Lafayette Online » College of Technology

Purdue system’s total enrollment is on the rise

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:11:18 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University on Friday (Sept. 11) reported its enrollment numbers and that the system-wide total increased this year.

Purdue’s total enrollment, which includes the West Lafayette campus, Purdue Calumet, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Purdue North Central and the statewide technology sites, is 74,319 compared to 71,984 a year ago. More than 54,000 – or nearly 73 percent – of the students are Indiana residents.

“The growing enrollment at the regional campuses demonstrates there are multiple pathways to a Purdue education,” Purdue President France A. Córdova said.

Statewide campus enrollment totals include:

Purdue Calumet, 10,133
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 13,675
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 4,964 enrolled in Purdue programs
Purdue North Central, 4,463
Statewide Technology, 1,387. College of Technology degrees are offered in Anderson/Muncie, Columbus/Greensburg, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, New Albany, Richmond, South Bend and Vincennes.

Purdue also reported that the academic quality of its freshman class at the West Lafayette campus increased for the fourth year in a row.

This year’s freshman class of 6,171 students is composed of 3,808 Indiana residents, 1,673 U.S. non-residents and 690 international students. SAT scores for this freshman class increased by 11 points: eight points for math, one point for critical reading and two for writing. This year’s increase comes on the heels of the 13-point increase attained by last year’s incoming freshmen for a cumulative increase of 24 points over the two-year period. The average high school grade point average this year remained at 3.5.

“Our freshman class is well prepared to succeed at Purdue,” said Randy Woodson, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “I am very excited to see what these students will be able to accomplish while they are here.”

Overall, almost 10,000 Indiana residents applied for freshman admission to the West Lafayette campus, and all but about 200 were offered admission within the Purdue system.

“The economy has been an issue for all colleges and universities this year, and despite these tough times, Purdue’s West Lafayette campus had its second highest application volume ever,” said Pamela Horne, assistant vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions. “I think the value of a Purdue degree is clear.”

The value of a Purdue degree also continues to be recognized internationally. The number of international undergraduate students at the West Lafayette campus increased from 2,360 last year to 2,818 this year.

The continued interest in Purdue from international students is a sign of Purdue’s outstanding international reputation, said Michael Brzezinski, interim vice provost for global affairs and dean of international programs. In addition, the presence of students from all over the world enhances the experience for Indiana and other American students.

“This prepares Purdue graduates to compete and cooperate in a global economy,” he said. “International students also become Purdue alumni, and they often return to their home countries where they share their positive experiences in America and Indiana.”

Other West Lafayette enrollment highlights:

Total undergraduates: 31,145
Undergraduate residency: Indiana students, 20,079; U.S. non-Indiana students, 8,248; and International students, 2,818
Ethnicity overall: African-American students, 1,360; Hispanic students, 1,107; Native American students, 183; and Asian American students, 2,010
Total international students: 5,990
Graduate school: 7,639
Professional programs (Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy): 913
Incoming transfer students: 1,253
Women: 16,731, and men, 22,966

Free workshop targets laid-off workers in Greater Lafayette

admin — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:27:35 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue College of Technology at Lafayette is holding a workshop May 16 to provide job search, financial and educational resources for those in the community who have recently lost their jobs.

Reach New Heights will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive Training and Reception Center, 5500 Indiana 38 E. in Lafayette.

Representatives from WorkOne will discuss how and where to search for a job, and experts will present information about how to prepare resumes and cover letters, as well as how to prepare for a job interview. In addition, Industrial Federal Credit Union representatives will discuss how to pay bills during a downtime and how to budget and save money.

Purdue representatives also will offer information and answer questions. The College of Technology at Lafayette will have staff on hand to discuss the programs offered and how to enroll in classes. Financial aid representatives will be available to answer questions about how to afford higher education, how to apply for financial aid and how to receive scholarships. In addition, a student panel from the college will offer information and answer questions from those considering taking courses at the Lafayette location.

The College of Technology at Lafayette, located at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, offers certificate programs, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees in industrial technology and organizational leadership and supervision. Courses are offered days and evenings and via distance learning.

