In a letter to Indiana’s top education officials, Purdue University’s president said the state’s proposed high school diplomas do not meet all of the university’s admission requirements. He also suggested a tiered enrollment seal to align the diplomas’ course requirements with competitive applications for admissions to Purdue.
Purdue University President Mung Chiang sent the letter on July 22 to Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner and Chris Lowery, commissioner of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. A Purdue spokesperson shared the letter and a follow-up letter with State Affairs on Tuesday.
In the letter, Chiang said the state’s proposed diplomas specifically do not meet the university’s admission requirements in the subject areas of math, lab sciences, social studies and world language.
Education officials have published a draft rule that would create two high school diplomas — the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed diploma and the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed Plus diploma — to replace Indiana’s four current diplomas. The transition, spearheaded by legislation authored by state lawmakers, would start with students entering high school during the 2025-26 academic year.
State education officials say they want to give students more flexibility with the new diplomas, allowing them to tailor coursework to their postgraduation goals, particularly in the 11th and 12th grades. The proposed diplomas place a greater emphasis on earning college credit and completing work-based learning opportunities in high school.
Educators, students and parents have criticized the state’s plan to “reinvent” high school, arguing the proposed diplomas lack rigor and present many other challenges. They question how school districts will secure work-based learning opportunities for all students, who will pay for the increased transportation costs and how students’ safety will be ensured when they are away from school grounds.
In June, education officials put forward three optional diploma seals — one each for enrollment, employment and enlistment — as a solution to critics’ worries and a way to signal a student’s competency. The seals would be jointly developed with corresponding experts — the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, business representatives across multiple industries and the Indiana National Guard — and would appear on a student’s transcript. Critics, so far, have not been swayed by the seals and say the state should retain its Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma as an additional option.
“Because we know that success in college begins with rigor in the high school curriculum, we respectfully ask that you consider an enrollment seal aligned with the requirements for competitive applications to Indiana’s R1 institutions,” Chiang wrote.
In another letter, sent July 26, Purdue asked education officials to consider a tiered enrollment seal. Under Purdue’s recommendation, one tier would incorporate Indiana’s Core 40 diploma requirements. A second tier would incorporate most, but not all, of the state’s Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma requirements.
An Indiana University spokesperson did not immediately respond to a State Affairs request to confirm whether the proposed diplomas would meet the university’s admission requirements.
The first comment period for the draft rule closes Tuesday. Jenner said education officials will make changes to the draft rule based on feedback and open a second comment period after the close of the first. The Indiana State Board of Education is expected to give a first look at the changes during its Aug. 14 meeting.
Education officials held a hearing Tuesday granting members of the public a final chance to share their input before the close of the first comment period. Several Democratic state lawmakers also weighed in.
“There has to be a path for students who want to continue their education post-high school,” Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said.
Kimberly Duff, a first-generation college student, said her family would leave the state if the proposed diplomas take effect.
“If my children can’t go to college, then there’s not a path here for me,” Duff said. “There’s nothing for us to stay for here.”
Contact Jarred Meeks on X @jarredsmeeks or email him at [email protected].