Daily Visit Tours

Below is a typical tour route with general talking points and info to add spice to your tour. What brings the tour to life are YOUR personal stories. Aim to share between 5-10 stories about your experiences and re-design the route to fit your tour!

Please arrive to Stewart center no less than 15 minutes before the start of your tour, this ensures any adjustments to routes can be made and groups can be sorted. Tours will last around 1 hour and 15 minutes, and tour guides should aim to have their group inside of Stewart in the first fifteen minutes of the hour they return (ex: for the 9:45 tour, the families should be at Stewart between 11:00-11:15)

Enter the room with energy!

Our visitors have been sitting for 30 minutes, so bring your sparkle! Timing is important, as the Purdue logo comes up on the screen at the end of the video, this is when you should be in front with the lights on (press all on the light switch to the left of the door as you walk in). Share your name, major and a personal aspect about why you love Purdue. This can be anything from your favorite student organization to an inspiring mentor or your study abroad experience!

There are two options for the tour: one heads out towards Stadium Mall, the other heads out towards the clapping circle. Both finish back at Stewart! Talk with fellow ambassadors to decide your route to avoid congestion.

Stewart Center (STEW)

Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education Library (HSSE)

  • There are 8 libraries across campus, find the best fit for you! Where are they?
  • You can check out a book for the entire semester.
  • There are many collaborative study spaces on campus focused on using technology. No matter what major or career you’re interested in, you will probably have at least one group project to prepare you for working with others in a collaborative environment.
  • Computers and Connectivity

      • There are 41 different computer labs on campus, offering both Macs and PCs.
      • Each student has a printing quota of $40 per year, at 4 cents a sheet for black and white and 12 cents a sheet for color — it goes a long way.
      • There is a website that displays availability of machines in every computer lab. Computer labs have expensive software available to students for free!
      • Wi-Fi is everywhere – including classrooms, the gym, and residence halls.
      • You are not required to bring a laptop with you to Purdue, but many students choose to bring one. It is completely up to the student!

    Fowler Hall

      • Free Flicks at Fowler, just one of the many events and programs organized by the Purdue Student Union Board.
      • Other events include Homecoming, Salsa Nights, Battle of the Bands, Coffee and Canvas and more! Check out the event schedule.

    Loeb Playhouse

      • Loeb Playhouse is an intimate setting for Purdue Convocations and lecture events.
      • Spring 2019, guest speakers (not necessarily in Loeb) included Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak; Purdue alum and host of "Chopped", Ted Allen; and many other experts and icons.
      • Who is coming next?

    Stewart Center Gallery

      • Showcases artwork from artists across the nation.

    Spirit of the Land Grant College

      • The west-end lobby features "Spirit of the Land Grant College," a mural painted by Eugene Savage.
      • As the name suggests, the mural reflects the original purpose and impacts of the Land Grant College, which opened a new era in American education by giving states federal land in order to establish universities.

    Symbolism:
     

      • Farmers and horse drawn wagon, represents the state of nineteenth-century agriculture and technology. To the right a robed figure, representing Education, pushes back the dark curtain of ignorance and leads young students through.
      • President Abraham Lincoln signing the Act to create the Land Grant colleges, opening a new era in American education. The figure to Lincoln’s left is Representative Justin S. Morrill of Vermont, who sponsored the Act, shown here conferring with the President. In the background we see students passing through the curtain of ignorance to become new graduates. These graduates are shown crossing over a bridge, under which are scenes representing the advancements produced thanks to the Land Grant college.
      • Final panel shows great benefits to society from the Land Grant college. The many goods made possible by the learning of the educated are loaded onto a ship named Abundance, to be distributed to the world.

    Fun Fact: Years ago a custodian came to freshen up the mural and damaged it during the cleaning. They called the artist back to repaint it and he did everything exactly the same except for one addition – look at the bottom right – paragraph entitled “TO CLEAN” – very specific cleaning instructions.

