Purdue School of Technology celebrates anniversary,
looks to future
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue
University School of
Technology , one of the nation's oldest of its kind, is
celebrating its 40th anniversary by bringing education to
students throughout Indiana and working with communities to
help strengthen their economies.
"In 1964 Purdue led the nation by founding
one of the first schools of technology, ushering in a new
era of important academic programs throughout the country,"
said Purdue President Martin C. Jischke. "Forty years
later, it is one of our state's greatest economic assets.
The school sets the national standard for the preparation
of technologically proficient graduates, not only with its
unequalled academic programs, but also with campuses and economic
development efforts throughout Indiana."
Purdue will celebrate the school's anniversary
with a ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 14) at the Purdue
Bell Tower. The event is part of a 10-day celebration that
focuses on ways Purdue is improving education and helping
the state of Indiana as part of the university's strategic
plan and $1.3 billion fund-raising campaign.
Since its founding, the School of Technology
has grown to enroll more than 4,000 students a year at the
West Lafayette campus in eight departments: aviation
technology, building
construction management ,computer
technology ,computer
graphics technology , electrical
and computer engineering technology, industrial
technology ,mechanical
engineering technology , and organizational
leadership and supervision .
Today, in addition to Purdue's West Lafayette
campus, the School of Technology operates at seven locations
throughout Indiana: Kokomo/Lafayette, Richmond, South Bend/Elkhart,
Indianapolis, Columbus/SE Indiana, New Albany and Anderson/Muncie.
These locations serve more than 1,500 students.
The school's mission is to serve industry,
producing graduates ready to join the work force with applied
skills that companies need. It also serves as a liaison to
connect industry with the university's resources.
School of Technology Dean Dennis R. Depew
said one of the strengths of the School of Technology is that
a large majority of its alumni remain in Indiana after graduating.
More than 70 percent of student from the schools state in
the state after graduation, and students at locations other
than West Lafayette stay in Indiana at a rate of more than
90 percent.
"Our locations outside of West Lafayette
were launched to serve working adults with ties to their local
communities," Depew said. "These students are prepared
to immediately put their educations to use in their communities."
At the same time, though, more and more
fresh high school graduates are choosing to attend Purdue
at the statewide locations, said Michael T. O'Hair, associate
dean for statewide technology and engagement.
"These students take advantage of the
fact that they can live at home, reducing the cost of their
education almost in half," O'Hair said. "Of our
1,500 students at statewide sites, about 40 percent are part
of this more traditional college age group.
"The School of Technology takes its
role in the state's work force development very seriously
and works hard to provide Indiana workers with education that
will help them to advance their careers with Indiana companies."
In that regard, the school also offers courses
in communities in the areas surrounding the seven statewide
locations, often in collaboration with local businesses. For
example, the Kokomo/Lafayette location not only offers courses
to Subaru of Indiana Automotive employees in facilities at
the Lafayette plant, but also offers classes at businesses
in Crawfordsville, Logansport and other communities.
"These work force development activities
are important to the mission of the school, and we plan to
expand courses into more communities in coming years,"
O'Hair said.
The school's more than 200 faculty members,
many of whom have extensive industry experience, and the locations
throughout the state are reaching out to the communities with
a number of efforts in addition to courses and education.
For example, the school assisted in the establishment of the
Kokomo Technology Center, a partnership among the school,
Kokomo, Howard County and corporate partners.
That, in turn, helped create Kokomo's new
certified technology park, which was announced in September.
"In addition to being a high-tech
incubator for the community, the center serves as a focal
point of Purdue efforts to help serve Kokomo, Howard County
and north-central Indiana," O'Hair said. "The facility
will include a Purdue engagement office, and local School
of Technology faculty there serve as liaisons between north-central
Indiana businesses and Purdue faculty and researchers."
O'Hair said he hopes the school can use
the model to help other communities. For example, school officials
are planning an advanced manufacturing summits in Columbus,
New Albany and Richmond that would bring together business
owners, Purdue researchers and government officials to improve
the technology used in the area's manufacturing facilities.
