Purdue Global leader to step down

Purdue President Mitch Daniels announced today (March 12) that Betty Vandenbosch, inaugural chancellor of Purdue University Global, will step down from her role effective April 3.

Vandenbosch has led Purdue Global since its official launch in 2018 and, as president of Kaplan University before Purdue’s purchase of the online institution, was instrumental in the efforts that led to the successful acquisition and subsequent extension of Purdue’s land-grant mission to thousands of additional students from around the state and nation.

“Thousands of adult learners have achieved the degree and higher incomes they thought had passed them by,” Daniels said. “Betty’s outstanding work over the past 12 years, first with Kaplan and then with Purdue Global, has led to increased enrollment, new programs and growing collaboration throughout our campuses. We are grateful for Betty’s enthusiasm and expertise in helping us through a smooth start and wish her nothing but the best in her next endeavor.”

Upon leaving Purdue Global, Vandenbosch will take a position as chief content officer at an education technology company.

“I feel so fortunate to have been part of the Purdue Global launch and to have met and worked with so many wonderful people at Purdue,” Vandenbosch said. “I wasn’t looking to leave, but this opportunity was one that came my way and it seemed like just the right time to allow someone new to take the institution to its next level. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done and the successes in building new programs, graduating more students and creating new collaborations that will continue to grow.”

Over the past two years, enrollment has grown by 5 percent overall and, importantly, Purdue Global is seeing increases in bachelor’s and graduate degrees, up 11 percent, and increasing access for students who might not otherwise be able to pursue a degree. More than 61 percent of Purdue Global students are over age 31, and 73 percent are low-income. More than half are the first in their families to receive a higher education degree.

Purdue Global also has announced partnerships with West Lafayette campus programs in pharmacy and aviation technology, and now offers a pharmacy technician certificate in health care quality and patient safety, and associate and bachelor’s degrees in professional flight.

Purdue hopes to have a new chancellor in place by April 3.