Ind. panel to discuss Fort Wayne campus’ future

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A state legislative committee plans to discuss whether the joint campus run by Indiana and Purdue universities in Fort Wayne should become an independent school.

The General Assembly’s Select Commission on Education is to review the governance of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne at its Sept. 4 meeting at the Statehouse in Indianapolis.

Republican Sen. Dennis Kruse of Auburn tells the Journal & Courier that among the topics will be the possibility of moving IPFW from Purdue’s administration and have it become Fort Wayne University.

Kruse says Purdue’s leaders concentrate on the West Lafayette campus and treat IPFW as an afterthought even though it has more than 14,000 students.

Acting IPFW chancellor Walter Branson says the discussion is a predictable step in the campus’ development.