Purdue University Northwest students are doers. Problem solvers. People who take what they learn and act upon the challenges of their employers, their community and the world.
When Shelby Clindaniel, a communication student at Purdue Northwest, decided to pursue her dream job with the Chicago White Sox before walking across the stage to receive her diploma at commencement, she did it. With invaluable experience working at the student-run newspaper and her passionate involvement in organizations and activities on campus, it is no surprise that an interview quickly resulted in a job offer.
“I knew for a while that I wanted to work for the Chicago White Sox,” said the native of Kouts, Ind., who landed a role as a fundraiser for White Sox charities. “It didn’t matter what I did, I just knew that was my dream.”
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) encourages its students to be go-getters—and students and alumni consistently demonstrate just that. Examples? A first-year nursing student who saved a patient’s life on her second day of hospital patient care. A team of engineering students that worked together to build an award-winning NASA rover. A graduate who leveraged an internship into a career as a development analyst supporting housing projects and job creation in a major city.
Purdue Northwest offers two vibrant campuses in Hammond and Westville, Indiana, located near Chicago and the beautiful Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. More than 12,000 students choose from more than 70 areas of study. Students can choose to live on campus in fully furnished apartment-style residence halls, and more than 100 student organizations and a robust intramurals program offer a wide variety of opportunities for engagement. PNW’s 200-plus student-athletes compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II.
The university’s professors, who have a distinct combination of academic credentials and experience in their fields, guide students on a path of critical thinking while also engaging students in hands-on opportunities to address issues in industry and the community. Their student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1 allows faculty members to give students the essential building blocks they need to succeed—preparation and support. More than 85 percent of PNW’s graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school by the time they earn their degree.
STOP BY AND VISIT. . .
The James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex is an 86,000-square-foot facility that houses a state-of-the-art fitness center, gymnasium, student study spaces and a conference center.
The Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation is recognized for its integrated and application- driven approaches of simulation and virtual reality visualization technologies that provide innovative solutions to various research problems, industry issues, as well as education and community problems.
With some of the country’s largest manufacturing companies in the area surrounding the PNW campuses, the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center provides advanced opportunities and training for businesses. Faculty experts and students help businesses and industry bring new ideas to fruition.
The White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management builds its curriculum based on the needs of today’s employers.