The College of Engineering is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects our world and contributes to greater diversity in the engineering profession. We strive to create an environment where everyone, with diverse backgrounds and ideas, is included and inspired to achieve their full potential.

Diversity Resources

• ADVANCE: We’re proud members of this National Science Foundation program. Its goal is to increase women’s representation and advancement in academic science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers—contributing to the development of a more diverse workforce.
• Butler Center for Leadership Excellence: The Butler Center offers events and conferences as part of professional development and is committed to fostering a climate of inclusion for faculty, particularly for women and underrepresented minorities. It also emphasizes research and recognition that provides insights for workshops, interventions, and university policymaking in ways that will enable the success of women faculty.
• Childcare Expense Reimbursement for Travel (CERT): Provides support for College of Engineering Faculty who incur dependent childcare related expenses above and beyond their regular dependent childcare expenses while attending professional academic events away from home, e.g. conferences, invited talks, meetings with research sponsors, etc.
• Diversity at Purdue: The Division of Diversity and Inclusion brings together resources, cultural centers and diversity programs across Purdue—working to create a welcoming environment for all and increasing the number of historically underrepresented and diverse students, faculty and staff on campus.
• Diversity & Inclusion Workshops: These Workshops empower faculty and staff in their ability to make a contribution to a positive diversity environment.
• Family Leave: You’re eligible for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for a serious health condition (your own or that of your parent, spouse or child), as well as for the birth or adoption of a child.
• Flexible Workload: This policy identifies the external circumstances or events that may warrant the redistribution of your workload.
• Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advancement Leadership in Engineering (IDEAL Engineering): The former Diversity Action Committee was reconstituted as IDEAL to seek out inclusion, diversity, and equity advancement opportunities across CoE students, staff, and faculty. It also researches best practices and policies and proposes practical recommendations for action to the Engineering Leadership Team.
• Modified Duties for Childcare (MDC) Program: Provides release from one semester of classroom teaching and committee service to eligible faculty members (tenure-track, tenured, or engineering practice) who are primary caregivers of a newborn/newly adopted child in order to support their continued career progress through a period of significantly increased childcare responsibilities.
• National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity: Purdue is an institutional member of NCFDD, which affords our faculty access to resources such as a weekly motivational email, the full NCFDD Core Curriculum, guest expert webinars, intensive multi-week courses facilitated by national experts and more. Popular offerings include online mentoring programs, the Faculty Bootcamp (FSP) and Post-Tenure Pathfinders. A nomination process is available to support participation in FSP and Pathfinders, where the faculty member pays $1,000 and the school/division and the college share the remaining costs.
• Tenure Clock Extension: We understand situations may arise that could slow or hinder your ability to achieve tenure. That’s when our tenure-clock extension policy comes into play.