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Purdue University



 
 
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette
West Lafayette, Indiana

West Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. Named in honor of General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War....
, Indiana
Indiana

The State of Indiana was the 19th U.S. state admitted into the union. It is located in the Midwestern United States of the United States of America....
, U.S.
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, is the flagship university
Flagship university

Flagship#University campuses university refers to the leading comprehensive public research university or universities in a given U.S. state. Flagship universities are usually the largest public institutions of higher learning in the state and are generally well-known nationally....
 of the six campus
Campus

A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes library, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings....
es within the Purdue University System
Purdue University System

Purdue University System is a public university university system within the U.S. State of Indiana that is anchored by the main campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana that is a public university land-grant university....
. Purdue currently ranks 66th among America's Best 100 Colleges according to U.S. News & World Report. Purdue also makes the list of the Top 100 Global Universities
Top 100 Global Universities

The Top 100 Global Universities is a ranking of the best College and University programs in the world as indicated by a survey conducted by Newsweek....
. Though Purdue offers many diverse majors, it is perhaps best known for the Purdue University College of Engineering
Purdue University College of Engineering

The Purdue University College of Engineering is one of eight major academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University. Purdue was founded in the 19th century to primarily be a university for engineering....
, with its highly competitive engineering
Engineering

Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying Technology and science knowledge and utilizing natural laws and physical resources in order to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and process that safely realize a desired objective and meet specified criteria....
 curriculum and its leading programs in aviation
Aviation

File:Norwegian military Bell 412SP helicopters.jpgAviation refers to activities involving man-made flying devices , including the people, organizations, and regulatory bodies involved with them....
 and aerospace
Aerospace

Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding outer space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through Aircraft and Space exploration....
. In addition, Purdue is often regarded as one of the top flight schools in not only the nation but also the world, and was also the first school in the world to ever offer an aeronautics
Aeronautics

File:An-225 Mriya.jpgFile:Atlantis on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.jpgFile:Typhoon f2 zj910 arp.jpgAeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacture of flight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft....
 program.






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Purdue University, located in West Lafayette
West Lafayette, Indiana

West Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. Named in honor of General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War....
, Indiana
Indiana

The State of Indiana was the 19th U.S. state admitted into the union. It is located in the Midwestern United States of the United States of America....
, U.S.
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, is the flagship university
Flagship university

Flagship#University campuses university refers to the leading comprehensive public research university or universities in a given U.S. state. Flagship universities are usually the largest public institutions of higher learning in the state and are generally well-known nationally....
 of the six campus
Campus

A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes library, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings....
es within the Purdue University System
Purdue University System

Purdue University System is a public university university system within the U.S. State of Indiana that is anchored by the main campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana that is a public university land-grant university....
. Purdue currently ranks 66th among America's Best 100 Colleges according to U.S. News & World Report. Purdue also makes the list of the Top 100 Global Universities
Top 100 Global Universities

The Top 100 Global Universities is a ranking of the best College and University programs in the world as indicated by a survey conducted by Newsweek....
. Though Purdue offers many diverse majors, it is perhaps best known for the Purdue University College of Engineering
Purdue University College of Engineering

The Purdue University College of Engineering is one of eight major academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University. Purdue was founded in the 19th century to primarily be a university for engineering....
, with its highly competitive engineering
Engineering

Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying Technology and science knowledge and utilizing natural laws and physical resources in order to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and process that safely realize a desired objective and meet specified criteria....
 curriculum and its leading programs in aviation
Aviation

File:Norwegian military Bell 412SP helicopters.jpgAviation refers to activities involving man-made flying devices , including the people, organizations, and regulatory bodies involved with them....
 and aerospace
Aerospace

Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding outer space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through Aircraft and Space exploration....
. In addition, Purdue is often regarded as one of the top flight schools in not only the nation but also the world, and was also the first school in the world to ever offer an aeronautics
Aeronautics

File:An-225 Mriya.jpgFile:Atlantis on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.jpgFile:Typhoon f2 zj910 arp.jpgAeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacture of flight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft....
 program. Its School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is currently ranked 4th overall within the United States, and the school has secured a #1 ranking as the most recruited school by employers of the aerospace and defense industries in the United States. The Krannert School of Management
Krannert School of Management

The Krannert School of Management is Purdue University's school of management. Krannert is sometimes referred to as the Krannert Graduate School of Management or simply as Krannert....
 at Purdue is also another highly regarded school at the university, ranked as one of the best management schools in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. Purdue University also has a long history of influence in the academic world as well; the entire concept of the Wiki
Wiki

A wiki is a page or collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content , using a simplified markup language....
 was created at Purdue. Purdue University has also been connected to U.S President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States, serving one term from 1889 to 1893. Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio, and at age 21 moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he became a prominent state politician....
, who served on the university's board of trustees from July 1895 to March 1901. Harrison Hall, one of Purdue's dormitories, was named after him.

Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869 as a land-grant university
Land-grant university

Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that have been designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act....
 when the Indiana General Assembly
Indiana General Assembly

The Indiana General Assembly is the State legislature , or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate....
, taking advantage of the Morrill Act
Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act

The Morrill Land-Grant Acts are United States statutes that allowed for the creation of land-grant colleges....
, accepted a donation of land and money from Lafayette
Lafayette, Indiana

Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,397....
 businessman John Purdue
John Purdue

John Purdue was a famous industrialist based in Lafayette, Indiana and the primary original benefactor of Purdue University....
 to establish a college of science, technology, and agriculture in his name. The first classes were held on September 16, 1874, with three buildings, six instructors, and 39 students. Today, Purdue enrolls the largest student body of any university in Indiana and the largest international student
International student

International students are students, usually in early adulthood, who study in foreign educational institutions. While most university have official student exchange programs, some well-funded high schools have them, too....
 population of any public university in the United States. The Discovery Park and Purdue Research Park
Purdue Research Park

Purdue Research Park is a research park located in West Lafayette, Indiana, less than north of Purdue University West Lafayette campus. The park was developed the by the Purdue Research Foundation....
 surrounding campus are home to hundreds of medical, biotechnology, and nanotechnology laboratories and companies.

