How Purdue Welcomes 8,000 Students Without Losing the Human Touch

It’s no secret that admissions teams are being asked to do more with less, all while serving a generation of students for whom immediacy, personalization, and digital-first everything is the norm.

While optional programs like orientation might seem like a nice-to-have, at Purdue University, they’ve become a core driver of connection, belonging, and even yield.

In fact, their flagship program, Boiler Gold Rush (BGR), regularly attracts about 8,000 incoming students — all by choice.

So how does Purdue University pull it off without overwhelming their staff, their budget, or their students?

Let’s take a look!

Structure Without the Stress: How Purdue Balances Guidance and Freedom

Boiler Gold Rush is big. Like, festival-for-8,000-students big.

Held the week before classes begin, BGR is a four-day, high-touch orientation experience led by a small army of over 700 student staff.

What’s even more impressive? BGR isn’t mandatory. Yet, roughly 75% of Purdue’s incoming class chooses to participate. 

And it’s not a light decision for students either. Scroll through Reddit and you’ll find threads from students asking what BGR is like or what the attendance requirements are.

So what makes it work?

According to Craig Johnson, Purdue’s Director of Orientation Programs, it’s all about balancing structure and flexibility:

“If you just let students fly as soon as the beginning of the program, there are quite a few students that are gonna find themselves in the wrong place on campus and then just, just lock up.”

He also added that from a student’s perspective, that "lock up" can lead to thinking “I'd rather just sit in the comfort of my room, the one place that I am familiar with on campus.”

So, to build confidence from the start, students are immediately paired with small teams led by trained orientation leaders. 

Each day includes highly structured touchpoints, and as the program progresses, students get more freedom to attend sessions that match their interests. These could be academic previews, identity-based groups, or even exploring campus traditions.

The whole experience balances guidance and autonomy, helping students feel both supported and empowered.

The Campus Event Tech That Ties It All Together

Running a multi-day program for thousands of students means things can get chaotic fast, especially if you’re relying on printouts.

That’s why Purdue turned to Guidebook.

With their own branded app, Purdue Guide, the team ditched printed packets and delivered personalized, real-time content straight to students’ phones.

Here’s how it works:

• Students select their orientation team in the app to receive a custom schedule
• Updates happen in real-time
• Staff seizes every opportunity to encourage students to download the app. This includes placing QR codes on students' beds before they arrive, social media posts, QR codes on the stadium scoreboard, and more!
• Faculty and parents can also access schedules via web links
• The app serves as one single source of truth, from move-in through the final event

Overall, this approach simplifies logistics and also enhances the experience for students. 

There’s no more scrambling with printed papers or outdated schedules. Students know where they should be, how to get there, and what to expect — all from the phone that’s always in their hands.

And the impact? It shows up in the numbers.

Purdue’s Orientation Success, by the Numbers

By combining strong student leadership with digital-first execution, BGR delivers big results. 

Here’s a summary of Purdue’s success metrics, as well as what goes into making it work:

• 600,000+ app sessions logged in a single week
• 314 hours of total app usage (real engagement, not passive clicks)
• 8,000+ incoming students welcomed each year
• 75%+ participation rate, even though BGR is optional
• Thousands of pages and dollars saved by replacing printed materials with mobile access
• 50+ themed events offered per day
• 700+ student leaders supporting the experience

From clearer communication to greater connection, these numbers show what happens when the right tech supports schools in building community and a sense of belonging.

Download This Purdue Case Study

Real-World Tactics You Can Steal from Purdue

Purdue’s program is large, yes. But there are plenty of actionable strategies that other institutions, big or small, can take from their playbook:

Turn orientation into a yield engine

BGR isn’t just “welcome week.” It’s a high-impact touchpoint that builds affinity before day one.

Use tech to simplify, not overwhelm

Guidebook helped Purdue cut through complexity, reduce waste, and provide a clearer experience for students and staff alike.

Create affinity through teams and gamification

From team-based competition to small group bonding, Purdue keeps students engaged through shared identity and a bit of friendly rivalry.

Start communicating early

By building trust through intentional, pre-arrival messaging (emails, modules, leader outreach), Purdue sets the tone long before students ever step on campus.

Be intentional about app promotion

Purdue sees every touchpoint with students as an opportunity to promote their app.

So, not only do they mention the app in emails and social posts, but they go the extra mile when it comes to sharing the app's QR code. For example, they include it:

• On a check-in sheet placed on a student’s bed during move-in week
• Near check-in desks at the gym
• On the back of a simplified, paper schedule that everyone receives
• On the stadium scoreboard screen

Watch the Full Conversation with Purdue

Want to hear how this all comes together behind the scenes?

Check out our full conversation with Craig Johnson from Purdue to learn more about how they run BGR.

Let’s Chat About Your Next Event

If you're looking to scale your admitted student programming, orientation, or yield strategy without losing the human touch, we’re here to help.

Start building your guide today or book a demo to see how a Guidebook-powered campus app can enhance the student experience.