Family Connections
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Sunday, August 17

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: International Parent Panel
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: ISS Student Ambassador Panel
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

12:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch & Card Writing
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), Room 1018, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Immigration Counselor Question & Answer Session
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Optional Walking Tour
Departing from Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Monday, August 18

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Academic Advisor Chat
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Counseling and Psychological Services Presentation
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Parent Resource Fair
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), WALC 1055 - Hiler Theatre, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM: Parent Resource Question & Answer
Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), Rooms B091 & B093, 340 Centennial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Lunch
Chauncy Hill

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: International Student Safety
Stewart Center (STEW), Loeb Playhouse, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

4:15 PM - 5:30 PM: Parent Thank you & Send off
Class of 1950, Lobby, 648 Oval Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: BGRi Closing Ceremony
Stewart Center (STEW), Loeb Playhouse, 128 Memorial Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Friday, August 15

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM: BGRi Student & Parent Check in
University Tower, 2^nd Floor Atrium, 850 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

Saturday, August 16

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: BGRi Opening Ceremony
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Safety Session
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Banking 101
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

Sunday, August 17

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: International Parent Panel
Engineering Science & Technology (ET), Room 304, Indianapolis, IN 46202

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: ISS Student Ambassador Panel
Engineering Science & Technology (ET), Room 304, Indianapolis, IN 46202

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch & About ISS & Maintaining Student Visa Status
Engineering Science & Technology (ET), Room 304, Indianapolis, IN 46202

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: ISS Session
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM: Counselor Question & Answer Session
Engineering Science & Technology (ET), Room 304, Indianapolis, IN 46202

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Optional Walking Tour
Departing from ET 304

Monday, August 18

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Parent Resource Fair
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Academic Advisor Chat
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Counseling and Psychological Services Presentation
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Parent Thank you & Send off
Sigma Theta Tau (STT), Conference Room, 550 West North Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: (optional) BGRi Closing Ceremony
Hine Hall, 598 Blake Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

West Lafayette

Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, IN. The most common airports students and guests use are located in Indianapolis, IN, and Chicago, IL. From the airport you will either need to take a shuttle to campus or rent a car. 

Airport Shuttle Information

Indianapolis

Air Travel: The nearest commercial airports to campus are Indianapolis International (11 miles), Chicago O’Hare (203 miles) and Chicago Midway (181 miles). Popular ride share apps like Uber or Lyft are great ways to get to campus quickly from the airport.

West Lafayette

Visitors are encouraged to arrange lodging early as lodging options fill up quickly. Please be aware that guests are not allowed to stay with students in their University Residences. 

Home of Purdue is a great resource to local options for your lodging needs. 

Indianapolis

There are several options for students and families who decide to stay overnight. For information about on-campushotel accommodations, please contact visit the “Visit Indy” website, hotel tab for local options.

West Lafayette

Once you are able to visit campus we encourage you to explore the Greater Lafayette area. The area has a lot to offer, whether you are looking at exploring local foods, visiting a near by park, or taking a walk through the downtown Farmers Market. Information about these resources and more can be found on the following pages:

• Purdue Visitor Information
• Home of Purdue

Indianapolis

We suggest parents review the VisitIndy webpage to see what the area has to offer and to plan what attractions and events they would like to visit during their time in Indianapolis. Indianapolis has numerous restaraunts, museums, galleries, and entertainment events to enjoy.

West Lafayette

Move-In Parking Information

• New students will report directly to their Residence Hall to check in with University Residences (UR) and receive their room key. Students will be asked to show an unloading pass, either printed or on their phone.
• After checking in to UR Staff, students will be able to move into their residence halls. There is no limit on the number of guests allowed to enter the Residence Hall. BGR staff will be located at the Co-Rec and on-campus residence halls to support the move-in process.
• Parking spaces available after move-in will be indicated on each move-in pass.
  • Available lots are Co-Rec ABC lots, Convergence lot, McCutcheon Garage, RossAde North Stadium lot, Wood St. Garage
    • Please note: University Garage is not open for BGRi move-in on Aug. 15 due to an event at Elliott Hall of Music.

 Relaxed Parking for August 15th – 24th

The following parking lots are relaxed (meaning you will not receive a ticket).

Please note: do not park in Handicap Parking (unless you have a permit) or the ParkMobile ("Metered") Parking (unless you want to pay by phone) 

• Co Rec relaxed Aug. 14- 24
• University Garage Relaxed (Note: Aug. 15, this lot will be reserved for a concert at Elliott Hall of Music, which is paid) 
  • Instead, you could park at the gravel lot on Russell St and 5^th St 
• McCutcheon Garage 
• Wood Street Garage Relaxed for Hawkins move-in*
• Surface lot west of Hawkins Relaxed for move-in*
• Dauch lot south of Hawkins Relaxed for move-in*

Another available parking garage is at Grant Street Parking Garage (120 N. Grant Street), which is gated with hourly rates:

• 0-30 Minutes: $1
• 30-60 Minutes: $3
• Each Additional Hour: $1
• Maximum 24 consecutive hours period: $10
  • A pay station is available in the main lobby of the Grant Street Parking Garage that accepts MasterCard, Visa or Discover debit or credit payments only. In addition, a pay-in-lane card option is available at all exits. No cash payments are accepted.

If you plan on driving to campus it is going to be very important that you plan ahead. Free parking on campus is limited and most parking require purchasing a permit ahead of schedule. Learn more about parking by visiting the visitor parking services website.

Indianapolis

Indianapolis hosts several paid parking garages for those who choose to rent vehicles while they are attending the International Parent Welcome. Utilizing the campus and city bus systems via IndyGo is a way to navigate the city and campus without needing a vehicle.