Discussion digs into IPFW's destiny

Area legislators have been concerned about the school’s autonomy as a joint venture of Indiana University and Purdue University. And last year’s forced retirement of a popular chancellor by Purdue – the operating manager of the campus – has come with embarrassing lawsuits.

IPFW is governed by Purdue, which means that’s where the funding and the rules flow from.

But as one of the state’s largest public universities, IPFW faces questions about its future.

Is the regional campus properly funded? Should it make more of its own decisions? Can it offer professional degrees? Is it competing with its parent university, and is that fair? Should Purdue remain in charge?

“The system is totally different than what it was designed to do,” said Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn. “There are now more people transferring from West Lafayette to Fort Wayne than from Fort Wayne to West Lafayette.”