Purdue offers both undergraduate
Undergraduate education

Undergraduate education is education taken prior to gaining a first degree, hence in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is known as undergraduate, while students of higher degrees are...
 and graduate
Graduate school

A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees, such as Doctorate with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous Undergraduate education degree....
 programs in over 200 major
Academic major

An academic major, major concentration, concentration, or simply major is mainly a United States and Canada term for a college or university student's main field of specialization during his or her undergraduate studies which would be in addition to, and may incorporate portions of, a core curriculum....
 areas of study. The university has been influential in America's history of aviation
Aviation history

Aviation history deals with the development of mechanical flight, from the earliest attempts in kite-powered and gliding flight, to powered heavier-than-air flight, and beyond....
, having established the first college credit
Credit (education)

A course credit is a unit that gives weighting to the value, level or time requirements of an academic course taken at a school or other educational institution....
 offered in flight training
Flight training

Flight training is a course of study used when learning to aviator an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
, the first four-year bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
 in aviation
Aviation

File:Norwegian military Bell 412SP helicopters.jpgAviation refers to activities involving man-made flying devices , including the people, organizations, and regulatory bodies involved with them....
, and the first university airport
Airport

An airport is a location where aircraft such as Fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and Non-rigid airship take off and land. Aircraft may also be stored or maintained at an airport....
 (Purdue University Airport
Purdue University Airport

Purdue University Airport is a public airport in West Lafayette.It is two miles southwest of the central business district of Lafayette, Indiana, a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States....
). In the mid-20th century, Purdue's aviation program expanded to encompass advanced spaceflight
Spaceflight

Spaceflight is the use of space technology to achieve the flight of spacecraft into and through outer space.Spaceflight is used in space exploration, and also in commercial activities like space tourism and telecommunications satellite....
 technology giving rise to Purdue's nickname, Cradle of Astronauts. Twenty-two alumni are astronaut
Astronaut

An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a List of human spaceflight programs to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s, including Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong

Neil Alden Armstrong is a former American astronaut, test pilot, university professor, and United States Naval Aviator. He is List of Apollo astronauts#People who have walked on the Moon Moon....
, Eugene Cernan, and Gus Grissom
Gus Grissom

Virgil Ivan Grissom, more widely known as Gus Grissom, was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force Aviator....
.

History


Founding and early years

Morrillact
Johnpurdue
On July 2, 1862, President Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery....
 signed the Morrill Act into law, which offered public lands to any state that would establish and maintain a college for the purpose of teaching agriculture and mechanics. In 1865, the Indiana General Assembly
Indiana General Assembly

The Indiana General Assembly is the State legislature , or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate....
 took advantage of this offer, and began plans to establish such an institution. John Purdue
John Purdue

John Purdue was a famous industrialist based in Lafayette, Indiana and the primary original benefactor of Purdue University....
, a Lafayette business leader and philanthropist
Philanthropist

A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable organization....
 (buried at Purdue), sought to help establish a "land grant" college in Indiana. The state of Indiana received a gift of $150,000 from John Purdue, along with $50,000 from Tippecanoe County
Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Tippecanoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 148,955. The county seat is Lafayette, Indiana....
, and 150 acres (0.6 km˛) of land from Lafayette residents in support of the project. On May 6, 1869, it was decided that the college would be founded near the city of Lafayette
Lafayette, Indiana

Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,397....
 and legislators established the institution as Purdue University, in the name of the institution’s principal benefactor.

Classes first began at Purdue on September 16, 1874 with three buildings, six instructors, and 39 students. Purdue issued its first degree, a Bachelor of Science in chemistry
Chemistry

Chemistry is the science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions....
, in 1875. The first female students were admitted to the university in the fall of the same year. In his inaugural address Purdue's third President Emerson E. White set forth his vision that within its field Purdue must lead, not follow.

The 20th century - Aviation and Aeronautics

One of the most interesting and unique things Purdue has to offer, as well as being well known for, is its diverse majors in aerospace
Aerospace

Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding outer space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through Aircraft and Space exploration....
. Purdue University is one of the highest rated aeronautical universities in the world, even ranking up with the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy , is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs, Colorado in El Paso County, Colorado, Colorado, United States....
, a military-backed institution. It was the first university in America to award a four-year bachelor's degree in aviation. Purdue is also recognized today as one of the top ranked flight schools in the nation.

J. Clifford Turpin, from the class of 1908, was the first Purdue graduate to become an aviator, and received flight instruction from Orville Wright himself. In 1919 George W. Haskins became the first alumnus to land an aircraft on campus.

Earhart Electra
In 1930 Purdue became the first university in the country to offer college credit for flight training, and later became the first to open its own airport
Purdue University Airport

Purdue University Airport is a public airport in West Lafayette.It is two miles southwest of the central business district of Lafayette, Indiana, a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States....
. Famed aviator Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart

Amelia Mary Earhart ; was a noted United States aviation pioneer, and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross , awarded for becoming the first aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean....
 came to Purdue in 1935 and served as a "Counselor on Careers for Women," a staff position she held until her disappearance in 1937. Purdue played a meaningful role in Earhart's ill-fated "Flying Laboratory" project, providing funds for the Lockheed L-10 Electra aircraft she intended to fly around the world. Purdue libraries maintain an extensive Earhart collection, which is still studied by those seeking to solve the mystery of her disappearance.. Purdue also bestowed her name on a new residence hall, which is lined with her pictures and articles.

Today, Purdue University's Aviation Flight Technology Program is one of the best nationwide. Annually, only 60 students are admitted into this exclusive and selective program. No other University has a corporate flight department built into the University to provide private aircraft for faculty and staff. Every aviation flight student at Purdue has the opportunity to pilot one of the 3 corporate aircraft Purdue has flying VIPs and other dignitaries around the nation.

Over the past ten years, Purdue’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics has awarded more aerospace engineering degrees than any other institution in the country, issuing 6% of all undergraduate degrees and 7% of all Ph.D. degrees. These alumni have led significant advances in research and development of aerospace technology, headed major corporations and government agencies, and have established an amazing record for exploration of space.

