Remote work has its perks. But some downsides can be loneliness and lack of connection and collaboration with others. Purdue University is aiming to change that with its Work From Purdue program. Directed by the Purdue Research Foundation and administered by MakeMyMove, a community marketing platform, the program offers remote workers a creative way to live and work independently while being part of a collaborative campus environment.
Remote workers who relocate to live and work at the university's Discovery Park District in West Lafayette, Indiana, receive a $1,000–$5,000 stipend and discounts on select continuing education programs through Purdue Online. They also have access to networking events and professional development programming, such as with Purdue Foundry, a hub for practical support for entrepreneurs and startups, and the Greater Lafayette Commerce.
Purdue University Executive Vice President Ethan Braden notes that the program welcomes participants and offers all the advantages and experiences that Purdue is known for. He touts that from day one those willing to relocate to the university have access to "top notch facilities for learning and researching; a pervading spirit of innovation; and a welcoming Boilermaker community powered by some of the smartest students, faculty, and researchers in the world."
Participants do not need to be affiliated with the university. In addition to being a full-time remote worker, eligible participants must currently live outside of Indiana and commit to living in the West Lafayette location for one year.
David Broecker, chief innovation and collaboration officer for the Purdue Research Foundation, adds: "With pandemic-induced remote work giving people more freedom and control over where they can do their jobs, we've created a community to welcome newly mobile talent to the Purdue campus, where we aim to provide life-enhancing amenities and boundless opportunities for professional success."
