Indiana universities work on new plan for shared campus

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Top leaders of Indiana University and Purdue say they're working on a new management agreement for the 13,000-student campus that the schools share in Fort Wayne following a state-mandated group's recommendations for splitting it into two colleges.

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels and Indiana University President Michael McRobbie made the announcement Thursday, according to The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette (http://bit.ly/1TVCCB3 ). But they didn't indicate that they're embracing the recommendation to split Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne.

A statement from the university presidents says the goal in crafting a renewed agreement is to reverse enrollment decline, improve the rate of student success and strengthen the school's contribution to northwest Indiana.

Total enrollment decreased by 11 percent between 2011 and 2015. During the same time, enrollment at all four-year state educational institutions increased 1.3 percent.

Purdue currently provides administrative oversight of IPFW, and students are able to receive degrees from both universities.

Last year, lawmakers created a working group to examine how the joint university is governed. Under the released proposal, the campus would be split.

IU would maintain control of the School of Medicine and take over nursing and a few other related programs. IU would have sole operating and management responsibility in those areas. Purdue University would control all other course offerings and expand its focus on advanced manufacturing and biomedical engineering.

The presidents will appoint a committee to finalize a plan and create strategies so a new governance agreement can be reached before the current management agreement's expiration on June 30. Any new agreement must be approved by trustees at both universities.

"The bottom line is it's their call - university leadership and trustees in consultation with the faculty - to work out what we hope will be historic new investment in the campus," said Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne.

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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net