Students have concerns about IPFW's future

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne ( IPFW) is in preliminary stages about the future of the university, which has some students uneasy.

Some students said they came to IPFW because it's affordable, it's close to home and they can get the Indiana University or Purdue University degree without having to go to either flagship campuses.

With the university being governed by Purdue University out of West Lafayette, some IPFW officials believe it's time for the campus to go independent and govern itself.

Other concerns have to do with funding. IPFW officials say if the university becomes independent, it will open up a lot more state funding.

Levi Griffin, a sophomore at IPFW, doesn't like the idea.

"I feel like it's going to run into a lot of problems," he said. "A lot of students come here just specific because it has the IU and Purdue name."

Kayla Zinc, a sophomore biology major, doesn't mind the name change, but said this university could lose out on potential students.

"I think it's ok that they want to feel like they're on school, but I think that they're going to lose a lot of benefits that they get by associating themselves with Purdue or IU," she said.

IPFW Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Dr. George McClellan, said students shouldn't have to worry because there will be no decision on the campus' future any time soon.

"Keep going after that degree because whatever changes that's going to happen, even if right now, today, the committee meeting, they decided to go independent, it won't happen that fast," he said.

He said there's no timeline on any proposed changes coming to the university.

NewsChannel 15's Megan Reust was in Indianapolis for the hearing on Tuesday. She has more on what was discussed at hearing.

NewsChannel 15 will continue to follow this story as more develops.