    John W. Hicks Library (HIKS)

    Overview

  • Offers study spaces, Undergrounds Café, and computer work stations.
  • It is entirely underground and there are classrooms and more collaborative student areas here as well.
  • The collaborative study spaces are used during Industrial Roundtable for interviews.
  • The Center for Career Opportunities has plenty of spaces designed to help students connect with employers, which allows Purdue to have 340% more on-campus interviews than any other university on average.
  • Memorial Mall

    Industrial Roundtable

    • One of the nation’s largest student-run career fairs - a great place to find internships, job opportunities, and networking.
    • Over 400 companies send representatives to Purdue’s campus to converse with our students about their companies.
    • Many companies find interns for the summer and sometimes students are even offered jobs through their internships they have received.
    • Event Page


    Ag Week

    • Student-organized event celebrating our College of Agriculture that includes free grilled cheese sandwiches by the Dairy Club and Goat Club.
    • Different companies (Ford, John Deere, Caterpillar) sometimes bring machinery and representatives to talk with students
    • You can also find cows, goats, sheep and pigs on different days throughout the week during Ag Week.
    • Facebook

    Events, Demonstrations, and Speakers

    • Purdue is committed to freedom of speech - we were the first public institution of higher education to adopt a free speech policy called the “Chicago principles,” condemning the suppression of views no matter how “offensive, unwise, immoral, or wrong-headed” they may be.


    Hello Walk

    • Smile and say “hello” to everyone.


    John Purdue

    • Purdue’s benefactor and namesake.
    • He was a prominent businessman in Lafayette.
    • He was known for taking special interest in students, even paying for the education of those he thought held promise.
    • Requested to be buried on campus after he died.
    • Wikipedia

    Hello Walk

    Founders Park

    Loeb Fountain

  • Loeb Fountain regenerates 2,200 gallons of water per minute.
  • We have a long standing Purdue tradition called a "fountain run" - we run through all four fountains on Purdue's campus

  • 'Distance Paths'

  • Bronze and stainless steel sculpture by Preston Jackson, captures the diversity of people’s ongoing journeys.
  • Located between Beering and University halls, it was installed to celebrate the College of Liberal Art’s 50 anniversary in 2014.
  • Image

  • College of Liberal Arts

  • Rated #1 best college for English majors in the country. (source)
  • CLA has nationally renowned faculty working across multiple disciplines.
  • Offers cutting-edge research opportunities.
  • Home to the world-famous Online Writing Lab (OWL).

  • Beering Hall of Liberal Arts & Education (BRNG)

  • Dean's offices for CLA and College of Ed.
  • Has classrooms, computing labs, and academic offices.
  • Most students will take Comm 114 here.

  • College of Education

  • The College of Education offers small class sizes and innovative teaching methods.
  • Education majors are offered in six academic colleges. Want to teach elementary school? Your Purdue academic home is College of Education. Want to teach high school math? Your home is the College of Science.
  • As an undergrad, you will have multiple opportunities to work in schools early and often.
  • Offers unique programs in integrated STEM teacher education.
  • The gifted education center is internationally recognized.
  • Graduates are in high demand both in-and out-of-state.

  • University Hall (UNIV)

  • University Hall is the only remaining building of the original six-building Purdue campus.
  • Small Classroom (Not an indoor stop)

    Classroom Options


    Can happen in most buildings across campus, although these are the main ones.

  • Recitation Hall
  • University Hall
  • Beering Hall

  • Courses

  • Typical freshmen take anywhere between 12-18 credit hours per semester.
  • A typical class is normally 3-5 credit hours.
  • A 3-credit-hour class will normally meet three times a week for 50 minutes on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, or for a "power hour" of 75 minutes on Tuesday or Thursday.
  • If a class has labs, like chemistry, biology, or physics, the class may be as many as 5 credit hours. However, classes typically don’t go over 5 credit hours.

  • Recitations

  • Class meetings, typically led by a grad student, that go over material from recent lectures and ensure that everyone understands the material.
  • You will not be taught any new material.
  • Quizzes or other learning materials may be completed during recitation periods.
  • Not every class has recitations.