Campus


Purdue Mall
Engineeringmall
The Purdue Mall is the main, central quad area of Purdue University. The three most prominent features of the Purdue Mall are the Purdue Bell Tower
Purdue Bell Tower

The Purdue Bell Tower was constructed in 1995, at Purdue University, through a gift from the class of 1948....
, the Water Sculpture Fountain, and the Frederick L. Hovde
Frederick L. Hovde

Frederick Lawson Hovde was an United States of America chemical engineer, researcher, educator and president of Purdue University.Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Hovde received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, where he played on the football team....
 Hall of Administration.

Bell Tower
The Purdue Bell Tower was constructed in 1995, at Purdue University, through a gift from the class of 1948. It is considered an icon of the university and can be found on many Purdue logos and those of the cities of West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana

West Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. Named in honor of General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War....
 and Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana

Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,397....
.

The current Bell Tower's inspiration comes from the bell tower that was part of the old Heavilon Hall, demolished in 1956. The new tower stands tall, and like the original, has a clock on each of four faces. The bells from the original tower hang at the top of the current tower, and a computerized carillon
Carillon

A carillon is a musical instrument consisting of at least 23 cast bronze cup-shaped bell s which are played one after the other or sounded together ....
 now marks every half hour and also plays Purdue's fight song
Fight song

A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fan to cheer for their team....
s and the alma mater
Alma mater

File:Alma_Mater,_Lorado_Taft.jpgAlma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother". It was used in ancient Rome as a title for the mother goddess, and in Middle Ages Christianity for the Virgin Mary....
. There is also a time capsule located at the base of the tower that is to be opened in 2095.

Water Sculpture Fountain
The Water Sculpture Fountain is centrally located in the Purdue Mall at Purdue University. Designed by Robert Youngman, the fountain was a gift from the class of 1939. The fountain was dedicated in 1989. The fountain stands tall and is made of 228 tons of concrete. It jets 588 gallons of water per minute into the air. Colored lights illuminate the water during the evening. Originally built with an open jet shooting straight up into the air, students soon made the tradition
Tradition

The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem, acc. of traditio which means "handing over, passing on", and is used in a number of ways in the English language:...
 of running through the fountain on warm days.

Memorial Mall
Universityhall
The Purdue Memorial Mall is located south of the Purdue Mall and is generally considered the older part of campus. A popular meeting place for students, the Memorial Mall contains the Purdue Memorial Union
Purdue Memorial Union

The Purdue Memorial Union is located on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. The Purdue Memorial Union is the center of community and hospitality on campus for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests of Purdue University....
, Stewart Student Center, University Hall (the oldest building on campus), and John Purdue
John Purdue

John Purdue was a famous industrialist based in Lafayette, Indiana and the primary original benefactor of Purdue University....
's gravesite.

Memorial Gymnasium/Felix Haas Hall
The Memorial Gymnasium (now named Felix Haas Hall) was constructed in 1909 in memory of the 17 Purdue University football players, coaches, alumni, and fans who perished in the Purdue Wreck on October 31, 1903 (see List of pre-1950 rail accidents
List of pre-1950 rail accidents

* For a list of 1950-1999 rail accidents, see List of 1950-1999 rail accidents.* For a list of post-2000 rail accidents, see List of rail accidents....
). In 1985 the building was renovated with offices and classrooms for the Computing Sciences department. In 2006, the building was renamed in honor of Felix Haas. A memorial plaque remains affixed to the exterior of the building in honor of those who died in 1903.

University Hall
University Hall is the only building remaining from the original six-building campus. Construction began in 1871, where the building was known as "The Main Building". The building was dedicated in 1877 and the project cost $35,000 to complete. University Hall originally housed the office of the president, a chapel, and classrooms, but was remodeled in 1961 to house only the department of history. At the request of John Purdue
John Purdue

John Purdue was a famous industrialist based in Lafayette, Indiana and the primary original benefactor of Purdue University....
, he was buried in the Memorial Mall, directly across from the main entrance of University Hall.

Cary Quadrangle
First known as Cary Hall, Cary Quadrangle opened in 1928 as a men's dormitory. Cary Quadrangle now has six buildings (southeast, southwest, east, west, northeast, and northwest), surrounding the open courtyard, known as Spitzer Court. In addition, the south/southeast building contains the Cary Knight Spot Grill.

Considered the "flagship" of Purdue University residences, Cary Quadrangle is still one of the largest all-male housing units in the country. In 2000, Cary Quadrangle began a $43.5 Million renovation plan.

Cary Quad was the location of the annual Nude Olympics at Purdue. The tradition died down after the University began threatening with expulsion any students who ran. Contestants ran laps around the courtyard of Cary nude on one of the coldest nights of the year; the person that endured the cold the longest was declared the winner.

Windsor Residence Halls
Consisting of five individual buildings (Duhme, Shealy, Wood, Warren and Vawter), Windsor Halls is the oldest all-women's residence hall complex at Purdue. Each individual building is designed so that each room of every hall would receive sunlight at some point in the day. There is also a student-accessible tunnel that connects Duhme, Shealy, Wood, Warren and Vawter.
  • Duhme Hall, originally 'South Hall,' was opened in 1934 and named after Ophelia Duhme.
  • Shealy Hall, originally 'North Hall,' was opened in 1937 and named after Frances Shealy.
  • Wood Hall was opened in 1939 and named after Elizabeth Wood.
  • Warren Hall, originally 'D Hall,' was opened in 1951 and named after Martha Warren.
  • Vawter Hall, originally 'E Hall,' was also opened in 1951, and is named after Everette Vawter.


Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music
The Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music is located on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana

West Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. Named in honor of General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War....
. It has a seating capacity
Seating capacity

Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, either in terms of the space available, or in terms of limitations set by law....
 of 6,025 and is one of the largest proscenium
Proscenium

A Proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large archway at or near the front of the Stage , through which the audience views the Play ....
 theaters in the world. The facility is named after Edward C. Elliott (1874-1960), who served as President of Purdue University from 1922-1945.

