Enhancing PNW students’ career readiness

Today, the Purdue University Board of Trustees approved a legislative capital request that would greatly benefit Purdue University Northwest (PNW) students’ applied learning experiences and career preparation.

Purdue’s near-term capital project request to the Indiana legislature was included in today’s approval of the systemwide 10-year capital plan. Within the approved 2027-2029 legislative capital request is a proposed $22 million intended to support transformational renovations for the Student Union and Library Building (SULB) on the PNW Hammond campus. The renovations would include development of a first-floor, state-of-the-art multimedia center for the PNW College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.

The proposed renovation would also reconfigure classroom and office spaces on the building’s second and third floors to support modern teaching approaches, as well as provide replacement space for the planned demolition of Porter Hall. All of these projects have been previously identified in PNW’s Facilities Renewal Plan and have earned support from the Board of Trustees for previous legislative capital project requests, but were not funded in the current state budget.

If these capital projects gain funding in the next state budget, the planned changes would allow PNW to enhance campus spaces and resources that support innovative education, strengthen students’ workforce readiness and reduce operational costs associated with an older building. As a student-centric institution that offers significant applied learning opportunities, these space updates also would provide us valuable, expanded opportunities to engage with the community as we continue transforming workforce development.

We appreciate the Board of Trustees’ support of PNW’s strategic objectives to foster student success and drive economic development in the Northwest Indiana region.

Chancellor Kenneth C. Holford, Ph.D.