News

LTU hosts Nov. 5 Hotelling Lecture on Trans-Pacific Partnership

LTU hosts Nov. 5 Hotelling Lecture on Trans-Pacific Partnership southfieldcc_3ik8d2

deardorff_smSOUTHFIELD, Mich. – University of Michigan Professor Alan Deardorff will speak on “The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Pros & Cons” for the sixth annual Harold Hotelling Memorial Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. at Lawrence Technological University, 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield.

The annual lecture, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by LTU’s College of Arts and Sciences and will be held in the Mary E. Marburger Science and Engineering Auditorium in LTU’s Science Building.

The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) between the United States and 11 other countries on both sides of the Pacific Ocean would cover nearly 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product. It would virtually eliminate tariffs and other barriers to international trade and would include protections for patents and other intellectual property rights.

Other proposed provisions are intended to improve environmental and labor standards. A mechanism would be provided for investors to initiate and settle disputes with host-country governments outside of national courts.

The TPP has run into stiff opposition in Congress, and each of its provisions would create winners and losers.

Deardorff is a professor of economics and public policy and has been a member of the U-M faculty since 1970. He has served as chair of U-M’s Department of Economics and associate dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

He has served as a consultant to many government agencies, including the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury, and Labor, and international institutions, including the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the World Bank.

Deardorff is the editor and author of several books and has published numerous articles on international trade theory and policy.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. The Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Tech fifth nationwide for boosting graduates’ earning power, PayScale lists it in the nation’s top 10 percent of universities for graduates’ salaries, and U.S. News and World Report places it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)

facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

LTU Dedicates Its Third Residence Hall

LTU Dedicates Its Third Residence Hall southfieldcc_3ik8d2

LTU_Reuss_plaque2_smSOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Lawrence Technological University held a dedication ceremony on Sept. 28 for its third residence hall, which has been named in honor of Lloyd Reuss of Bloomfield Hills.

The Lloyd E. Reuss Residence Hall is a 47,545-square-foot, two-story building that has five pods with 16 double-occupancy units. The $11.6 million project was completed in time for 150 freshmen to move in prior to the start of classes on Aug. 24.

Reuss, who is a former president of General Motors, has been on LTU’s Board of Trustees since 1978 and served as chairman of the board from 1993 until 2014.

The opportunity to honor Reuss drew many public officials and civic leaders, including Southfield Mayor Donald Fracassi; Southfield City Council President Sylvia Jordan and several other members of the council; Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, who served as mayor of Southfield for many years; State Rep. Jeremy Moss; and Oakland County Commissioner Janet Jackson.

The completion of the new residence hall is a milestone toward LTU’s long-term goal to build a strong residential community on campus. The two older residence halls have space for 600 students, and Reuss Hall has increased the residential capacity by 25 percent. Because of high demand, LTU also leases residential suites for 60 additional students at Arbor Lofts on nearby Civic Center Drive in Southfield.

While LTU was once a commuter college, it now attracts students from 25 states and 60 countries.

Increased demand for on-campus housing has been created in part by the expansion of the athletics at LTU, which became a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2011. More than 300 students participate on 16 varsity teams and three junior varsity teams, and LTU will add five more teams in the next two years.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. The Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Tech fifth nationwide for boosting graduates’ earning power, PayScale lists it in the nation’s top 10 percent of universities for graduates’ salaries, and U.S. News and World Report places it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)
facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

Three Northville/Canton Teams Advance to Finals of World Robot Olympiad

Three Northville/Canton Teams Advance to Finals of World Robot Olympiad southfieldcc_3ik8d2

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The national championships of the World Robot Olympiad were held at Lawrence Technological University on Sept. 19, and three of the eight teams that won the right to represent their country in international competition are from Northville and Canton.

Earning the right to compete in the WRO international championships to be held in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 6-8 were:

  • Jason Brown and Kevin Tracz (Pi-Rho-Technics) of Northville, who took first place in the Regular Junior category.
  • Brian Ding and Justin Chang of Northville and Eric Liu of Canton (RoboExplorers) who took first place in the Open Category.
  • Charles Liu of Canton and Christopher Geng and James Kevin Xue of Northville (Robofest team), who took first place in the Regular University category, even though they are still high school students.