The Pudue Concert Committee (PCC) often elects and invites various big name entertainment. Purdue students and faculity are able to purchase tickets a day before the tickets are offered to the general public. They also receive a student and faculity discount. The auditorium offers seating on a main level and on dual balconies.

Slayter Center of Performing Arts
Slayter Center
The Slayter Center of Performing Arts is an outdoor concert band shell located on the main campus of Purdue University, completed in 1964 and dedicated May 1, 1965. The facility was a gift from Games Slayter
Russell Games Slayter

Games Slayter was a prolific U.S. inventor best known for developing Fiberglass.Born Russell Games Slayter in Argos, Indiana , he married Maude Marie Foor in 1917....
 and his wife Marie.

The natural amphitheater created by "Slayter Hill" can hold an estimated 20,000 people. Architect Joseph Baker used Stonehenge
Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the England county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of Earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones and sits at the centre of the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age mon...
 in England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
 as a basis for the concept of Slayter Center. The 200-ton concrete roof is suspended from a tall steel tripod by stainless steel cables. The stage can seat a 100+ player orchestra. Below the stage are a rehearsal room, dressing rooms and storage facilities. "Slayter Hill" is also more popularly used in the winter time as a large sledding hill for students when it snows.

Mackey Arena
Mackey Arena
Mackey Arena is a 14,123-seat multi-purpose arena
Arena

An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators....
 in West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana

West Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. Named in honor of General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War....
. The arena opened in 1967. It is home to the Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers

Boilermakers is the official athletic moniker for the intercollegiate athletic teams of Purdue University. As is common with athletic nicknames, it is also used as colloquial designation of Purdue's students and alumni at large....
 basketball
Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a basketball through a 10 feet  high hoop under organized rules....
 team. It is named after Purdue alumnus
Alumnus

An alumnus according to the American Heritage Dictionary is "a male graduate or former student of a school, college, or university." In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college, or university." If a group includes more than one gender, even if there is only one male, the plural form alumni i...
 and long time athletic director Guy "Red" Mackey.

Ross-Ade Stadium
Ross-Ade Stadium is a stadium
Stadium

A modern stadium is a place, or venue, for outdoor sports, concerts or other events, consisting of a field or stage partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event....
 primarily used for American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
, and is the home field of the Purdue Boilermakers. The stadium is named for David E. Ross and George Ade
George Ade

George Ade was an American writer, newspaper columnist, and playwright....
, the principal benefactors. Ross-Ade Stadium opened on November 22, 1924 with a seating capacity
Seating capacity

Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, either in terms of the space available, or in terms of limitations set by law....
 of 13,500 and standing room for an additional 5,000 people. A series of additions and renovations pushed the seating capacity to 70,000. In 2001 Purdue began a massive $70 million dollar renovation, which led to a reduced seating capacity of 62,500.But for some reason Ross Ade has never been fitted with actual lights, a set of temporary lights is used for all night games.

Academics


Overview

Purdue offers more than 200 options for major areas of study at the West Lafayette campus alone, and a variety of options for minors. Purdue is organized into eight colleges and schools contained within larger colleges; the two exceptions are the Krannert School of Management
Krannert School of Management

The Krannert School of Management is Purdue University's school of management. Krannert is sometimes referred to as the Krannert Graduate School of Management or simply as Krannert....
 and the School of Veterinary Medicine
Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine

The Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine is one of 28 veterinary schools in the United States fully accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association....
. These two academic units retained their "school" status during a university-wide renaming policy in 2004 and 2005 in deference to national professional school
Professional school

Professional school may refer to:*Business school*Dental school*Journalism school*Law school*Library school*Medical school*Public policy school...
 naming conventions.

Colleges of Purdue University
College of Agriculture
1869
College of Consumer and Family Sciences
Purdue University College of Consumer and Family Sciences

The Purdue University College of Consumer and Family Sciences is one of eight major academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University. All of the college's teaching and research activities center on issues related to family and consumer science....

1905
College of Education
Purdue University College of Education

The Purdue University College of Education is one of eight major academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University. It offers undergraduate education bachelor's degree in primary education, social studies education, and special education, and graduate school in these and many other specialty areas of education....

1908
College of Engineering
Purdue University College of Engineering

The Purdue University College of Engineering is one of eight major academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University. Purdue was founded in the 19th century to primarily be a university for engineering....

1876
College of Liberal Arts
Purdue University College of Liberal Arts

The Purdue University College of Liberal Arts is one of eight colleges of Purdue University. In addition to liberal arts programs, the College of Liberal Arts also contains the social sciences and humanities programs at Purdue....

1953
College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences
Purdue University College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences

The Purdue University College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences is one of eight major academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University....

1979
College of Science
Purdue University College of Science

The Purdue University College of Science is one of eight major academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University. The science course offered by the College of Science account for about one-fourth of Purdue's one million student credit hours....

1907
College of Technology
Purdue University College of Technology

The Purdue University College of Technology is one of eight major academic divisions, or Colleges, of Purdue University. With over 30,000 living alumnus, it is one of the largest technology schools in the United States and currently tied for first place in rankings....

1964
Engineering Schools of Purdue University
School of Aeronautics and AstronauticsAgricultural and Biological EngineeringWeldon School of Biomedical Engineering
Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering

The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering is Purdue University's school of biomedical engineering. The school offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering and master's degree, Doctor of Philosophy, and integrated M.D.-Ph.D....
School of Chemical EngineeringSchool of Civil EngineeringSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Purdue University School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University offers both undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree as well as master's degree and Doctor of Philosophy graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering....
School of Engineering EducationSchool of Industrial EngineeringSchool of Materials EngineeringSchool of Mechanical EngineeringSchool of Nuclear EngineeringDivision of Environmental and Ecological Engineering
Other Schools of Purdue University
Krannert School of Management
Krannert School of Management

The Krannert School of Management is Purdue University's school of management. Krannert is sometimes referred to as the Krannert Graduate School of Management or simply as Krannert....
*
School of Consumer and Family SciencesSchool of Health SciencesSchool of NursingSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Purdue University was established in 1884, and is the 3rd oldest state-funded school of pharmacy in the nation ....
School of Veterinary Medicine
Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine

The Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine is one of 28 veterinary schools in the United States fully accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association....
*


An * indicates a school existing independently of a larger college.

