What happens next for students, tuition, athletics after IUPUI separates into IU, Purdue?

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With last week's announcement of Purdue University and Indiana University splitting IUPUI into separate schools, the questions of where each of the university's assets will go has been brought up in numerous ways.

At a Friday press conference after the announcement had officially been made, some key questions were addressed.

How will this affect the student population ratio?

IU President Pam Whitten addressed how many IUPUI students will be realigned with either the IU or Purdue side of this split.

"I also think it's important to acknowledge that, at IUPUI, there's approximately a little over 27,000 students," Whitten said, "and with the new configuration, about 24,500 (to) 25,000 of those students would be earning Indiana University degrees. And so Indiana University of Indianapolis gives us the opportunity to start with a wonderful base ... and to build appropriately."

What will happen to student athletics?

"We actually have nine (task forces) so far that have been identified that we'll be launching after today that will be comprised of full teams of people," Whitten said. "One of those task forces is an athletic task force. So it would be premature of me to act like I had answers to that. We certainly will continue with the robust, competitive teams that play at IUPUI ... our hope is that we'll find a way for everyone to be included. But we've got to figure all that out."

The "Intercollegiate Athletics" portion of the Memoranum of Understanding states the following:

"(Purdue University and Indiana University) acknowledge that, under NCAA rules in effect from time to time, it may not be possible for intercollegiate student-athletes in the Purdue Realigned Academic Unites to participate with IU students on a single NCAA Division 1 athletic program known as 'IUPUI.' The parties will nonetheless use their best efforts to explore options with the NCAA that might permit any current IUPUI student-athletes (to continue to compete)."

Will there be tuition changes from the current pricing?

"Again, to be determined," Purdue President Mitch Daniels said at the conference. "But I will say, you know, Purdue University, the students who come here will be paying Purdue tuition, whatever it happens to be in two years."

Whitten said she "would give the same answer," and noted one task force is dedicated to researching tuition fees.

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: IUPUI's future: What happens next for students, tuition, athletics