Indianapolis, IN
Purdue University expands academic offerings in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Purdue University has completed its inaugural academic year in Indianapolis, underscoring its growing role as a driver of innovation, workforce development and economic growth in Indiana’s capital city.
The 2024-25 academic year marked a strategic expansion for the university, with significant advancements in academic offerings and partnerships with industry leaders. Purdue’s presence in Indianapolis is seen as a critical extension of its mission to create job-ready graduates and serve the state through applied learning and innovation.
Dan Hasler, chief operating officer for Purdue in Indianapolis, said, “In just one year, we’ve seen tremendous momentum in how Purdue is engaging with students, employers and the broader Indianapolis community. This is about creating a new kind of college experience that is both urban and deeply connected to opportunity.”
Purdue plans to launch at least six new undergraduate and graduate programs in the next two years — a 46% and 60% increase, respectively — focused on high-demand sectors such as advanced manufacturing, sports science, construction technology and pharmaceutical engineering.
Expanding industry partnerships
The university has established relationships with 55 companies in the region, offering students access to internships, co-ops, research projects and full-time employment in fields including biosciences, tech, pharmaceuticals and engineering.
This alignment between academic programming and employer needs is part of Purdue’s core strategy for its Indianapolis campus.
“We’re seeing a new type of student applicant — one that covets a Purdue degree but wants a more urban experience that makes it easier to work while they’re in school,” Hasler said. “We believe that by giving students experience with companies in a major city center, those relationships will make them more likely to stay after graduation, which is one of our primary objectives in helping to promote brain gain.”
Rather than centralizing its operations in one location, Purdue has embedded itself throughout Indianapolis, establishing 10 physical sites through partnerships with organizations such as Elanco, Dallara and SpectronRx. These locations span from downtown to the northwest side, weaving Purdue into the city’s innovation and industry corridors.
‘One Purdue’ model
The expansion also deepens the connection between Purdue’s Indianapolis and West Lafayette campuses. More than 30,000 rides were logged this year on the Campus Connect shuttle, linking the two sites and encouraging academic and research collaboration.
Faculty and students benefit from shared programs, including EPICS (a service-learning design initiative), Vertically Integrated Projects and The Data Mine — all of which focus on experiential, interdisciplinary education.
“Indianapolis brings unique opportunities that we can’t replicate and execute in West Lafayette and vice versa, but this is One Purdue,” said David Umulis, Purdue’s senior vice provost for Indianapolis. “Our students and faculty at both locations can take advantage of tremendous experiential learning, connection and research opportunities while truly enjoying the best of both worlds.”
Looking ahead
As Purdue wraps its first year in Indianapolis, university leaders say the expansion is not only a success in terms of logistics, but a model for what urban research universities can accomplish.
With new programs on the horizon and growing support from the Indianapolis community and industry partners, Purdue’s presence in the city is expected to continue expanding. The university’s urban campus is helping to build a strong talent pipeline and stimulate long-term economic development for the region.
“This is more than a campus — it’s a statewide strategy,” Hasler said. “We’re building a future where innovation, education and opportunity intersect to benefit all of Indiana.”
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Opera’s free concert spotlights influential Black composers
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Opera will host a free concert in honor of Black History Month Saturday night at 6 p.m. to celebrate the legacy and artistry of Black composers. The event features a range of spirituals, contemporary art songs, and operatic works performed a cappella.
Lyndsay Moy, the director of education, outreach, branding and design for Indianapolis Opera, said the event is designed to keep this specific music accessible to the public.
Resident artist Ian Williams, describes the concert as a mix of traditional repertoire and new songs. The artists will perform without microphones or instrumental accompaniment. “All of this is just straight out of our voices, so there’s no microphones,” Williams said. “We’re just creating the sound ourselves and putting it into a space, so it’s a little bit of, a little bit of breathing, a little bit of extra work there, yes.”
“So many composers tonight have been so influential in the broader vocal canon and it’s important and wonderful for us to be able to offer this kind of concert for free to our community to keep this kind of music accessible and more importantly to feature these fabulous artists like Ian so much talent,” Moy said.
Williams noted that the concert allows the organization to celebrate classic composers who were not well known during their own time. “It’s very cool because we get to celebrate some of classic composers all the way back to William Grant Steele, who was one of the who wrote operas back in the day, even during the time of Porgy and Bess, but he wasn’t, it wasn’t well known,” Williams said.
One of the featured pieces is the traditional spiritual “Fix Me Jesus,” which was arranged for the University of Michigan choir. Williams said the arrangement by Stacey Gibbs maintains the traditional spiritual style while adding rich harmonies.
While formal tickets for the event are currently sold out, those interested in attending can email tickets@indyopera.org to be added to a waitlist.
Check out the video above to hear a sneak peak of the Indianapolis Opera!
Indianapolis, IN
Highlights: Tri-West at Cardinal Ritter; February 27, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — “The Zone” featured highlights from eight high school boys basketball games from across central Indiana on Friday.
Watch highlights of Tri-West at Cardinal Ritter above.
Final Score: Tri-West 65 Cardinal Ritter 62
“The Zone” airs each Friday at 11:08 p.m. Click here to watch ‘The Zone’ for basketball highlights on February 27, 2026.
Indianapolis, IN
New bridge over 96th Street adds to Nickel Plate Trail connections
FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — The Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge over 96th Street is officially open.
It was being touted Friday as a major milestone for central Indiana’s growing trail system. The street is the Fishers-Indianapolis border.
Leaders called the project a critical connection point for the Nickel Plate Trail. The new bridge helps move the nearly 17-mile trail closer to its goal of connecting multiple counties through one continuous path.
The bridge also came with a 1.3-mile trail extension. A $4.5 million grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources made the bridge possible.
Dale Brier, deputy director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, talked about the state’s Next Level Trails grant program. “Currently, we have 89 trail projects that that were funded with that money. Fifty-nine of those are complete. We’ve got 12 under construction. As of this opening, we have 167 miles of trail that have now been opened with that grant money.”
People who frequently take the trail for their daily exercises say they’re excited the bridge is finally open.
Alan Errichiello of the Fishers Running Club said, “Extending this down south into Indianapolis is a big game changer for us. It’ll add a lot of miles that we can easily get into.”
Resident Tracy Mundell said, “Trying to get to the other side was nearly impossible, so I think most people didn’t even attempt it. It’s going to be great, we can get over to the other side, and I’m anxious to see what’s over there.”
The final portion of the project, called the Clear Path project, remains under construction.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, a Republican, said, “We need to double-down on that investment, and we know time and time again here in the city of Fishers that trail systems, the ability to get up and get out and get active, is such an important part in our culture of health, that an investment like this is critical.”
Once complete, local leaders say the goal is to provide a more safe and connected routes between Noblesville, Fishers, Indianapolis and other surrounding cities.
Resident Steve Mundell said, “It’s lovely. It’ll be real convenient to get across too.”
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