Faculty


Purdue employs world renowned faculty and research members. The original faculty of six in 1874 has grown to 2,563 tenure and tenure-track faculty in the Purdue Statewide System by Fall 2007 totals. The number of faculty and staff members system-wide is 18,872. The current faculty includes scholars such as Shreeram Shankar Abhyankar
Shreeram Shankar Abhyankar

Shreeram Shankar Abhyankar was born in 1930, and is an Indian mathematician known for his contributions to algebraic geometry. He is the Marshall Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and Professor of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering at Purdue University....
 - known for his contributions to singularity theory
Singularity theory

In mathematics, singularity theory is the study of the failure of manifold structure. A loop of string can serve as an example of a one-dimensional manifold, if one neglects its width....
, Arden L. Bement Jr.
Arden L. Bement Jr.

Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr. is an United States engineer and scientist, and is currently Director of the National Science Foundation and serves as an ex officio member of the National Science Board....
 - Director of the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering....
, R. Graham Cooks
R. Graham Cooks

Early life and education * 1961 B.S. University of Natal, South Africa* 1965 Ph.D. University of Natal, South Africa* 1967 Ph.D. Cambridge University, Great Britain...
, Joseph Francisco
Joseph Francisco

Joseph Francisco is the William E. Moore Distinguished Professor of Physical Chemistry at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He received his bachelors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977 and his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983....
, Douglas Comer
Douglas Comer

Douglas Earl Comer is a writer and professor best known for his work in the early development of the Internet....
, Louis de Branges de Bourcia
Louis de Branges de Bourcia

Louis de Branges de Bourcia is a French-American mathematician. He is the Edward C. Elliott Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Indiana....
 who proved the Bieberbach conjecture, Leslie A. Geddes
Leslie A. Geddes

Leslie Alexander Geddes is an electrical engineer and physiologist. He has conducted research in electromyography, cardiac output, cardiac pacing, ventricular defibrillation, and blood pressure....
, Ei-ichi Negishi
Ei-ichi Negishi

Ei-ichi Negishi is a chemist from Purdue University.He discovered the Negishi coupling.Reference*...
, Victor Raskin
Victor Raskin

Victor Raskin is a distinguished professor of linguistics at Purdue University and a member of the advisory board of hakia. He is the author of Semantic Mechanisms of Humor and Ontological Semantics and founding editor of Humor , the journal for the International Society of Humor Studies....
, Michael Rossmann
Michael Rossmann

Michael G. Rossmann is a German-American physicist, microbiologist, and Hanley Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University who led a team of researchers to be the first to map the structure of a human common cold virus to an atomic level....
 who mapped human common cold virus, and Leah Jamieson
Leah Jamieson

Leah H. Jamieson is an American engineering educator serving at present as the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering and Ransburg Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University....
.

Purdue's tenured faculty comprises sixty Academic Deans
Dean (education)

In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific Academia unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both....
, Associate Deans, and Assistant Deans; 63 Academic Department Heads; 753 Professor
Professor

The meaning of the word professor varies. In some English-speaking countries, it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair, especially as head of the Academic department, or a personal chair awarded specifically to that individual....
s; 547 Associate Professors and 447 Assistant Professors. Purdue employs 892 non-tenure-track faculty, Lecturers, and Postdoctorals at its West Lafayette campus. Purdue employs another 691 tenured and 1,021 Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Lecturers, and Postdoctorals at its Regional Campuses and Statewide Technology.

Research

The University expended $472.7 million in support of research system-wide in 2006–07, using funds received from the state and federal governments, industry, foundations, and individual donors. World-renowned faculty and more than 400 research laboratories put Purdue University among the leading research institutions. Purdue University is considered by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a framework for classifying, or grouping, colleges and university in the United States....
 to have "very high research activity". Purdue also was rated the nation's fourth best place to work in academia, according to rankings released in November 2007 by The Scientist
The Scientist

The Scientist is a news journal and magazine particularly concerning biology and life sciences. It has been published monthly since 1986, and is also available online through personal or institutional subscription....
 magazine. Purdue's researchers provide insight, knowledge, assistance, and solutions in many crucial areas. These include, but are not limited to Agriculture; Business and Economy; Education; Engineering; Environment; Healthcare; Individuals, Society, Culture; Manufacturing; Science; Technology; Veterinary Medicine.

Purdue University generated a record $333.4 million in sponsored research funding during the 2007-08 fiscal year with participation from National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering....
, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the U.S. departments of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive departments responsible for developing and executing Federal government of the United States policy on farming, agriculture, and food....
, Defense
United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the Military of the United States....
, Energy
United States Department of Energy

The United States Department of Energy is a United States Cabinet-level department of the United States government of the United States responsible for Energy policy of the United States and nuclear safety....
, and Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services

The United States Department of Health and Human Services , is a United States Cabinet department of the United States government of the United States with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services....
.

Purdue University established the Discovery Park
Discovery Park (Purdue)

Discovery Park is a interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research park located in Purdue University West Lafayette campus. Discovery Park has developed into a $375 million research and learning complex of 11 dynamic centers....
 to bring innovation through multidisciplinary action. In all of the eleven centers of Discovery Park, ranging from entrepreneurship to energy and advanced manufacturing, research projects reflect a large economic impact and address global challenges.Purdue University's nanotechnology research program, built around the new Birck Nanotechnology Center in Discovery Park, ranks among the best in the nation.

The Purdue Research Park
Purdue Research Park

Purdue Research Park is a research park located in West Lafayette, Indiana, less than north of Purdue University West Lafayette campus. The park was developed the by the Purdue Research Foundation....
 which opened in 1961 was developed by Purdue Research Foundation which is a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue. The park is focused on companies operating in the arenas of life sciences, homeland security, engineering, advanced manufacturing and information technology. It provides an interactive environment for experienced Purdue researchers and private business and high-tech industry. It currently employs more than 3,000 people in 155 companies, including 90 technology-based firms.The Purdue Research Park was ranked first by the Association of University Research Parks in 2004.

