Higher Education

From: Classroom-only

To: World Public University

Made world’s first public university affordable and available to all.

Purdue University

Krach is credited with initiating and guiding a key paradigm shift in higher education. As Chairman of Purdue and in partnership with past President Cordova (Director of NSF) and President Daniels, generated a new model in STEM education, with unprecedented progress in student affordability, online learning, and retraining the workforce. By leveraging Purdue’s prestige in engineering, large international student body and acquisition of Kaplan University, Purdue University Global was launched as the “World’s First Public University” which has been a catalyst for transforming higher education.

Accomplishments

RECRUITED INDIANA’S THEN-SITTING GOVERNOR, MITCH DANIELS AS PRESIDENT

LAUNCHED PURDUE UNIVERSITY GLOBAL — THE “WORLD’S FIRST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY”

LED THE WAY TACKLING STUDENT DEBIT CRISIS, FREEZING PURDUE TUITION FOR 11 YEARS RUNNING

Lessons from Purdue University

TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE BACK TO WORTHY CAUSES AND ORGANIZATIONS

Krach benefittied tremendously from his experience as an undergrad at Purdue, as a leader in Sigma Chi, and through associations with a broad range of businesses, charities and other organizations. Part of his strategy for paying it forward, is to help support the organizations that helped him and that he can see helping others.

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NEVER BE AFRAID TO RECRUIT THE BEST TALENT YOU CAN IMAGINE

At Ariba, one of the team rules was “”always hire better than yourself.”” This principle was put to the test for Krach when, as Chairman of Purdue’s Board of Trustees, he was charged with finding the next president for the University. Remarkably, Krach reached out to the then-sitting governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, who was eyeing a run for President of the United States, and recruited him to become Purdue’s next President. Way to aim high!

ALWAYS CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO — THINK BEYOND ACCEPTED BOUNDARIES

As chairman of Purdue’s Board of Trustees, Krach spearheaded the acquisition of Kaplan University by Purdue University Global, to create a new public university to expand access to higher education. The initiative was unconventional, but addressed the need for postsecondary education for working adults, and the explosive growth of online technologies as a means of delivering education to students of all types.

Article

Krach’s Gratitude and Vision for Purdue

Purdue launched Keith J. Krach on a trajectory to reach the stars in industry, academia and philanthropy. The university and its College of Engineering […]

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