  • Registration

  • You schedule all of your classes yourself.
  • You will meet with your academic adviser, who will help you plan out your class schedule.
  • Recently (Fall 2020-Present), Purdue has moved to batch registration, which has student enter course request, and a schedule is built for them
  • Student are then able to go in and move around classes, and customize their schedule to their liking.
  • Diversity Tree

    Diversity Tree


    On-campus, we have multicultural sororities and fraternities (ex. Asian,
    Latinx, etc.) and Divine 9 organizations (historically black sororities and
    fraternities).

  • These organizations all strive to promote cultural awareness on campus.
  • Painting the diversity tree is a tradition for all of these organizations.
  • This allows them to show off their letters and organizations on campus
    because they do not have a physical space on campus.
  • Each org gets to paint the tree during a week of the semester.
    • During that week, this org will also host a week's worth of events for
      the Purdue community.
  • These can include fun activities, educational series, and
    community service activities
  • Example story: My friend’s org planned a plant paint
    potting event! We got to paint pots and take home cute
    plants!
  • Fun joke: The university lets these organizations paint this tree, but if you
    paint a different tree on campus, that would be graffiti and you’ll probably
    get in trouble
  • The Diversity Tree is located outside of the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall

  • Large Classroom

    Classroom Options

  • Class of 1950 Lecture Hall (CL50 is preferred) (470 seats)
  • WTHR 200 (480 Seats)
  • Note: Please make sure you let your families know that there will more than likely be a class in session when you walk through, so ask them to hold their questions until the end. It’s important that we stay silent when walking through a classroom so we do not disturb the professor or students!


    Technology in the Classroom

  • All lecture halls are in a tier system so you can see the instructor from any place in the room.
  • Professors wear a mic and use a split screen.
  • Many professors record their lectures and post them on BoilerCast.
  • Hotseat - created at Purdue; works like Twitter and provides real-time feedback during class and enables professors to adjust their course content and improve the learning experience.
  • iClickers - allows faculty to ask questions that are answered during class; used to take polls and encourage active student participation.
  • Math Building (MATH)

    Overview

  • The Department of Mathematics is one of seven departments making up Purdue’s College of Science and has an international reputation as an outstanding center for mathematical education, scholarship, and research.
  • Every professor has regular office hours, which is a great opportunity to ask questions and get to know your professor.
  • Careful if you walk under the land bridge on a windy day!
  • Elliott Hall of Music (ELLT)

    Overview

    • A truly amazing theatre that has featured rock concerts such as Pentatonix, Panic! at the Disco, Brad Paisley, and Lady A.
    • Also serves as a venue for evening exams, commencement, and WBAA, Indiana's oldest operating radio station.
    • Purdue Musical Organization (PMO) presents the PMO Christmas Show every year.
    • Bands and Orchestra have their offices located here.
    • Seats 6,005
  • Check out upcoming shows (Link)

    Armory (AR)

    Overview

      • Home to ROTC (Army, Navy, and Air Force).
      • Also holds events such as robotics competitions.
      • ROTC offers many different scholarships.

    Lawson Computer Science (LWSN)

    Overview

      • Purdue Computer Science is one of the country’s top-ranked programs, shaping the future of information technology through groundbreaking research.
      • Artificial intelligence. Cybersecurity. It all happens here.
      • The award-winning building was designed with students in mind. On the ground floor theater is a student activity center with a 16-by-9-foot video wall and deli-style café and espresso bar.
      • Throughout the Fall semester, many companies will meet with students right in the main lobby to accept applications and interview students for internships and full-time positions
      • There is a balcony space you can study on as well an on-the-go location, super convenient for a quick lunch in between classes!

    Greek Life and Cooperative Living

    Greek Life

      • Purdue’s Greek community is one of the largest in the nation, totaling about 20% of student body.
      • Over 6,000 students hold membership in over 90 organizations.
      • The focus is on achieving a balanced life based on four guiding principles: scholarship, leadership, service, and friendship.
      • The Greek system has some of the highest GPAs on campus. They also raise the most money for philanthropic events.