Administration

The University President
University President

University president is the title of the highest ranking officer within the academic administration of a university, within university systems that prefer that appellation over other variations such as Chancellor or rector....
, appointed by the Board of Trustees, is the chief administrative officer
Chief administrative officer

A chief administrative officer is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive officer....
 of the university. The office of the president oversees admission and registration, student conduct and counseling, the administration and scheduling of classes and space, the administration of student athletics and organized extracurricular activities, the libraries, the appointment of the faculty and conditions of their employment, the appointment of all non-faculty employees and the conditions of employment, the general organization of the university, and the planning and administration of the university budget.

The Board of Trustees directly appoints other major officers of the university including a Provost
Provost

Provost may refer to:* Provost , an officer of local government, including the equivalent of a mayor in Scotland* Provost , a senior academic administrator...
 who serves as the chief academic officer for the university, a number of vice presidents with oversight over specific university operations, and the satellite campus chancellors.

Presidents

  • Richard Owen (1872-1874)
  • Abraham C. Shortridge (1874-1875)
  • John Hougham (1876)
  • Emerson E. White (1876-1883)
  • James H. Smart (1883-1900)
  • Winthrop E. Stone
    Winthrop E. Stone

    Winthrop Ellsworth Stone was a professor of chemistry and served as the president of Purdue University from 1900-1921.Born in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, New Hampshire, to Frederick L....
     (1900-1921)
  • Henry W. Marshall (1921-1922)
  • Edward C. Elliott (1922-1945)
  • Andrey A. Potter (1945-1946)
  • Frederick L. Hovde
    Frederick L. Hovde

    Frederick Lawson Hovde was an United States of America chemical engineer, researcher, educator and president of Purdue University.Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Hovde received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, where he played on the football team....
     (1946-1971)
  • Arthur G. Hansen
    Arthur G. Hansen

    Arthur Gene Hansen is a philanthropist and former chancellor of several United States university....
     (1971-1982)
  • John W. Hicks
    John W. Hicks

    John William Hicks served as acting president of Purdue University from 1982 to 1983. An agricultural economist, he was executive assistant to the university's presidents Frederick L....
     (1982-1983)
  • Steven C. Beering
    Steven C. Beering

    Steven Claus Beering served as president of Purdue University from 1983 to 2000. Previously, he was dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine....
     (1983-2000)
  • Martin C. Jischke
    Martin C. Jischke

    Martin C. Jischke is a prominent United States higher-education administrator and advocate, and was the tenth president of Purdue University....
     (2000-2007)
  • France A. Córdova
    France A. Córdova

    France Anne C?rdova is a American astrophysicist, researcher and university administrator. She is the eleventh President of Purdue University....
     (2008-Present)


Student life


Student body

The Purdue student body is composed primarily of students from Indiana
Indiana

The State of Indiana was the 19th U.S. state admitted into the union. It is located in the Midwestern United States of the United States of America....
. In 2006-07, 23,086 out of a total of 39,288 students enrolled, belonged to Indiana. As of 2007, the racial diversity of the undergraduate student body was 86.9% white
White people

White people is a term which is usually used to refer to Human characterized, at least in part, by the light Human skin color. It often refers narrowly to people claiming ancestry exclusively from Europe....
, 5.51% Asian
Asian people

Asian or Asiatic people is a demonym for people from Asia. However, the use of the term varies by country and person, often referring to people from a particular region or subregion of Asia....
, 3.53% African American
Black people

Black people is a term usually referring to a Race of humans with a dark skin color, but the term has also been used to categorise a number of diverse populations into one common group....
, and 2.75% Hispanic
Hispanic

Hispanic is a term that historically denoted relation to the ancient Hispania . During the Modern Era, it took on a more limited meaning relating to the contemporary nation of Spain....
. Of these students, 41.2% are female. Domestic minorities constitute a total of 15.4% in the Graduate student body population of which 38.5% are female. The largest minority (six percent of the full-time student body) is international
International

International or internationally most often describes interaction between nations, or encompassing two or more nations, constituting a group or association having members in two or more nations, or generally reaching beyond national boundaries....
, representing 123 countries. In graduate student population, non-residents occupy an overwhelming majority, about 78%. Almost all undergraduates and about 69.74% of the graduate student population attend full-time.

Housing

Purdue University operates fifteen separate residence halls for its undergraduate and graduate students, including: Cary Quadrangle, Earhart Hall, Harrison Hall, Hawkins Hall, Hillenbrand Hall, Hilltop Apartments, McCutcheon Hall, Meredith Hall, Owen Hall, Purdue Village, Shreve Hall, Tarkington Hall, Wiley Hall, Windsor Halls, and Young Hall. Purdue is also building a new residence hall for upperclassmen.

There are 12 cooperative
Cooperative

A cooperative is defined by the International Co-operative Alliance Statement on the Co-operative Identity as an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled business....
 houses at Purdue (5 men's houses and 7 women's houses). The men's houses include Circle Pines, Fairway, Marwood, Chauncey, and Gemini. The women's houses include Ann Tweedale, Glenwood, Twin Pines, Maclure, Stewart, Devonshire, and Shoemaker. All cooperative houses are governed under the Purdue Cooperative Council which is led by Purdue University students whom live in these houses. The cooperative system claims that it allows for a much lower cost of living than other types of housing, as the members take an active role in sharing chores and cooking all meals themselves, as opposed to hiring out cleaning and cooking staff. The houses in the cooperative system accommodate between 14 and 60 members. Also, each house has a governing body consisting of a president, vice president, and other officers. Cooperatives frequently have the highest average GPA on campus, above fraternities, sororities, and residence halls. Cooperatives also participate in social events and interamurals. Cooperative housing at Purdue has been around since the 1920s.

Purdue University hosts the nation's third largest Greek community, with approximately 5,000 students participating in one of the 46 men's fraternities or 29 women's sororities. Several of Purdue's most distinguished graduates are members of fraternities and sororities.

