2023-24 Annual Report

Mission Statement

Purdue Promise will champion access, affordability and holistic support to facilitate opportunities for qualifying Indiana scholars to graduate on time, debt-free and prepared for life after Purdue.

Purdue Promise has three core values:

• Include: Embrace and celebrate our diverse community.
• Support: Foster caring relationships based on trust and accountability.
• Empower: Cultivate confidence and courage in ourselves and others.

Vision Statement

Purdue Promise aspires to be a nationally recognized model for supporting low-income students, including those who identify as first-generation and students of color.

Program Elements

Purdue Promise is both a scholarship and a support program for students at the West Lafayette and Indianapolis locations. The “Once Purdue Promise, Always Purdue Promise” policy is a commitment that students will receive support through graduation.

• Scholarship: Purdue Promise functions as a gap scholarship, covering remaining financial need after the Division of Financial Aid applies all other eligible aid to a scholar’s account. The 21st Century Scholars (TfCS) award covers tuition and regularly assessed fees, whereas Purdue Promise applies to other elements beyond the cost of attendance, including room and board, books, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. Scholarships are both donor-funded and Purdue-funded.
• Purdue 102: Scholars meet one-on-one with Student Success Coaches (SSCs) during Purdue 102 to sign their first scholarship agreement, learn about services, and review their financial aid package. Scholars must agree to participate in the support program to receive the Purdue Promise award.
• Boiler Gold Rush (BGR): The Purdue Promise support program requires participation in BGR, Purdue’s welcome week experience. Purdue Promise covers scholars’ cost of participation.
• GS 197 – Purdue Promise First-Year Experience Course: This course is offered in the fall semester and designed specifically for Purdue Promise first-year scholars. SSCs serve as instructors for the course, and scholars are assigned to their instructor's caseload. Scholars meet at least once with coaches outside of class during the semester.
• GS 405 – Advancing Tomorrow’s Leaders, Preparing for Employment and Life After College: This course is offered in the fall semester and focuses on transition into the workplace, financial literacy, and lifelong financial planning.
• Student Success Coaching Meetings: Between GS 197 and GS 405, scholars meet with SSCs two to four times per semester. The program uses an internal color-coding system based on several factors correlated with scholars’ academic standing and scholarship status. Green scholars are least at risk and meet with their coach at least twice. Yellow scholars are at risk of academic notice status and meet with their coach three times. Red scholars are most at risk for academic separation or loss of scholarship and meet with their coach at least four times for academic or scholarship recovery.
• Study Abroad: Purdue Promise coordinates and supplements the cost of a three-week, three-credit study abroad experience during the May semester. Trips offered currently include Spain and Scotland. Scholars typically pay $1,000 or less for these trips.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): All Purdue Promise scholars are required to complete the FAFSA by April 15 annually as part of their 21st Century Scholarship requirements.
• Logging Outreach and Mining Data: SSCs track all interactions with scholars, including details about personal successes and challenges. This data is used for evidence-based decision-making and advocacy. SSCs regularly respond to “issue lists” to reduce barriers to success.
• 21st Century Scholar Campus Mentor Network: Staff commit to fostering collaborations with campus partners in order to assist scholars and remove barriers to their success. They also encourage scholars to utilize their personal and professional networks.

Program Outcomes

As a result of participating in the Purdue Promise four-year experience, scholars will:

• Maintain “on scholarship” status and utilize financial aid efficiently to graduate with a higher debt-free rate than the rate for undergraduate Indiana residents at Purdue.
• Maintain or return to good academic standing.
• Report increased confidence in a defined set of life skills.
• Reflect on the value of their experiences and transferrable skills gained.
• Demonstrate preparation to enter the workforce, enroll in professional or graduate school, enlist in the military or support a family after college.

Notable Changes

The following changes for 2023-24 include:

• Secured the College Success Coach Grant from the Indiana Commission of Higher Education in November 2023 to support 21st Century Scholars who are not eligible for Purdue Promise.
• Martina McQuay was hired as a College Success Coach in February 2024.
• Hosted study abroad programs to Spain and Scotland in May 2024 with 29 scholars.
• Study abroad scholars completed pre- and post-tests for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), resulting in a collective gain of 34 IDI points in improved student outcomes.
• Lilli Hertel and Quinton Skibinski graduated from Purdue Global with their Masters of Higher Education in Student Affairs in May 2024.
• Purdue Promise welcomed its first cohort of 26 students at Purdue University in Indianapolis in August 2024.
• 21st Century Scholars welcomed its first cohort of 157 students at the Indianapolis location in August 2024.
• Katelyn Simon was selected to serve as the Student Success Coach and instructor for GS 197 for Purdue in Indianapolis in July 2024.
• Quinton Skibinski was promoted to Assistant Director in July 2024.
• Desmine Robinson, Jay Snedeker, Melissa Maggard and Jamie Jones were hired as Student Success Coaches.
• Campus and community partnerships were increased through meetings, presentations and donations, adding value to the 21st Century Scholars Campus Mentor Network.
• Hosted programming events to support student development in the areas of Academic Performance and Persistence (academic support), Student Engagement and Enrichment (social and civic engagement), Career Exploration and Preparation (career development), and Financial Literacy and Debt Management (financial literacy).
• Participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk to support Suicide Awareness and Prevention, earning fifth place and raising $440 toward the cause.

Our Data

For a full picture of our data from the 2023-24 academic year, please view or download our Full Annual Report by clicking the button below.

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