    Cooperatives

      • A cooperative house is home to a group of Purdue students who live, learn, socialize, and lead together. Members of a cooperative collaborate to take care of their houses, cook meals, plan philanthropies and social events, and encourage studying and scholarship for their members.
      • They don’t have any national affiliate so they are run through Purdue and their individual members.
      • There are 5 houses for men and 7 houses for women that range from 15-65 members depending on the house.
      • The cooperatives pride themselves in the fact that they have the highest average GPA of all living options on campus.
      • Current Purdue students and incoming freshmen are eligible to participate in the formal recruitment process.

    Bechtel Innovation Design Center (BIDC)

    Overview

      • Bechtel was inspired by students who asked for an advanced prototyping facility (Makerspace) where they could come together to design and build solutions to real-world problems.
      • Supports students from across Purdue as they pursue personal, entrepreneurial, societal, team, and class related projects.
      • Bechtel offers CNC tools, a waterjet cutter, laser cutter and engraver, 3D plastic printing, paint and surfacing, welding, woodworking tools, and electronics assembly.
      • Many of the tools in bechtel include a budget for each student to use the facilities.
      • Click here to learn more 

    Hagle Hall

    Overview

      • New home for Purdue Bands & Orchestras (over 1100 students!)
      • Hagle Hall brought every Purdue Bands & Orchestras ensemble under one roof for the first time in our 130+ year history.
      • Hagle Hall is a state of the art facility that was funded entirely through Alumni Donations.
      • Every room has sound dampening and Hagle now includes 3 large rehearsal rooms that can be used simultaneously, 12+ practice rooms open all day, an extensive band library, and a performance balcony where small pep bands can play in between classes.
      • Practice Rooms: Only available to those enrolled in an ensemble through their department. (Please do not say that anyone can practice here.)
      • Purdue Bands & Orchestras is not to be confused with our friends at Purdue Musical Organizations (the choirs) located inside Bailey Hall. (They are not the same department.)
      • Here is a doc that was provided by Bands and Orchestra with good talking points about Hagle

    Purdue's World Largest Drum

      • The Big Bass Drum originally debuted in 1921, and is now over 100 years old.
      • It is about 500 pounds and stands approximately 10 feet tall on its carriage, although the exact dimensions are secret, and known only by the members of the Drum Crew (the Drum crew is typically around 8-10 people each year).
      • The Drum was once stolen by opposing football fans and went missing. It was found a few days later on the roof of the Armory, and nobody knew how it got there.
      • The drum also once fell off a truck while being transported and totaled an 18 wheeler semi, but the Drum rolled away with barely a scratch!
      • Since it's creation in 1921, the Drum has traveled with the marching band to every performance and football game since, including international trips to Ireland, China, Colombia, and more!!

    Cultural Centers

    Overview

      • These facilities are active year-round, providing welcoming environments for campus and the Greater Lafayette community. They also sponsor events, speakers and performances during the school year.
      • All of our centers support Purdue’s commitment to education, diversity, and student engagement while serving as a home away from home, where students meet and establish lifelong friendships.

    Black Cultural Center (BCC)

      • The Black Cultural Center provides purposeful, holistic, scholarly and co-curricular programming designed to strengthen understanding of African American heritage.
      • The Black Cultural Center is a 18,500 sq ft facility that reflects traditional African architecture.
      • BCC is home to a library and computer lab, and offers seven different performing arts ensembles for campus and community members to join.
      • Learn more about the BCC here
      • BCC Events

    Latino Cultural Center (LCC)

    Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Center

    Native American Educational and Cultural Center (NACC)

      • The NAECC was created to develop new generations of educated Native students who will make positive contributions in their tribal communities and to educate non-Natives who will appreciate Indigenous cultures, histories, and traditions.
      • Learn more about the NACC here
      • NACC Events

    Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center (AACC)

    Honors College and Residences (not mandatory)