Media

The Purdue Exponent
Purdue Exponent

The Purdue Exponent is one of a handful of daily independent student newspapers, with most other college newspapers being owned by the university or operated by the journalism school....
, an independent student newspaper
Student newspaper

A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
, has the largest circulation of any Indiana college newspaper, with a daily circulation of 17,500 copies during the spring and fall semesters.

The "Movie Tribute Show with Erik Mygrant" was created in a small television studio (now known as the Erik Mygrant Studio) on campus in 1999.

WBAA
WBAA

WBAA is the callsign for two radio stations owned by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana--an AM broadcasting station at 920 kHz and an FM station at 101.3 MHz....
 is a radio station
Radio station

This article is about radio broadcasting, for other uses see Radio .Radio broadcasting is an audio broadcasting service, traditionally broadcast through the air as radio waves from a transmitter to an antenna and a thus to a receiving device....
 owned by Purdue University. The station operates on the AM frequency of 920 kHz and FM frequency of 101.3 MHz. Its studios are in the Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music
Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music

The Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music is located on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. With a seating capacity of 6,025, it is one of the largest proscenium theaters in the world, and is about 100 seats larger than Radio City Music Hall....
 on the Purdue campus, and the transmitters are located in Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana

Lafayette is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indiana, United States, 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,397....
. WBAA is the longest continuously-operating radio station in Indiana, having been licensed on April 4, 1922. WBAA airs NPR and local news/talk programming during the day. Overnight, the AM station airs jazz
Jazz

Jazz is a primarily American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
 while the FM station airs classical music.

There are also a few student radio stations on campus. Currently, three operate from residence halls, broadcasting via internet only; WCCR from Cary Quadrangle (not to be confused with the current WCCR FM or WCCR-LP stations in other states), WILY from Wiley Hall, and a most recent addition WHHR from Harrison Hall. A fourth student station, the Purdue Student Radio club operates from the Purdue Memorial Union
Purdue Memorial Union

The Purdue Memorial Union is located on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. The Purdue Memorial Union is the center of community and hospitality on campus for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests of Purdue University....
 and broadcasts on low power AM in addition to internet streaming.

W9YB is the callsign of the Amateur Radio Club at Purdue University. W9YB also holds the self declared title of having one of the largest and most active collegiate amateur radio
Amateur radio

Amateur radio, often called Etymology of ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams," use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for Public services, recreation and self-training....
 stations in the country. W9YB actively participates in emergency management
Emergency management

Emergency management is the discipline of dealing with and avoiding risks. It is a discipline that involves preparing for disaster before it occurs, disaster response , as well as supporting, and rebuilding society after natural hazards or man-made hazards disasters have occurred....
 for the Tippecanoe County area and maintains ready status with its members in skills to assist.

Athletics

Purdue is home to 18 Division I/I-A NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a voluntary association of about 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and University in the United States ....
 teams including football, basketball, cross country, tennis, wrestling, golf, volleyball and others. Purdue is a founding member of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I list of college athletic conferences. Its eleven member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Iowa and Minnesota in the west to Pennsylvania in the east....
, and played a central role in its creation. Traditional rivals include Big Ten colleagues the Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana University athletic teams are called the Hoosiers, and their colors are cream and crimson, though red and white have been used at times in the past....
, the Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public university research university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the oldest and largest campus in the University of Illinois system....
 Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini

The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
, and the Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a private Roman Catholic Church University located in Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. It was founded by Father Edward Sorin, Congregation of Holy Cross, who was also the school's first president....
 Fighting Irish from the Big East Conference
Big East Conference

The Big East Conference is a List of college athletic conferences consisting of seventeen universities in the northeastern, southeastern and midwestern United States....
 (football program independent, however). The Boilermakers battle the Hoosiers on the football field each year to win the Old Oaken Bucket
Old Oaken Bucket

The Old Oaken Bucket is the name of the trophy that is annually awarded to the winner of the Big Ten Conference college football game between Indiana University Bloomington and Purdue University....
. Purdue leads the series, first played in 1925, 68-36-6.

The Boilermaker men's and women's basketball teams have won more Big Ten Championships than any other conference school, with 27 conference banners, including a league-leading 21 for the men’s team. Purdue men's basketball has an all-time winning record against all Big Ten schools .

The Boilermaker football team, after suffering a string of disappointing seasons in the late 1980s and early 1990s, enjoyed a significant resurgence under the leadership of head coach Joe Tiller
Joe Tiller

Joe Tiller was the head college football coach at Purdue University from 1997 to 2008. Before coming to Purdue, Tiller was the head coach for the University of Wyoming football program....
. Before Tiller joined the Boilers as the 33rd head coach in 1996, the team had not been to a bowl game since 1984. The team made a bowl appearance every year of Tiller’s leadership except in 2005 and 2008. After his first season at Purdue, Tiller was named National Coach of the Year by both Football News and Kickoff magazines, the GTE Region 3 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association

The American Football Coaches Association is an association of football coaches on all levels and is responsible for the Coaches Poll that determines the national champion each year....
 and the Big Ten Dave McClain Coach of the Year. Tiller announced his retirement following the 2008 season, and will be replaced by interim assistant coach Danny Hope. Tiller currently holds the coaching record for the most wins at Purdue.

Traditions and legends


Boilermakers

The moniker for the University's athletics teams has become a popular reference for all things Purdue. A reporter first used the name in 1891 to describe the year's winning football team and quickly gained approval from students.

Mascots, logos, and colors

In the more than 130 years since the founding of the university, several mascots have emerged in support of the Boilermaker athletic teams, including: The Boilermaker Special
Boilermaker Special

The Boilermaker Special is the official mascot of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Boilermaker Special resembles a Victorian-era railroad locomotive and is built on a truck chassis....
, Purdue Pete
Purdue Pete

Purdue Pete is not the official mascot of Purdue University, but is usually associated as being its representative on and off the field. The official mascot of Purdue is the Boilermaker Special....
, and more recently, Rowdy.

