A Tradition of Opportunity

Purdue’s founding mission guided its evolution and lives on today 

Purdue was created to serve. It serves the people of Indiana and beyond through research, teaching and engagement. It serves its students through access to a world-class education. This legacy dates to the passage of the Morrill Act in 1862 and it lives on today. 

Learn about some of the people and events that shaped Purdue’s evolution, building an internationally renowned university that will continue meeting challenges well into the future. 

Statue of John Purdue on the Purdue University campus.

What is a land-grant university?

What makes Purdue and its 111 land-grant peers different from other colleges and universities?

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George Wodicka, right, led Purdue’s biomedical engineering program for 23 years before stepping down in 2021.

Why Purdue is unique among land-grant institutions

Purdue distinguishes itself through its focus on collaborative, multidisciplinary research that is increasingly important to solving society’s most pressing issues.

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A Collaborative Living-Learning Community: Data, friendship and unexpected opportunity

When Kali Lacy, an electrical engineering graduate, first considered the statistics learning community at Purdue, a predecessor to The Data Mine, she hesitated. “There were people that were like, ‘Oh, don’t do statistics — that’s way off course from your

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Statue of John Purdue on the Purdue University campus.

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What is a land-grant university?

What makes Purdue and its 111 land-grant peers different from other colleges and universities?

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Why Purdue is unique among land-grant institutions

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Purdue Polytechnic High School offers its students a unique pathway to acceptance at Purdue University.

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Purdue remains nimble and driven toward the future

Evolving alongside society is necessary for any land-grant institution that wishes to deliver upon its promise.

Vic Lechtenberg speaks into a microphone at a Purdue event.

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Land-grant legacy came full circle for two Purdue leaders 

In Vic Lechtenberg’s view, leading Purdue’s outreach efforts was his way of repaying the land-grant system that benefited his family.

Betty Nelson, former Purdue dean of students

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Early advocacy paved way for Purdue’s thriving Disability Resource Center

It’s a source of endless pride for early advocates that today’s Boilermakers with disabilities have ample opportunities to succeed.

Current and former Purdue Women in Engineering Program directors Donna Frohreich McKenzie, Beth Holloway, Jane Zimmer Daniels and Marie McKee pose for a photo with Leah Jamieson, center, the university’s John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering from 2006-17.

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Welcoming women engineers to Purdue

Only 47 Purdue women were enrolled in engineering in 1969. As of fall 2022, the number had increased to 4,193.

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