Purdue spending more to promote image

Purdue University might spend nearly $5 million this fiscal year on public relations, marketing and promotional activities, nearly double the $2.6 million the school budgeted in the 1997-’98 year, reports The Journal & Courier of Lafayette.

The number of employees in Purdue’s promotion department grew 34 percent, to 67, at a time employment across the university as a whole increased 21 percent, to 15,304 employees.

Marketing got a boost when former President Martin Jischke took over in 2000 intending to create a higher-profile image to show state leaders what the school can do for the state.

France Cordova replaced Jischke upon his retirement last summer.