The Boilermaker Special
Boilermaker Special

The Boilermaker Special is the official mascot of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Boilermaker Special resembles a Victorian-era railroad locomotive and is built on a truck chassis....
 has been the official mascot of Purdue University since 1940. Designed to look like a train locomotive, the Special was originally designed to demonstrate Purdue's engineering programs and is maintained by the members of the Purdue Reamer Club.

As the unofficial mascot of Purdue Athletics, Purdue Pete
Purdue Pete

Purdue Pete is not the official mascot of Purdue University, but is usually associated as being its representative on and off the field. The official mascot of Purdue is the Boilermaker Special....
 is one of the most recognized symbols of Purdue University. Purdue's newest symbol, Rowdy, was introduced in 1997 during the first home football game of the season. The inflatable mascot, made of parachute material, stands nearly 10 feet (3 m) tall, and represents a young boy who hopes to become a Purdue Boilermaker. However, the Rowdy costume was retired in the Fall of 2006 when both of the costumes became damaged and the sports administration decided to not fix them. The official reason was cost and they were a distraction during home games.

Purdue University adopted its school colors, Old Gold
Old Gold

Old Gold is a dark yellow, which varies from light olive or olive brown to deep or strong yellow. The widely-accepted color "Old Gold" is on the darker rather than the lighter side of this range....
 and Black, in the fall of 1887. Members of Purdue's first football team in 1887 felt that the squad should be distinguished by certain colors, and since Princeton was at the time the most successful gridiron unit, its colors were considered. Though actually orange and black, the Princeton colors were known by many as yellow and black. Purdue gridders opted for old gold over yellow, kept the black, and began flying the colors that endure today.

University Seal


The official seal of Purdue was officially inaugurated during the University's centennial in 1969. The seal, approved by the Board of Trustees, was designed by Prof. Al Gowan, formerly at Purdue. It replaced one that had been in use for 73 years, but was never officially accepted by the board.

In medieval heraldry, a griffin symbolized strength, and Abby P. Lytle used it in her 1895 design for a Purdue seal. When Professor Gowan redesigned the seal, he retained the griffin symbol to continue identification with the older, unofficial seal. As on the older seal, the words "Purdue University are set in the typeface Uncial. The three-part shield indicates three stated aims of the University: education, research, and service, replacing the words Science, Technology, and Agriculture on the earlier version.

School songs

The official fight song
Fight song

A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fan to cheer for their team....
 of Purdue University, "Hail Purdue!
Hail Purdue!

Hail Purdue! is the official fight song of Purdue University. The lyrics were written by James Morrison, to the tune set by Edward Wotawa in 1913....
," was composed in 1912 by alumni Edward Wotawa (music) and James Morrison (lyrics) as the "Purdue War Song". "Hail Purdue" was copyrighted in 1913 and dedicated to the Varsity Glee Club.

The lyrics of the first verse and Chorus of "Hail Purdue" are as follows:

"To your call once more we rally, Alma Mater hear our praise. Where the Wabash spreads it's valley, Filled with joy our voices raise. From the sky in swelling echos Come the cheers that tell the tale Of our victories And our heroes, Hail Purdue! We all sing Hail!

Chorous Hail Hail to Old Purdue! All Hail to our Old Gold and Black. Hail Hail to Old Purdue Our friendship may she never lack. Ever grateful, Ever true Thus we raise our song anew. Of the days we spent with you, All Hail our own Purdue."

Fountain runs

Students often begin and end their time at Purdue with a run through either of the West Lafayette campus's fountains. The Engineering Fountain
Engineering Fountain

The Purdue Mall Water Sculpture , often referred to as the Engineering Fountain, is a water sculpture and fountain located at the main campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Indiana....
 and the Loeb Fountain run from April through October.

Grand Prix


This 50-mile, 160-lap go-kart race is "The Greatest Spectacle in College Racing" and wraps up Gala Week each year. All 33 participating karts are made from scratch by student teams. The event has been raising money for student scholarships since it began in 1958.

Old oaken bucket

Found on a farm in southern Indiana
Indiana

The State of Indiana was the 19th U.S. state admitted into the union. It is located in the Midwestern United States of the United States of America....
, the oaken bucket is one of the oldest football trophies in the nation. The winner of the annual Purdue vs Indiana University
Indiana University

Indiana University, founded in 1820, is a nine-campus university system in the state of Indiana. The IU system includes the following campuses:...
 American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 game gets to add a bronze "P" or "I" chain link and keep the trophy until the next face-off. Ironically, the first competition in 1925 led to a 0-0 tie, resulting in the first link on the chain being an "IP."

Legends

Like many institutions with long and rich histories, Purdue University is steeped in legend.

Alumni

Neil Armstrong Pose
Purdue University has long been associated with accomplished and distinguished students and faculty. Purdue alumni have headed corporations, held federal offices, founded television networks, and flown through space. Purdue’s distinguished faculty have won Nobel prize
Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize , established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Nobel Prize in Physics, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, Nobel Prize in Literature, and Nobel Peace Prize in 1901....
s, solved long-standing riddles in science, headed government agencies, and received countless awards.

Purdue alumni have an especially strong relationship with NASA
NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the Federal government of the United States, responsible for the nation's public list of space agencies....
 and the space program. All together, Purdue has produced 22 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong

Neil Alden Armstrong is a former American astronaut, test pilot, university professor, and United States Naval Aviator. He is List of Apollo astronauts#People who have walked on the Moon Moon....
, the first, and Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon. Over one third of all of NASA's manned space missions have had at least one Purdue graduate as a crew member. These alumni have led significant advances in research and development of aerospace technology and established an amazing record for exploration of space.

The Dauch Alumni Center acts as a showcase for the University. The alumni center houses the offices of the Purdue Alumni Association and University Development. It is a destination and gathering area for the Purdue Alumni Association’s 68,000 members and more than 325,000 living alumni.

Astronaut alumni


See Also

  • List of forestry universities and colleges
    List of forestry universities and colleges

    This is a list of colleges and universities worldwide that offer either a Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in the profession field of forestry. Where noted, the country's Educational accreditation standard has been used and cited....


External links