Purdue President Gathers Ideas on Porter Tour

By Diane Kubiak

Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke toured businesses in Porter County Thursday, stopping mid-day at Strongbow Inn to lunch with area leaders and to receive input from them as Purdue hones its next strategic plan.

"We are joined economically with Indiana," Jischke told an audience of more than 100, many of whom already have long-standing relationships with Indiana's land grant research university.

Increased economic growth translates directly into increased legislative support, said Jischke, who stood ready also to take checks from anyone from the private sector wanting to say "thanks." His team's Campaign for Purdue exceeded its $1.3 billion goal and is nearing its revised $1.5 billion goal.

Purdue is very hands-on in helping business, Jischke said. He cited the business incubator model's recent recognition by University Business magazine, which named it the best incubator model in the nation.

Discovery Park in Merrillville is a Purdue-sponsored incubator. "Six years ago, Discovery Park was just an idea," Jischke said. Now the $330 million research and learning facility boasts "the best nano-technology lab at any university, period," he said.

To date, 16 start-up business have spun off from Discovery Park, he said.

Port of Indiana director Stephen H. Mosher, who hosted one of Jischke's morning tours, said Jischke was well-briefed for the visit. Mosher said he discussed transportation's infrastructure needs and how Port of Indiana helps the Chicago area deliver goods and services to the Midwest as well as the world. "We have a lot of waterway capacity," Mosher said.

In anticipation of the afternoon tour, Robert E. Swinehart, president and CEO of Emerson Power Transmission in Valparaiso, reflected at lunch how Purdue has impacted his business. The soon-to-retire president said 45 of the employees in the Valparaiso facility are Purdue graduates.

"Purdue is very important to us as a source of intellectual capital," he said. He would like to see Purdue expand its internships and cooperative programs through Emerson. "The benefit is we get to test-drive each other," he said of prospective employees.

With water to the north and corn to the south, Family Express Corp. President and CEO Gus Olympidis said, Porter County should see Purdue as part of its intellectual infrastructure. "You look at the new economy and you would never be able to bring these things together," the fuel magnate said.

"Purdue is a leader in bio-fuels," said Jischke. He estimated $160 billion staying in the U.S. if it shifted to ethanol. "We have reason to believe it's possible to do this," he said.

Jischke also announced Purdue's commitment to a new university center at its Westville campus, one large enough to accommodate graduation and other student activities.

Michael Benway, superintendent of Valparaiso schools, asked why Purdue was capping in-state enrollment at Lafayette and encouraging more out-of-state recruitment.

Jischke said out-of-state students pay the full cost of their education through tuition. He said there is capacity for all students who qualify for Purdue at its regional campuses. Benway said that of the Valparaiso High School graduates who stay in-state, the majority attend Purdue.

Story posted: 11/17/2006