Vans sit at Purdue University's Transportation Services center in West Lafayette. The center sold 22 vans this year. The center's expecting savings of more than $100,000 to help with student affordability. / Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier
Outside Mike Utermark’s office, a parking lot full of Purdue University-owned and operated vans and vehicles stand ready for use on this snowy mid-December day.
But there are about 20 fewer vans in the lot now that part of Purdue’s fleet was sold in order to net the West Lafayette research university more than $100,000 in savings.
Utermark, manager of Purdue’s Transportation Services department, said he suggested to President Mitch Daniels that the vehicles be sold as Purdue continues on a path of cost savings.
“Some of them were due to age, under-utilization and the president’s directive on finding ways to cut for student affordability,” Utermark said. “A lot of factors were involved. We’re just finding ways to cut and creating ways to save money.”
Since Daniels announced a two-year tuition freeze in March, the university has continued on a path of frugality by renegotiating contracts, making cuts in the food services area and consolidating some operations.
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