Daniels: Make IPFW state’s second metro university

FORT WAYNE — Purdue University President Mitch Daniels wants the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to designate Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne as the state’s second metropolitan university and increase its state funding.

Daniels made the request Friday in a letter to Indiana Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers.

IPFW currently is designated as a regional campus, like most other Purdue branches, leaving it limited in the types of degree programs that the 13,5000-student campus can offer, including master’s and doctorate degrees.

IPFW spokesman John Kaufeld says the regional designation also excludes IPFW from the state’s performance funding metric, which awards schools for graduating students with “high-impact” degrees in science, technology, education and mathematics.

Higher Education Commission spokesman Jason Bearce says the agency’s board likely will discuss Daniels’ request at is Feb. 12 meeting.