Purdue Calumet chancellor to step down next July
James Yackel, chancellor of Purdue Calumet for the past 10 years, will retire July 1, 2001.
Yackel, who will be 65 next year, has led Calumet during a time of increase in many areas: enrollment, student scholarship dollars, new undergraduate and graduate degrees, partnership activity with business and industry, and off-campus access opportunities to higher education.
Yackel, professor of mathematical sciences, joined the Purdue Calumet staff in 1987 after 21 years on the West Lafayette Campus faculty. After three years as vice chancellor for academic affairs, he was named chancellor in 1990.
A committee will be appointed to conduct a search for his successor.
Yackel calls his years as chancellor "interesting and rewarding" with some disappointments along the way.
"On balance, there's a lot to feel good about concerning Purdue Calumet, how it's perceived and its impact in the Calumet region," he says.
Yackel points to gains in minority enrollment as the success that has most pleased him.
Since 1990, the number of African-American and Hispanic students has increased from 1,457, or 17 percent of the student body, to 2,361, or 25 percent of the total student enrollment.
"One of our long-term goals has been that of getting our enrollment to reflect the demographic makeup of the Calumet region. We are nearly there," Yackel says. "The growth we have experienced in minority enrollment suggests a supportive campus environment for our students."
Increased enrollment, expansion, partnerships
highlight Yackel's tenure
During the 10-year tenure of Chancellor James Yackel, Purdue Calumet has expanded educational opportunities and partnerships in Northwest Indiana.
Among the accomplishments over the past decade:
Enrollment has increased 10 percent, with 9,352 students enrolled in fall 1999. That number is the highest of any Northwest Indiana post-secondary institution.
The University Resource Center was established as an outreach arm of Purdue Calumet expertise. The center has provided hundreds of training and educational opportunities for area employers and employees.
The Entrepreneurship Center began as a training program for business owners. Its success has been validated by increased revenue earned by the participants' businesses.
The Professional Development Schools initiative was launched. In that program, University faculty and students interact with area school systems to enhance teaching and learning.
The Challenger Center of Northwest Indiana opened. A simulated, outer space-based learning experience, the center delivers educational experiences to upper elementary and middle school students.
New undergraduate programs are now offered in business; child and family services; technical business writing; nutrition, fitness and health; computer graphics technology; accounting; computer programming; process control instrumentation; networking; organizational leadership and supervision; and fitness management. Three master's degree programs - accountancy, marriage and family therapy, and business administration - have been introduced along with 15 professional certificate programs.
An assessment program began to evaluate the quality of education delivered to students. According to a recent survey of alumni who were four, seven and 10 years out of school, 97 percent indicated that they consider their Purdue Calumet education as good as or better than the education of alumni from other colleges and
universities.
Construction has included the Charlotte Riley Child Center, the Classroom Office Building and a conference center. Both Porter Hall and the Edward Anderson Building have been renovated and Founders Plaza in the center of campus was developed.
Source: Inside Purdue
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