    Overview

      • Located in the heart of the student success corridor, you will find an Indiana first: an academic residential college, where some of Purdue's brightest minds live, learn, and build a community.
      • It’s a contemporary, dynamic environment that artfully integrates next-generation learning facilities with living space – large and small study rooms, quiet reading nooks, comfy lounges and living rooms, modern offices and a convenient restaurant.
      • One of the facility’s most prominent features is the Honors Hall with seating for over 400 – perfect for lectures, presentations, movies, and special events.
      • The four pillars of the honors college are leadership development, undergraduate research, community and global experiences, and interdisciplinary academics. Click here to read more

    Winifred and Freida Parker Halls

    Overview

      • Among Purdue’s newest student residences, Parker Hall offers a fresh concept in campus housing.
      • During the early stages of the American civil rights movement and well before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, sisters Winifred and Frieda Parker were leading the effort to integrate student housing on Purdue’s campus and across Indiana.
      • Suite-style living upstairs, a market and Starbucks downstairs, dining and recreation facilities right next door.

    Did you know?

      • There are 3 Starbucks on campus – one in Winifred Parker Hall, one in MSEE, one in the Union; AND we sell Starbucks in most of the coffee shops in the academic buildings throughout campus including Harrison Grillé!

    Windsor

    Overview

      • Windsor Halls consist of five distinct buildings: Wood, Shealy, Vawter, Warren, and Duhme.
      • It is the oldest all-women's residence hall complex and offers just under 700 beds.
      • The dining court in the basement specializes in vegetarian and vegan options.
      • The buildings are connected through underground tunnels.
      • Fun fact: Amelia Earhart lived in Duhme while she was on faculty at Purdue!

    Krach Leadership Center (KRCH)

    Overview

      • Serves as an interactive and collaborative space for students to learn and work together towards success
      • 81,500 square-foot LEED Gold-certified facility - What does that mean?
      • Purdue has more than 1,000 student organizations and activities – many of their meetings are held in Krach and have leadership offices located in the building.
      • There are conferences rooms available for reservations for working on group projects and leading presentations
      • Amazon Locker location convenient to residence halls

    Safety

    Emergency Telephone Call Boxes

      • Emergency telephone call boxes (w/ a blue light on top) are located at almost every street intersection and other strategic locations on the Purdue campus. With a 360° rotation, you should be able to see at least one other call box from the one you are standing at.
      • In a matter of a few seconds, Purdue Police Headquarters will answer.
      • It is about a 90-second response time to any location on campus.

    Fire and Police

      • In addition to providing fire protection to the Purdue community, the Purdue Fire Department has two Advanced Life Support ambulances that offer the highest level of pre-hospital care.
      • All department staff members are trained to the hazardous materials technician level and are trained and certified in aircraft rescue and firefighting.

    SafeWalk

      • Call the number on the back of your Purdue ID for a safe walk to anywhere on campus.
      • Student security patrollers are on-call 24/7 to escort students across Purdue grounds. Learn more

    France A. Cordova Recreational Sports Center (CREC)

    Overview

      • You name it, you can do it at the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center.
      • Features: gymnasiums, recreational and competitive aquatics centers, a 55 foot climbing wall, bouldering walls, a demonstration kitchen, indoor soccer, multiple tracks, wallyball, table tennis, badminton, and fitness classes.
      • Turf Rec (TREC): 34,000 sq feet of synthetic turf, great for soccer year-round!
      • The Co-Rec also hosts dozens of club and intramural sports. Do you have a club team for...?
      • Membership is included in the tuition for full-time students.

    Group X

      • Over 70 classes a week with a wide variety of class options ($60 for an unlimited semester pass, $5 for a day pass).
      • Classes are typically free the first couple of weeks of the semester so you can try them before you buy!
      • ZUMBA®, WERQ®, Body Sculpt, TurboKick®, Cycling, and more!
      • Schedule

    Wellness Suite

      • Students can make appointments with the resources provided for them in the wellness suite to help them with their overall well-being.
        • Boiler Financial Track is a free financial wellness resource that helps students by providing budgeting help, financial presentations, financial counseling, and online resources you can find at http://Purduefed.com/BFT
        • There are other resources in the wellness suit that helps with managing stress including: light therapy, message therapy, and a mindfulness room
        • Purdue also provides nutrition counseling and classes that are located in the wellness suite
      • If you would like to learn more about what the wellness suite includes you can look it up on the Recreation & Wellness website.

