During his leadership, Purdue's main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, grew by more than 20 buildings.[2] He replaced John W. Hicks and was succeeded by Martin C. Jischke. Beering was well known for his opposition to financial earmarks. In his honor, the former Liberal Arts Education Building (or LAEB), was renamed Beering Hall. He also founded an eponymous scholarship which provides recipients with full tuition and fees, room and board, and expenses for their undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.
Beering died on April 3, 2020, at the age of 87.[3][4] He was interred in 2020 on Slayter Hill alongside his wife, Jane Beering, who preceded him in death in 2015.[5]