Study to examine IPFW governance

Study to examine IPFW governance

Posted: Thursday, January 30, 2014 5:07 pm

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership is spearheading a comprehensive study of the governance of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

It has contracted with Indianapolis-based Policy Analytics to perform a detailed analysis of the models of other regional campuses and independent public universities in Indiana.

IPFW has the fifth-largest student population among state institutions but ranks 13th out of 14 public four-year institutions in funding per full-time-equivalent student.

"We need to take a fresh and candid look at the governance of our regional campus against the best possible options to be responsive to the future work-force needs of the regions employers," said John Sampson, president and CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, in an announcement of the project.

"As our largest and only four-year public university in the region, IPFW is integral to the economy of Fort Wayne and the communities of northeast Indiana. We are exploring options to assure that our regional campus has the necessary resources and flexibility required for the future."

Presently, 90 percent of students enrolled at IPFW reside in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. Historically, more than 80 percent go directly from school to jobs with the region's employers. According to the announcement, the regional partnership wants to ensure that IPFW has the autonomy to develop and expand degree and graduate programs aligned to the needs of employers in the region.

The study is expected to be completed by May 30.

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