    Renovation

    • The Co-Rec had a $98 million renovation that was completed in 2012.

    Getting Around

    Overview

      • CityBus is free with a Purdue ID. It is great for getting around campus and beyond – Walmart, Target, the mall, and downtown. There are even lines that go directly to many of the apartment complexes located in the greater West Lafayette area
      • By downloading the MyCityBus app, you can track buses in real time
      • Most students don't need a car on campus and first-year students are typically not eligible for a permit, but if you do need one for medical appointments, off campus employment, military duty, or something else, you might qualify to purchase a parking pass.
      • Skateboarding, longboarding, and rollerblading are all very popular transportation methods as well.

    Shared Mobility

    • Zipcar: rent a Zipcar for a couple of hours or a whole day.
    • Bring your bike! there are bike racks in front of almost every building on both academic and student life portions of campus
    • Spin offers electric scooters to zip around campus.

    Purdue Traditions

    Slayter Hill

      • Concerts, sledding, movies, and tailgating
      • Room for up to 20,000 people
      • great spot for a picnic, hammocking, or even some disk golf
      • David Ross (one of Purdue's greatest benefactors... "Ross-Ade Stadium") and Mrs. Beering (wife of former Purdue president) are buried on Slayter Hill as well.

    Residence Halls

    Activity Room

      • Ping pong, study areas, laundry - it's where student life happens!

    Res. Hall Activities

      • Each res hall has a club that puts on activities such as painting, canoeing, or barbecuing.
      • Many res halls also put togehter teams for the various intramural sports offered through the CoRec

    Show Room

      • All of the wooden furniture comes with the room and must stay in the room. This room is not air conditioned. That is only a concern during the first and last few weeks of the school year, and fans can act as a substitute.

    Bedloft

      • You can choose to loft your bed if you want ($125-145). You can also rent mini-fridges and microwaves or buy futons. If you choose to use the company Bedloft, everything will be ready and waiting for you in your room upon move-in.

    Roommates

      • The Admitted Students Facebook group for the new class is a great way for freshmen to find a roommate
      • You also have the option of going completely random. Just fill out a small questionnaire to see who you are compatible with and Purdue will do the rest.

    Learning Communities

      • Purdue has learning communities where students that have similar interests (academic/extracurricular) can live together in a residence hall.
      • There are a lot - know a few!

    Resident Assistant (RA)

      • RAs are mentors, problem solvers, and community builders.
      • They are responsible for about 40-50 students and their floors in each residence hall.
      • They also put on events throughout the year to help you relax and have some fun.

    Dining Court

    Overview

    • There are five dining courts on campus which offer dine-in and carry-out options.
    • Two dining courts are stand-alone buildings (Ford and Wiley), while three are housed within residence halls (Earhart, Hillenbrand and Windsor).
    • There are 4 auxiliary dining locations: 1Bowl and Sushi Boss in Meredith, Pete’s Za in Tarkington, and The Burrow in Cary Quad.
    • Each dining location features a different menu which can be found online and in our dining app.
    • Mobile ordering is also available.
    • Dining courts accept meal swipes, Dining Dollars, Boiler Express and most credit/debit cards.
    • Purdue Food Co and Chick-Fil-A Retail locations accept Dining Dollars and Boiler Express
    • Students with questions about food allergies or dietary concerns can email allergicboiler@purdue.edu

    Meal Plans

    A variety of meal plans are offered to fit each student’s schedule and budget:

    • Unlimited + $500
    • 14-Track + $850
    • 10 Track + $1100
    • 7 - Track + $600
    • 80-Block + $500 (URBA locations and qualified commuters only)
    • 50-Block + $500 (URBA locations and qualified commuters only)

    Dining Dollars

    • Dining dollars are automatically part of all meal plans and come loaded on the student’s Purdue ID card.
    • Students can use them to buy snacks, convenience store items, or extra meals for themselves or guests in any residential dining court or retail operation.
    • Unused Dining Dollars at the end of the year are not refundable, as they are a part of your contract meal plan and expire at the end of the contract.
    • Dining Dollars are distributed half each semester and will be carried over from the fall to spring semester.