WRO started in Singapore in 2004, although the United States only began participating in 2014.  Some 20,000 elementary, middle school, high school and university teams from more than 50 countries began competing last spring by building and programming autonomous robots to perform specific tasks.

Eighty-eight teams from nine states competed in the state qualifiers in the United States, and 43 teams advanced to the national finals. Eight teams from California, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and New York have now qualified to compete in the WRO international finals.

For the second year in a row, the WRO-USA national organizer has been Professor CJ Chung of Lawrence Technological University.  Chung, who teaches computer science, was selected to lead WRO-USA last year because of his leadership role in LTU’s Robofest competition, which also makes it fun for students to learn important principles of the STEM subjects:  science, technology, engineering and math.

WRO General Secretary Claus Ditlev Christensen of Denmark attended the event and spoke at the opening ceremony of the WRO-USA finals.

More results and information about the WRO-USA national championships can be found at www.wroboto.us.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. The Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Tech fifth nationwide for boosting graduates’ earning power, PayScale lists it in the nation’s top 10 percent of universities for graduates’ salaries, and U.S. News and World Report places it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

pi-rho-technics_sm

LTU Provost Maria Vaz (left) congratulates Kevin Tracz (second from left) and Jason Brown of the Pi-Rho-Technics team for winning the Regular Junior category at the World Robot Olympiad national finals held at Lawrence Tech on Sept. 19. At right is coach Andrew Brown.

roboExplorers_sm

LTU Provost Maria Vaz (left) congratulates Brian Ding, Eric Liu and Justin Chang of the RoboExplorers team for finishing first in the Open category at the national finals of the World Robot Olympiad.

Robofest_team_sm

LTU Provost Maria Vaz congratulates (from left), Christopher Geng, James Kevin Xue and Charles Liu of the Robofest team for winning the Regular University category at the national finals of the World Robot Olympiad.

 

To contact the coaches:

Andrew R. Brown, andrew.r.brown@sbcglobal.net, for pi-rho-technics
Wei Ding, wei_ding_1@yahoo.com, for roboexplorers
Wei Liu, liu6553@sbcglobal.net , for robofest.team

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)

facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

Lawrence Tech Hosts Sept. 19 National Championships for World Robot Olympiad

Lawrence Tech Hosts Sept. 19 National Championships for World Robot Olympiad southfieldcc_3ik8d2

MIwinners_WROSOUTHFIELD, Mich. – On Saturday, Sept. 19, Lawrence Technological University (LTU) will host the national championships to determine who will represent the United States at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) to be held Nov. 6-8 in Doha, Qatar.

The competition will be held at the Don Ridler Field House on LTU’s campus at 21000 West Ten Mile Road in Southfield. The opening ceremony begins at 9 a.m., and the closing ceremony is scheduled to start at 4:40 p.m. The event is open to the public, and admission and parking are free.

For more information, go to www.wroboto.us.

WRO started in Singapore in 2004, and this is the second year the United States will send a team. Nearly 20,000 elementary, middle and high school students as well as university teams from over 50 countries are participating.

Eighty-eight teams competed in state qualifiers here in the United States, and 43 teams have advanced to the national finals from California, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Louisiana, Washington and Michigan.

WRO-USA differs from many other robotics competitions because the winners will represent the United States in international competition. “Being selected to represent your country really means something. The American teams will be competing against the best teams from around the world,” said LTU Professor CJ Chung, who is coordinating the national competition for the second time.

Last year three students from Canton and Northville won a bronze medal in the WRO competition held in Russia, while a team from LTU finished fifth in the university division.

Chung, who teaches computer science, was selected to lead WRO-USA last year because of his leadership role in LTU’s Robofest competition. Like WRO, Robofest makes it fun for students to learn important principles of science, technology, engineering and math, known as the STEM subjects.

“Robotics is a game changer in many fields including education, since it provides a true interdisciplinary hands-on STEM learning environment,” Chung said. “Our country needs many more people with technology knowledge and skills, and student competitions like the WRO can help us achieve that goal.”

In this year’s WRO competition, students must build and program a robot that can dive and explore under the sea for pearls, or collect five artifacts in an unknown environment, or collect supplies and deliver them.

