Purdue University has reversed a decision to alter diplomas awarded at its satellite campuses.
The Purdue University Board of Trustees during its Oct. 12 meeting approved a change to the diplomas awarded at Purdue University Northwest and Purdue University Fort Wayne. The overall diploma design will remain unchanged but now will note which campus a diploma was awarded versus the name of the city of the campus.
Purdue Northwest had been following that practice since 2016. The language is featured in the text of the diploma and reads, “In recognition of the fulfillment of the requirements of that degree awarded at Purdue Northwest in the state of Indiana (month, day, year).”
The decision by Purdue’s trustees follows protests and concerns raised by students at the satellite campuses who requested that diplomas they received prominently feature the Purdue University name versus the name of campus where the diploma was earned. It was announced in late September the new diplomas were going to be awarded to students graduating from Purdue’s satellite campuses beginning in May 2019.
In a statement posted on Purdue University Northwest’s website, Chancellor Thomas Keon said, “I would like to note in particular how well this decision by the trustees amplifies the important role of our PNW faculty in setting the unique degree requirements for students attending Purdue University Northwest. The diplomas conferred by the Purdue trustees are granted to students of PNW who fulfill the requirements of degree curricula as determined by Purdue Northwest faculty.”
Purdue Fort Wayne Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer in a message to students, faculty and staff posted on his college’s website said, “that (the students) voices had been heard and that the Purdue University Board of Trustees had decided it would not be making any major changes to the diplomas.”