    On-the-GO!

    Our On-the-Go! locations offer convenience for students who don’t have time to stop and sit down for a meal.  

    • On-the-Go! located adjacent to Earhart, Ford, and Windsor Dining Courts:
      • One meal swipe = 1 entreé and 2 side items + 1 fountain drink/coffee OR4 side items + 1 fountain drink/coffee OR 1 Sushi Box + 1 fountain drink/coffee.
    • Lawson On-the-Go! at Lawson Computer Science Building is our premiere On-the-Go! location with many meal swipe options and a retail menu.
      • One meal swipe = 1 entrée + 1 fruit or chips + 1 fountain drink/coffee/tea
    • On-the-Go! @ Pete’s Za in Tarkington Hall:
      • One meal swipe = 1 entrée + 1 side + 1 fountain drink OR 4 side items + 1 fountain drink
    • All residential On-the-Go! locations are open to Purdue students with Meal swipes. Lawson On-the-Go! accepts swipes and also accepts Boiler Express, and credit/debit cards.

    University Residences Alumni and Guest Center / Cary Quadrangle

    Housing

      • There are 17 residence halls on campus and 20 UR Boiler Apartments (for the 2022-2023 school year)
      • More than 90% of incoming freshmen choose to live on campus, on average. However, it is not required to live on campus as a freshman.

    Cary Quadrangle

      • Cary Quadrangle is one of Purdue’s oldest and most historic residence halls.
      • Cary has the highest student capacity (around 1100 beds) and is one of four all-male residence halls (Tarkington, Wiley, and Mccutcheon are the others)

    Windsor Hall

      • Windsor is the oldest all-female residence hall at Purdue, consisting of five individual buildings: Duhme, Shealy, Warren, Wood and Vawter.
      • Tunnels, that are accessible to students, connect all of the five halls.

    URAGC

      • URGC is open Monday through Saturday inside Cary taking walk-ins, from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. (weekdays) & 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. (weekends)
      • Focus on personal experiences instead of specifics, housing and dining changes yearly, what was true your freshman year is likely not the case anymore
      • Refer guests to website for up to date details.
      • Housing tours go out every 15 min and they do take walk-ins.
      • The showroom is NOT in Cary, the tour will bring guests to a showroom in Owen, Wiley, or McCutcheon.

    Athletics

    Boarding Pass

      • Students can purchase the Boarding Pass for $$135, and it guarantees a ticket to every home football game as well as the opportunity to get tickets to men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and volleyball games (additional costs for student section tickets).
      • All other sports are free with your Purdue ID (tennis, softball, baseball, etc.).
      • There is also an option of joining different student sections for different sports. The price includes early entry to the games, free t-shirt, and even the option of meeting the teams and coaches.

    Stadium Mall

    Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH)

      • PUSH serves as the go-to place for health services on campus.
      • It is the student resource for primary medical care, mental health therapy, and after-hours care. Check out CAPS
      • Students who are currently enrolled full-time and have paid the student fee are eligible for office visits at no charge from the first day of the semester to graduation day at the end of the semester.
      • All other eligible students and spouses or domestic partners are eligible to be seen, but they will be charged for office visits.

    Robert E. Heine Pharmacy Building (RHPH)

      • Conveniently located right next door, the Pharmacy building has a retail pharmacy that students can utilize.
      • Fun Fact: Purdue's pharmacy program offers a six year professional program. All pharmacy students start majoring in Pharmaceutical Sciences and can choose to apply to the PharmD program during their second year.

    Helen R. Johnson Hall of Nursing (JNSN)

      • The nursing building is right next to the pharmacy.
      • Our nurses work in the medical field at different hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers in our community.

