During the Fall 2024 semester, the Office of Professional Practice (OPP) marked its extension to the newly established Purdue University in Indianapolis campus by hosting a series of impactful events. In celebration of the campus's inaugural semester, these initiatives focused on professional development, industry engagement, and community building. With 1,533 unique student engagements, the events underscored OPP's commitment to supporting career readiness and academic excellence for students in this new chapter of Purdue’s history.

ENGR 103: Intro to Professional Practice

OPP’s ENGR 103 course engaged 251 students with dynamic seminars featuring industry leaders, including the Rolls Royce team, Grant Chapman (CEO of Glassboard), and representatives from Lilly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, PepsiCo, and Elanco. Students explored essential professional skills such as resume building, LinkedIn optimization, networking strategies, leadership development, and engaging with industry, equipping them with tools for future career success.

Partnership with the Department of Computer Science

The Office of Professional Practice is excited to announce a new partnership with the Department of Computer Science, expanding our programs to benefit CS students. Starting next semester, OPP will be organizing CS 190: Introduction to Professional Practice in Computer Science. This course will help students prepare for early career opportunities in internships, co-ops, undergraduate research, and skills training.

August 27-28 - Rally Innovation Conference

Five Purdue University in Indianapolis students, including OPP teaching assistants, joined peers from West Lafayette at the Rally Innovation Conference. They expanded their networks, explored innovation in tech, and began building bridges within Indiana’s startup ecosystem through a Purdue College of Engineering PRIME grant.

September 6 - Indy Autonomous Challenge

Seventeen first-year students from Purdue in Indianapolis spent an exciting afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway cheering on Purdue AI Racing (PAIR). The visit highlighted the intersection of motorsports and autonomous technology, offering students a firsthand look at industry innovation.

October 2 - Tesla Campus Visit

Tesla engineers from Austin, Texas connected with over 200 students at Purdue in Indianapolis. They hosted a general information session and engaged with the Motorsports Club in small groups, discussing the companys projects and Spring 2025 opportunities in the Racing Capital of the World.

October 9 - FYE Industry Night

Purdue in Indianapolis students traveled to West Lafayette via the Campus Connect bus to join over 120 industry representatives. The event provided insights into career pathways and various engineering disciplines, fostering connections between students and professionals.

October 15 - Global Opportunities Fair

35 first-year students attended the Global Opportunities Fair, which introduced international experiences and laid the foundation for building the first Indianapolis cohort for the GEARE program.

October 16 - Entrepreneurship Event with Scott Massey & Austin Ottinger

OPP partnered with alumni Scott Massey and Austin Ottinger from anu to host an entrepreneurship-focused seminar and panel discussion. Students learned about the benefits of the Entrepreneurship program, which will be available to Indianapolis students starting in Spring 2025.

October 22 - MSPE Night

The first installment of OPP INDustrY Nights brought 75 first-year students together with alumni from Dallara, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Bryan Herta Autosports. Students connected with industry leaders through presentations, Q&A sessions, and networking.

November 2 - Family Day

Purdue's 2024 Fall Family Weekend, held on Nov. 1-2, welcomed around 4,500 attendees to experience life on the West Lafayette and Indianapolis campuses. Families enjoyed a variety of activities designed to connect with students and the university. OPP staff and TAs were on hand to inform attendees about the many resources and programs available to students through our office.

November 8 - Rheem Site Visit

Indianapolis students visited Rheems ATI facility for hands-on workshops, networking, and a guided tour. The event introduced students to co-op and internship opportunities while showcasing the companys innovative operations.

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November 19 - BME Night

Three Biomedical Engineering alumni shared their experiences working at Eli Lilly, Performance Validation, and MilliporeSigma. The intimate group of 16 students engaged in meaningful discussions about transitioning to careers in Indiana and building connections in the Indianapolis area.

Looking Forward: Co-op/Internship Career Fair - January 27th, 2025

Our new urban campus is preparing career-ready students for the jobs of tomorrow through strong industry partnerships that accelerate hands-on learning, internships, and co-ops. This focused event will highlight students studying Engineering (Biomedical, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, & Motorsports), as well as those in the College of Science and Polytechnic Institute

Story by: Margaret Mowrer