For additional information, contact the College of Technology at Lafayette at 765-494-6886, techlafayette@purdue.edu, or go online to http://www.tech.purdue.edu/lafayette/

Purdue students create Web site to encourage kids to stay in school

admin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:34:57 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A group of Purdue University students has created an interactive Web site they hope will help students see the benefits of continuing their education.

Ronald Glotzbach, an assistant professor of computer graphics technology, and several of his students have developed a Web site available at http://www.sticktoschool.com . The site is geared toward high school students who may be debating whether or not to earn their diplomas or pursue a college degree.

“Not having a high school diploma can put you at a severe disadvantage in terms of finding a good job or finding a career,” he said. “Our goal with this Web site is to create something that students will enjoy using and, at the same time, will give them good, valuable information that will inspire them.”

Glotzbach and his students, led by Laura Kellogg, a graduate student in computer graphics technology, designed and developed the content and graphics for the site and performed research on the featured careers.

They also developed two interactive games for the site: “Welcome to Opus City” and “Stick to School: The Game.”

“Opus City” allows the player to travel around a fictional city full of challenges and job choices. The goal is to keep a character called “the Benefactor” happy by making wise decisions. “Stick to School” is designed like a board game, where players first decide whether to stay in school or drop out, then take turns moving their car around the board, encountering various real-life scenarios based on their choice. The player with the most money at the end wins.

The Web site focuses on the six basic types of jobs most people choose based on their personality type: realistic (working with animals, tools or machines); investigative (scientific or math-based jobs); artistic (dancer, actor, musician); social (jobs helping people, such as teachers or counselors); enterprising (sales, real estate agent, lawyer); or conventional (mail carrier, bookkeeper, secretary, bank teller).

Web site users can click on each job type and find out what kind of jobs someone with those interests might be able to pursue in addition to what kind of education each job within that category requires and a typical salary. For instance, by clicking on the “investigative” job heading, a user could choose the “hospital” category, then get information on jobs that require a high school education and jobs that require a four-year degree or more.

“The design is meant to inspire students and to let them know that no matter what their interests or talents, there is a career that is right for them, and the more education you have, the more options there are available to you,” Glotzbach said.

Other features of the Web site include an e-mentor section, in which students can ask questions about education or careers that will be answered by professionals at 20/20 Inner Vision Inc., the nonprofit organization that spearheaded the Web site’s creation; inspirational stories from those whose lives have been changed by pursuing educational goals; dropout statistics; and a lessons section where teachers and counselors can download educational videos to show students.

Future plans for the site include videos of workers in a variety of trades who will talk about the benefits of their career and what kind of education it takes to pursue the path they chose.

Glotzbach said the idea for the Web site came from Craig MacFarlane, an inspirational speaker and the president of 20/20 InnerVision Inc., a Zionsville, Ind., nonprofit foundation dedicated to improving the U.S. high school graduation rate.

MacFarlane was blinded after an accident when he was 2 years old and went on to compete in a variety of sports, including wrestling, skiing, waterskiing, golf and track, winning more than 100 gold medals. He says his success comes from a technique called muscle memory, in which he uses his “inner vision” to train his other senses to compensate for his lack of sight. MacFarlane studied law at Carlton University and earned a stockbroker’s license.

He said he has been concerned about the high dropout rate in many communities and created 20/20 Inner Vision to help improve students’ self-esteem, study and life skills, and remove barriers that prevent them from getting an education.

“I’ve talked to more than 2,500 schools over the past 20 years about the importance of education and not giving up on your dreams,” MacFarlane said. “This is something I am passionate about, and I want to use my story to help inspire others. There have been so many unsung heroes in my life that helped me, and I want to do the same thing for others.”

He said he chose Purdue because he had heard about the work of the College of Technology’s computer graphics technology department.

“Creating this Web site is a great way to inspire young people that may ordinarily slip through the cracks and give them hope that anything is possible,” MacFarlane said.

