HAMMOND, Ind.  - Purdue University Calumet, located in Hammond, Ind., is moving forward with its athletic expansion plan, as four sports are expected to be added to the slate next fall. Purdue Calumet athletic director Dr. Bob Bunnell and the university’s administration team are also looking to add six additional sports over the next few years, pushing the total of sponsored intercollegiate programs to 12 by the start of the 2013-14 school year.

Purdue Calumet’s expansion of its athletic program is part of the school’s strategic plan, with one of its main goals involving the development of a vibrant campus community. Other benefits from the expansion should include an increase in enrollment, additional athletic participation opportunities for Purdue Calumet students, improved recruiting abilities, an increased number of participants in community service projects as well as possible NCAA membership.

“The addition of the four sports next year will add another 45 student-athletes to our program, and provide many additional competitive and spectator opportunities for our students and the campus community,” said Bunnell.

Men’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis as well as women’s volleyball will all begin play next school year, marking the first time since 1998 that Purdue Calumet has fielded more than two athletic programs. The university is already searching for qualified coaching candidates for these sports and will announce its hires within the next few weeks.

The 2011-12 school year will see the addition of men’s and women’s cross country teams, before men’s and women’s soccer joins the department in the fall of 2012. The Peregrines will sponsor baseball and softball during the 2013-14 year, concluding the expansion of the athletic program.