
Student Success Programs is dedicated to helping students at the new Indianapolis location arrive, thrive and graduate on time. The collaboration among these programs ensures that students have a variety of resources to achieve success as they pursue their next giant leap.
Each student’s needs are unique. Purdue’s Student Success Programs establishes systems to support the needs of countless students on campus. These programs now extend to Purdue in Indianapolis, where a dedicated group of staff focuses on helping students arrive, thrive and graduate on time.
Persistently pursuing the development of Student Success Programs in Indianapolis is no easy task. However, as Purdue continues to grow, so does the department’s dedication to ensuring every student has the tools and support they need to excel.
Arrive
Orientation is a critical transition for new college students. One of the key objectives of the inaugural Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) in Indianapolis was to instill a sense of belonging in students at the new location, akin to the experience at the West Lafayette campus.
“We’re not just a program,” shares Virginia Johnson, associate director for Orientation Programs in Indianapolis. “We’re an integral part of the Purdue experience and the All Aboard Purdue process.”
Pictured: Team leaders for Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) in Indianapolis raise their beacons in front of the Madam Walker Legacy Center.
Nearly 50 student leaders worked with Orientation Programs staff to prepare and run the inaugural welcome event. In anticipation of an increased number of attendees at the next BGR, the program will hire more team leaders and add team supervisors.
While Boiler Gold Rush International (BGRi) and Boiler Cold Rush (BCR) haven’t been implemented at Purdue in Indianapolis yet, Johnson mentions there are plans to consider these programs in the future.

Pictured: Purdue’s Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides academic accommodations for disabled students.
The DRC is housed on the third floor of the Engineering Technology building, a short distance away from valuable resources — career services, counseling services, academic advising and even the associate dean of students. Grammas emphasizes the collaborative nature of student success at Purdue in Indianapolis.
“The community of this job is really unique,” Grammas notes. “If a student asks a question I don’t have the answer to, I can go next door and get the information they need.”
Thrive
The DRC’s comprehensive support system integrates with other academic success programs at Purdue to provide a holistic network of resources designed to enhance student’s academic experience and foster their success while in college.
While the DRC plays a role in ensuring fair and accessible assessment opportunities, the Helen Bass Williams Academic Success Center (ASC) builds on this foundation by providing ongoing support to help students excel in their coursework.
Similar to the West Lafayette location, the ASC offers peer success coaching and study skills consultations in Indianapolis. To further enhance academic performance, they also recently introduced tutoring services.
Jo Cardarelli, assistant director of Academic Success, shares that each of these offerings is designed to provide different levels of support to meet students’ needs.
“The way we offer support and the way students utilize it is constantly adapting,” Cardarelli shares. “It’s growing and changing with our students.”

Pictured: The Academic Success Center offers peer success coaching, study skills consultations and tutoring services in Indianapolis.
Cardarelli notes that enrolling in classes and attending lectures are central to the college experience, and she highlights the importance of support services throughout students’ academic journeys.
Tutoring opportunities for students will extend into the spring semester, as will student leadership positions. The ASC’s outreach will continue to grow as the program solidifies in Indianapolis.
Graduate on time
Student Success Programs plays a crucial role in helping students graduate on time. One program leading this charge is Purdue Promise, which assists Indiana 21st Century Scholars by offering financial aid, academic support and personalized coaching.
Katelyn Simon, a student success coach for Purdue Promise, emphasizes the holistic nature of the program. Each Purdue Promise student has a coach, allowing personalized support. Students also have opportunities to engage in community events and study-abroad programs.
Pictured: Purdue Promise students interact with staff at a mixer.
“Community is a huge part of Purdue Promise,” Simon notes. “Students build relationships and support each other.”
Simon shares that Purdue Promise is committed to identifying the unique needs of students in Indianapolis, acknowledging that they may differ at the newly established location.
“We’re taking all of the great things from the Purdue Promise program and bringing them with us to Indianapolis,” Simon explains.
Similarly, the Dorothy Stratton Veteran and Military Success Center (VMSC) supplies specialized advocacy and support for military-connected students. Veterans, students in active service and military-connected students can receive assistance through a wealth of different programming and funding systems.
Morgan Gamble, director of the VMSC, shares that extending benefits to Indianapolis became a top priority following the news of the location’s launch.
“Extending our GI Bill program down to a new location would typically be a two-year process,” Gamble notes. “We did it in one month.”

Pictured: Over 22,000 military-affiliated students are connected to Purdue University.
The VMSC has plans to build out more programs in Indianapolis, including orientation for incoming military-connected students and graduation dinner events for seniors. Gamble recently presented the Green Zone workshop to faculty and staff at Purdue in Indianapolis to promote awareness of student veteran experiences.
“There are a lot of military-connected students at Purdue,” Gamble explains. “They have very specific needs, and it’s crucial for faculty and staff to understand these to better support their success.”
Working together for student success
The various offices and programs within Student Success Programs work together to provide comprehensive support tailored to students' diverse needs. While each has its specific focus, teamwork is crucial in ensuring that all students can access essential resources and be empowered to achieve their academic and personal goals.
To learn more about how Student Success Programs is making Indianapolis a place where every Purdue student can thrive, visit our website.

Mina Reising
Communication Assistant for Teaching and Learning, tlcoms@purdue.edu