Roaring into 2026: PNW’s 10th Anniversary Year
Dear Colleagues:
Welcome back to campus as we begin a very special year at Purdue University Northwest.
In 2026, we celebrate our 10th anniversary as PNW, a milestone that invites reflection, gratitude and renewed energy for what lies ahead.
As I look back on the past year and decade, I am incredibly proud of the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. Together, you have built a resilient and innovative university community, deeply committed to student success and well positioned to inspire excellence in the years to come.
At the heart of our work is a simple but powerful purpose: changing students’ lives. Every day, PNW provides high-quality learning experiences that prepare students to lead, to serve and to make a meaningful impact in Northwest Indiana and beyond.
That commitment continues to guide the growth of our academic programs, our role as a doctoral-granting institution and our emerging focus on areas such as healthcare, business, engineering, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. This year, we will begin charting a clear course toward becoming the regional leader in AI transformation, always with students at the center of that work.
Across both campuses, we are seeing our vision take shape in very tangible ways. The progress of Calumet Hall has been exciting to watch, and we look forward to welcoming our first residents this August. On the Westville campus, the newly renovated biology lab in the Technology Building is already enhancing hands-on, active learning for students across multiple disciplines.
Renovations of the Roberts Impact Lab at Purdue Northwest are underway in downtown Hammond. We are eager to open the doors in late spring to this regional hub for business growth and workforce development. The new workspaces will advance transformational applied research initiatives and quantum technology.
Our students continue to thrive beyond the classroom as well. PNW Athletics now supports more than 520 student-athletes across 23 teams, with new programs and national recognition reflecting the momentum of our growth. Student engagement is also at an all-time high, with more than 100 student clubs and organizations providing opportunities for leadership, creativity and connection.
Like all institutions of higher education, we continue to navigate a rapidly changing environment. While challenges remain, I am encouraged by the strength and stability of our university. PNW is fiscally stable and has the highest economic impact to Northwest Indiana of any area university. Notably, our enrollment in fall 2025 marked a record 70.5% retention rate, and our incoming undergraduate class grew by 6% from the year before. These outcomes reflect our shared focus on the first-year experience and student success, strengthened by the launch of the Student Success Hub and Network, which connects students to key campus resources.
As we enter our 10th year, PNW is gaining national recognitions for the outstanding work we do serving our students. In 2025, we were the only public regional university in Indiana to be recognized as a College of Distinction. We are consistently recognized among the top Midwest regional public universities by U.S. News and World Report and have gained distinction as the No. 6 best value college in Indiana by Niche.
PNW also is recognized as a First Scholars institution for our sustained commitment to supporting first-generation students and as a Tier 1 Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana institution for our support of military-affiliated students. Together, we are truly changing students’ lives and strengthening our region. That shared purpose defines who we are and how we move forward.
Thank you for all that you do to support our students and one another. I look forward to celebrating our 10th anniversary with you throughout 2026 and to building the next chapter of PNW’s story together.
Power Onward,
Kenneth C. Holford, Ph.D.
Chancellor