Enrollment hits all-time high for Purdue College of Technology at Lafayette

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:05:56 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A record number of students have enrolled in classes the past two semesters at the Purdue University College of Technology’s location at Lafayette, officials have reported.

Jon Aull, location director for the College of Technology at Indianapolis and Lafayette, said enrollments reached all-time highs in both the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters. In the fall, 268 students were enrolled, up 23 percent from fall 2006. This spring, 210 students were enrolled, up 14 percent from spring 2007.

Michele Summers, assistant director of the Lafayette location, said the increase in enrollment is due to increased marketing efforts in addition to strong partnerships with local employers.

“We are open to all students but are focused primarily on nontraditional students who are working but want to further their education,” she said. “We offer classes at night and at their workplaces, so we are making every effort to meet the needs of the people of Lafayette.”

The College of Technology at Lafayette is located at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive facility on Indiana 38 and also offers classes at Wabash National Corp., Fairfield Manufacturing Co. Inc., Caterpillar Inc. and in Frankfort.

The Lafayette location offers certificate programs, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees in industrial technology and organizational leadership and supervision.

For more information about registration and degree programs offered at the College of Technology at Lafayette, call (765) 496-6886, e-mail techlafayette@purdue.edu or visit http://www.tech.purdue.edu/lafayette/

Purdue College of Technology honors distinguished alumni

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:59:33 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s College of Technology honored 11 of its graduates as Distinguished Technology Alumni on Friday (April 11) during a ceremony at the Ross-Ade Stadium Shively Club.

Jen Bahan, Ron Eller, Allen R. Glassburn, Thomas D. Hjertquist, Randall Ket, Jane A. Liedtke, Timothy John Martin, John E. McDonald, Jon R. Odom, John R. Schooler and Mark A. Stidham are being honored for their professional and personal success across the spectrum of technology fields.

“Each one of these 11 men and women have made significant contributions to a wide variety of fields and industries,” said Dean Dennis R. Depew. “These College of Technology alumni are proof that there is not one single successful path for our graduates, but instead there are many career options available to our students once they graduate from Purdue.”

Distinguished alumni award recipients are:

* Jen Bahan of Redondo Beach, Calif. Bahan earned a bachelor’s degree in computer graphics technology in 1999 and is supervisor-technical animation/rigging lead for Rhythm and Hues Studios. She has been an animator and 3-D artist since she received her degree and has worked for companies that created video games for Nintendo Co., Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. Since she began work at Rhythm and Hues Studios, she has been involved in several well-known movies, including “The Golden Compass,” “Happy Feet” and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

* Ron Eller of Fraser, Colo. Eller earned an associate degree in general aviation in 1979 and a bachelor’s degree in professional flight technology in 1981 and is retired from Hewlett Packard, where he spent 14 years. For 10 years, he was a management consultant and has served on Denver’s committee for the development of Denver International Airport, was director of an economic development agency and Houston Hospice, and has been director or adviser to several information technology companies. He served on Purdue’s Advancing Aviation steering committee and has been active in The Indus Entrepreneurs since he became a charter member in 2003.

* Allen R. Glassburn of Fort Wayne, Ind. Glassburn received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology in 1974 and is director of business operations support for Indiana Michigan Power (I&M). He is responsible for financial planning for the company and works with other organizations that are part of I&M’s parent company, American Electric Power. Before joining I&M in 2004, Glassburn directed the financial performance and monitored non-financial performance criteria of AEP Energy Delivery. Previously, he was president and chief operating officer of Kingsport Power, an AEP subsidiary in Kingsport, Tenn., was a region manager for I&M’s Muncie district and was director for Indiana Michigan Power Co. He has served as a board member of his local chambers of commerce, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement and the Mental Health Association of East Central Indiana.

* Thomas D. Hjertquist of Greeneville, Tenn. Hjerquist received a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology in 1976 and is vice president of maintenance and purchasing for Landair Transportation. In his job, he is responsible for all asset-management processes, from purchasing to disposal of aircraft. Hjertquist previously worked in construction as an apprentice before beginning his career in aviation. He is a member of the National Association Industrial Technology Board, the Purdue Industrial Technology Board and the Michigan Curriculum Advisory Group.

