[1]: 288 As president of Purdue University in Indiana from 1876 through 1883, White worked to reorganize the young land grant college to provide a "liberal education for the industrial classes" as described in the Morrill Act.

[2]: 93–94 Sixty-six students attended Purdue during White's first year (including forty-nine in its preparatory academy) and the instruction mainly consisted of fundamental science courses.

[2]: 98, 110 Believing that fraternities distracted from Purdue's industrial focus, White issued a ban on such societies that eventually led to his resignation.

[2]: 109  When the Indiana Senate passed an 1883 appropriation bill with a rider requiring the repeal of anti-fraternity regulations, White resigned as president.

[4]: 73  The Indiana House of Representatives did not pass the appropriation bill before the legislative session ended and Purdue received no state funds that year.

[1]: 286–287  During three years as superintendent of that city's public schools beginning in 1886, White reduced the use of written tests and made teachers' recommendations the basis for promoting a student to the next grade level.