Office of the Chancellor

A New Academic Year Arrives with New Opportunities

August 25, 2025

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Welcome to a new academic year at Purdue Fort Wayne—one filled with fresh opportunities, renewed energy, and the promise of success.

Whether you are joining us for the first time or returning to continue your journey, we are delighted you are here. Our campus community thrives because of the unique talents, perspectives, and passions each of you brings. We take great pride in being an inclusive and supportive university, offering a wide range of programs and services designed to help every member of our community flourish.

This fall, we are especially pleased to welcome 27 new faculty members, including 11 tenure-track faculty, six clinical faculty, four lecturers, and six new or returning visiting faculty. These accomplished scholars and educators will strengthen our academic programs, inspire our students, and contribute to our vibrant intellectual community.

We also have much to celebrate in terms of campus growth, highlighted by two projects that will be transformational.

The Surack-Sweetwater Music Industry Building, located in the heart of campus, is quickly taking shape. Once completed in time for the fall 2026 semester, it will connect with the PFW Music Center to create an extraordinary hub for education and performance.

On our North Campus, the new Trace residential complex is also progressing rapidly. It will provide housing for 600 additional students when it opens next fall.

Our evolution into a more fully residential university is already evident. This fall, 1,559 students are living in university housing.

To support all of our students, we continue to prioritize vital services including creation of the new Office of Student Success Initiatives this summer and the opening of the Division of Campus and Community Wellbeing last spring.

Opportunities to connect, learn, and have fun are never far away. Campus Kickoff events are already underway and over the next two weeks will feature activities, entertainment, and community gatherings. Everything continues today with lunch and games on the Science Mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Faculty and staff are warmly encouraged to join in; see new guidelines for participation. You can find details about these and many other events on the university’s comprehensive Events Calendar. And keep an eye out for next week’s announcement of the Omnibus Speaker Series lineup.

Strong communication is a cornerstone of our community. Our faculty and staff receive regular editions of Inside PFW every Tuesday and Thursday, while students receive Don Life each Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters. And all across campus, our Digital Display Network has grown to 90 video screens located in academic, residential, and administrative buildings. They help us share news, events, and emergency updates.  

Tomorrow, I will send you an important message about campus safety, including how to register for emergency text alerts through goPFW—something I encourage everyone to do right away, if you haven’t already done so.

You can also stay informed by following the university’s official social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, as well as many departmental accounts.

Finally, I want to be the first to invite all of you to this year’s State of the University on Monday, Sept. 15, where university leaders will share updates and plans. It will begin at noon in Auer Performance Hall; more details to follow.

Thank you for being part of this extraordinary university. Your dedication, curiosity, and spirit are what make Purdue Fort Wayne a truly special place. I look forward to seeing you around campus and wish you a rewarding and inspiring year ahead.

Sincerely,

Ron Elsenbaumer, Chancellor