* Randall Ket of Brownsburg, Ind. Ket received a bachelor’s degree in building construction management in 1980 and is vice president of Hunt Construction Group. In his job, he is responsible for ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery of his company’s projects. He received the Procter and Gamble Minority Business Development leadership award in 1996 and has been a member of the Purdue Building Construction Management Advisory Committee since 1991.

* Jane A. Liedtke of Bloomington, Ill. Liedtke received a doctorate in industrial education in 1983. She is the director and founder of Our Chinese Daughters Foundation, which provides Chinese culture programs to children adopted from China and their families, schools and communities. The organization has offices in Beijing, China, and Bloomington, Ill. Liedtke has served as a cultural and industrial management consultant to American, European and Chinese companies since the early 1990s. Previously, she was a teacher and college professor for 30 years, teaching industrial arts, vocational education and industrial technology in New Jersey, Maine, Oregon and Illinois.

* Timothy John Martin of Seattle. Martin received a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology in 1995 and is principal solutions manager at the business continuity management program office for customer service and support at Microsoft Corp. He was recruited by Microsoft to start the program office in 2005, and for his work he received Microsoft’s annual “Great People, Great Performances” award in 2007. Before joining Microsoft, he worked for several Internet start-up companies and Fortune 50 companies. Martin is a member of the Department of Computer and Information Technology industrial advisory board, the Disaster Recovery Institute International and is a former member of the executive board of the Association for Contingency Planners.

* John E. McDonald of Chicago. McDonald received a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and supervision in 1968 and is retired from Banc One Capital Markets Inc. He began his 35-year career with Lafayette National Bank, where he was an officer in eight institutions throughout a series of mergers and acquisitions. At Banc One, he was managing director of the large corporate real estate group in Banc One Capital Markets Inc. in Chicago. This group provided debt-side funding for real estate investment trusts and publicly traded national homebuilders. McDonald is a member of the Purdue Alumni Association and the John Purdue Club, and he has been an officer or on the board of various organizations, including Wabash Center, Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Community Hospital Foundation – Indianapolis and the Lafayette Art Foundation.

* Jon R. Odom of Centerville, Ind. Odom received associate degrees in industrial technology and mechanical engineering technology from Purdue College of Technology at Richmond in 1972 and 1977, respectively. Since 1994, he has been president and owner of Productivity Fabricators Inc., a steel fabrication business that produces outdoor advertising structures. He previously worked at National Automatic Tool Co., where he was a milling machine operator and worked with time study and rate setting. He also was in supervisory roles at both National Automatic and Ford Motor Co. Odom is a 30-year board member of the Richmond Salvation Army and a past board member of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. In 1998, the Richmond Chamber of Commerce awarded his company the Business Growth Award.

* John R. “Rick” Schooler of Orlando, Fla. Schooler received a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology in 1982 and is vice president and chief information officer for Orlando Regional Healthcare, where he is responsible for information technology, telecommunications, clinical informatics, biomedical engineering, and purchasing and materials management. He held a similar position for the Central Georgia Health System, and in 1998 was named one of three CIOs of the year in the state of Georgia. He is a board member of several organizations, including the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, the Healthcare Center for the Homeless and a fellow and member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

* Mark A. Stidham of Sylvania, Ohio. Stidham received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology in 1979 and is president of the North American Exhaust Division of Faurecia Exhaust Systems Inc., where he oversees operations of eight manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico. He previously was vice president of Atwood Automotive in Rockford, Ill., and helped the company acquire nine product patents, including one assigned solely to him. Stidham is a 27-year member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, works with Boy Scouts of America and Junior Achievement, and has served on the Mechanical Engineering Technology Industrial Advisory Board for the College of Technology. He received the Best Performing Division award from Faurecia in both 2006 and 2007.

Lafayette Online » College of Technology

Purdue system’s total enrollment is on the rise

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