"The role of the School of Technology
throughout the state is changing to adapt to the needs of
businesses and the Indiana economy," O'Hair said. "If
you don't like change, you are at the wrong university. Our
business is driving change and economic development for the
state."
As school officials look ahead, they also do so with an eye
toward expanding faculty and student research efforts most
needed for the state and nation, particularly in areas that
can have an immediate impact on safety and security.
"Purdue's School of Technology is uniquely
positioned to be at the forefront of many emerging technologies,"
Depew said. "We've been able to attract top-level faculty
members who are working with businesses, government agencies
and other researchers across campus to develop the next generation
of technology applications."
The Department of Computer Technology is
working with state and federal law enforcement to develop
the emerging field of computer forensics. Computer forensics
is the process of retrieving and analyzing evidence from computer
systems, including individual pieces of computer hardware,
electronic data on the Internet, cellular telephones, personal
digital assistants or digital cameras. Computer forensics
has implications in areas ranging from terrorism and child
exploitation to identity theft and bank fraud.
Researchers are developing close ties with
the Indiana State Police, U.S. Department of Justice, FBI
and other law enforcement agencies to create education and
certification processes, develop forensic software and hardware,
and set standards and protocols for investigators. They are
also working in interdisciplinary research teams to develop
techniques for profiling offenders' behavior based on their
computer-use habits.
In computer graphics technology, faculty
are developing educational software to teach mathematics to
deaf children in primary grades using state-of-the-art technology.
"The impact of this project could
be tremendous," said Melissa J. Dark, assistant dean
of planning and research. "Developing mathematical foundations
is critical in grade school, and deaf children are at a distinct
disadvantage because most instructional materials for deaf
children are text-based. Deaf children also lag behind in
learning to read, thereby making their mathematical development
even later. This software has the potential to bring math
to deaf children in the primary grades."
Another faculty member in electrical and
computer engineering technology is working on the fabrication
of a silicon micro-scalpel with a nanometer cutting edge,
a tool could enable less invasive surgical procedures.
In biometrics, faculty and students in the
Department of Industrial Technology are working to develop
security processes that can identify people by such methods
as facial recognition or fingerprint measurements. Many government
officials say biometrics technology is one of the most promising
ways to improve security in fields ranging from transportation
to banking.
Among other research projects, the biometrics
laboratory is working with the Purdue Airport and School of
Technology's Department of Aviation Technology on a facial
recognition program. In the project, cameras and biometric
software are being used to identify student pilots as they
enter secure areas of the airport.
"Biometrics and computer technology
are just two areas in which the School of Technology is positioned
to take a lead and develop new technologies that will help
keep people safer," Dark said. "Throughout the school,
our faculty are leading research that will set the base for
technical advancements for the next 40 years."
Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073,
mholsapple@purdue.edu
Sources: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708,
mcjischke@purdue.edu
Dennis R. Depew, (765) 494-2552, ddepew@purdue.edu
Michael O'Hair, (765) 494-2554, mtohair@purdue.edu
Melissa J. Dark, (765) 494-2554, dark@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue senior Adam Acton, at left, from Whitestown, Ind.,
and sophomore Thom Taylor, from LaGrange, Ind., work with
robotics software in Purdue's technology education laboratory.
The technology education program, which trains future middle
and high school teachers, is a component of the School of
Technology's efforts to encourage younger students to consider
careers in technology. (Purdue News Service photo/Dave Umberger)
A publication-quality photo is available at http://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/+2004/depew-technology.jpg
PHOTO CAPTION:
Katie Sparrow, a freshman in the Department of Aviation Technology's
professional flight technology, inspects an airplane before
beginning a training flight. Purdue's aviation technology
department, which was founded in 1954, has more than 600 students,
making it one of the largest in the country. (Purdue News
Service photo/Dave Umberger)
A publication-quality photo is available at http://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/+2004/depew-avtech.jpg
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