    Engineering

      • Many engineering buildings are located in this part of campus. Although they are home to Engineering programs, students from across campus can have classes in these buildings. It all depends on class size and room availability.
      • the Engineering buildings in order are as follows: Armstrong (Aeronautical), Hampton (Civil), Forney (Chemical), Physics, MSEE (Material and Electrical), EE (Electrical and Computer), and MechE (Mechanical)

    'Cradle of Astronauts'

      • Purdue has been called the "Cradle of Astronauts" for good reason. Twenty-seven Purdue graduates have been selected for space travel, including the first (Neil Armstrong) and most recent (Eugene Cernan) astronauts to walk on the moon and now Scott Tingle who was selected in 2020 to join the Artemis team - the next group of astronauts to make their way to the moon
      • Neil Armstrong Statue - features Armstrong as an undergraduate student at Purdue in the 1950s. Concrete imprints of actual moon boots trail away from the statue, spaced apart to replicate bounding steps in microgravity on the lunar surface.

    Purdue Mall Water Sculpture

    Overview

    • Often referred to as the Engineering Fountain.
    • Gift from the class of 1939 to commemorate 50th anniversary
    • Located in front of Hovde Hall, which houses the Office of the President (Mitch Daniels).
    • Fun fact: A professor/sculptor from the University of Illinois came up with the idea for the design of the fountain over coffee in the Purdue Memorial Union.
  • Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC)

    Overview

    • Best of new classroom teaching and learning methods, offering a blend of teaching spaces, library/information services, collaborative work areas, and learning spaces.
    • Central location for active learning classrooms (26) and library space holding around 30,000 print volumes!
    • State-of-the-art technology like 3-D printers.
    • Atrium looks out at the Bell Tower and features a full-service Au Bon Pain café and bakery.
    • Open 24/7 by swipe access, allows students to study late, while still being safe.
  • Library of Engineering and Science


    Includes:

    • Chemistry
    • Engineering
    • Life Sciences
    • Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
    • Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences
    • Physics
  • Bell Tower

    History-'One Brick Higher'

    • Heavilon Hall contained the original Purdue tower, but it burned down in 1894 (4 days after its dedication)
    • The day after the fire, President Smart stood before Purdue's faculty and students and proclaimed, "We are looking this morning to the future, not the past... I tell you, young men, that tower shall go up one brick higher." It ultimately was rebuilt exactly nine bricks higher, but the motto of "One Brick Higher" has stuck around as a reminder of the determination of a campus that meets adversity with resilience.
    • New Heavilon Hall building and tower were built the following year (“one brick higher”…technically 9 bricks higher)
    • Heavilon Hall was demolished in 1956 and rebuilt without a tower
    • Purdue Bell Tower constructed in 1995, included four bells from the reconstructed Heavilon Hall and its tower. The four bells date back to 1895 and regularly chime every hour, half-hour and at the end of classes.
  • Superstitions

    • Rumor has it that if you're an undergrad and you walk underneath the bell tower you won't graduate in four years!
    • It is also said that if you kiss the one you love underneath the bell tower at midnight, you will get married!
  • Read More about the Bell Tower

     

    Purdue Memorial Union (PMU)

    Overview

      • Opened in 1924 in honor of the Purdue men and women who lost their lives in military service.
      • PMU is a hub for daily life on campus. The ground floor was just recently renovated with 11 new dining venues, four performance stages, and new collaboration spaces for students.
      • The chairs and couches are a great place for students to take a break between classes. You will find many students love to take naps here throughout the year.
      • The Union’s architecture is symbolic of student life: stained glass represents diversity; stone arches signify strength, sincerity and individualism; and the upswept arches of windows represent youth and spirit.

    Amenities

      • Union Rack and Roll: Bowling alley and billiard room.
      • Union Club Hotel: Offers a great place for visitors to stay on campus and an excellent opportunity for tourism management students to get hands-on experience. The Union Club Hotel is currently under renovation and will reopen in August 2020.
      • Ballrooms: Host Krannert Career Fair, scholarship dinners, and campus events.

    PMU Twitter (Link)

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