As Purdue prepares to welcome its largest-ever incoming class of Boilermakers to the West Lafayette campus, staff and faculty are encouraged to plan accordingly for heavier pedestrian and vehicular traffic during move-in days, as well as throughout orientation programming.
Purdue is projected to welcome its most selective class of undergraduate students for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year as part of the university’s 10th straight year of record applicants.
This year also marks the inaugural BGR in Indianapolis program, which takes place from Aug. 13-17. Purdue students with University Residences contracts in Indianapolis will be able to move-in for BGR on Aug. 13. Most Purdue students in Indianapolis will live in either North Hall or Lux on Capitol Apartments.
Students attending Boiler Gold Rush International (BGRi) will move into their University housing starting on Friday, Aug. 9; students participating in Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) will move into University housing from Aug. 10-13, Saturday through Tuesday. BGR/BGRi programming will follow through Saturday, Aug. 17. Move-in for most returning students will begin on Aug. 16. Classes begin Aug. 19.
During move-in days, the central campus area will experience slightly heavier traffic that may cause delays or disruptions to normal business for those working on campus. The most-affected areas will include:
- Stadium Avenue (between Northwestern Avenue and McCormick Road)
- U.S. 231 (from Martin Jischke Drive to Airport Road)
- Mitch Daniels Boulevard (from Airport Road to to Martin Jischke Drive)
- McCormick Road (from Cherry Lane to Third Street)
- Third Street (from Russell Street to McCormick Road)
- and all side roads in the vicinity of residence halls
Pictured: Students ride in the back of the Boilermaker Special through campus during a previous Boiler Gold Rush
BGR staff will be operating golf carts within the following boundaries: Cherry Lane to the North, Northwestern Avenue to the East, Harrison Street to the South, and McCormick Road to the West. Golf cart drivers have been instructed to avoid operating on sidewalks and bike paths; when no other route is available, carts must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists and obey all signage.
Several areas will be posted and enforced as no parking/tow away zones. Families will be instructed to park at the McCutcheon Parking Garage, Co-Rec ABC lot, and the University Street Parking Garage. BGR/BGRi participants who are living off campus will check in for BGR/BGRi at the Co-Rec and may park there during the day throughout the orientation program. ADA, ParkMobile and Reserved parking will still be enforced.
More than 9,300 incoming Purdue students are expected to participate in BGR/BGRi. Throughout BGR/BGRi, students will be assigned to small groups of about 15-20 other students according to their residence. These small groups will conduct a variety of activities across campus, with the guidance of nearly 700 current student volunteers.
Pedestrian traffic will likely be highest during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours, especially surrounding dining courts and the Purdue Memorial Union. Traffic is likely to be heavy around the Co-Rec from Aug. 9-13 as well, as the Co-Rec will serve as the centralized BGR/BGRi check-in location.
BGR/BGRi programming is hosted by Orientation Programs, a unit within Student Success Programs. Dozens of additional on-campus units and local community organizations will also offer support and host events on various topics of interest throughout the week.
Pictured: Students gather in the stands of Ross-Ade Stadium during Boiler Gold Rush closing ceremonies
All new Purdue students will access their orientation programming schedules via the PurdueGuide mobile app.
Additional information about Boiler Gold Rush is available on the Orientation Programs website. Follow Orientation Programs throughout the week on Instagram @AllAboardPurdue. Those with immediate questions should contact Craig Johnson, director of orientation programs.
Andrea Mattingly
Director of Communication for Teaching & Learning and the John Martinson Honors College, andrea@purdue.edu