In the open category the task is to create robots that can help humans explore for natural resources in potentially hazardous environments.

WRO General Secretary Claus Ditlev Christensen of Denmark will give opening remarks at LTU and observe the WRO-USA finals.

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)
facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

LTU’s Civil Engineering Program Ranked Fifth Nationally

LTU’s Civil Engineering Program Ranked Fifth Nationally southfieldcc_3ik8d2

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Lawrence Technological University’s civil engineering program is ranked fifth nationally among universities offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees, according to the annual U.S. News & World Report survey of best colleges for 2016.

Ranked ahead of LTU for civil engineering are Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and Bucknell University.

In addition, for the second year in a row LTU is ranked in the top half, at 23rd nationwide, for all its undergraduate engineering degree programs.

“The strong performance of our engineering programs in this prestigious national survey reflects our ongoing commitment to enhance our engineering curricula,” said LTU President Virinder Moudgil. “It is gratifying that LTU’s efforts are being recognized.”

Enrollment in engineering programs at LTU has surged 22.7 percent this year, reflecting the increased demand in industry for highly educated professionals.

LTU has utilized a multi-year grant from the Kern Family Foundation to develop curriculum modules designed to prepare engineering students to be problem-solvers who can take an entrepreneurial approach to the decision-making process in business. Problem-based learning and active and collaborative learning are two teaching concepts that help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

In the latest U.S. News annual survey of universities, LTU also remains ranked in the top half of the top tier of the 12-state Midwest Regional University category.

Once again Lawrence Tech has made the U.S. News’ Midwest Regional University list of “A-Plus Schools for B Students,” which the news magazine calls “great colleges for non-superstars” who have “a decent shot at being accepted and thriving; where spirit and hard work could make all the difference to admissions offices” and where a “broad and engaged student body” is sought.

LTU is also on the U.S. News list of universities offering the best online college degree programs.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. The Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Tech fifth nationwide for boosting graduates’ earning power, PayScale lists it among the nation’s top 10 percent of universities for graduates’ salaries, and U.S. News and World Report places it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)

facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

September 22 LTU Symposium Looks at the Future of Transportation Infrastructure

September 22 LTU Symposium Looks at the Future of Transportation Infrastructure southfieldcc_3ik8d2

steudlekirkLTUSOUTHFIELD, Mich. – “The Future of Transportation: Roads, Bridges and Transit” is the topic of this year’s President’s Symposium at Lawrence Technological University on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Lawrence Tech alumnus Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. The panelists will be:

  • Chuck Gulash, director of the Collaborative Safety Research Center of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc.
  • J. Gary Smyth, executive director of the North American Science Labs, Global Research and Development of General Motors Company.
  • Michael Ford, CEO of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan.
  • Jay Baron, president and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research.
  • Douglas Patton, executive vice president for engineering and chief technical officer for DENSO International America, Inc.

The panelists will be asked how technology can be leveraged to solve transportation issues.

LTU President Virinder Moudgil founded the annual symposium in 2012 to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to major challenges facing the Metro Detroit region.

“The big challenge of the next few decades will be to find ways to harness technology to deal with the various challenges facing our society. Transportation is one of the top priorities, especially here in Michigan,” Moudgil said.

The symposium will be held in the Mary E. Marburger Science and Engineering Auditorium in LTU’s Science Building, 21000 West Ten Mile Road in Southfield. Admission is free, but seating is limited. There will be a reception at 6:30 p.m.

Reservations should be made at lawrencetech.net/2015symposium.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. The Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Tech fifth nationwide for boosting graduates’ earning power, PayScale lists it among the nation’s top 100 universities for graduates’ salaries, and U.S. News and World Report places it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)

facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

Newest Dorm Makes LTU Feel More Like ‘Home, Sweet Home’

Newest Dorm Makes LTU Feel More Like ‘Home, Sweet Home’ southfieldcc_3ik8d2

reuss_hall_LTU_640SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Lawrence Technological University has increased its on-campus housing by 25 percent with the opening of the Lloyd E. Reuss Residence Hall in time for the start of the 2015-16 academic year.

LTU’s third residence hall, which is named in honor of Lloyd Reuss, the longtime chairman of the university’s board of trustees and former president of General Motors, is now the home of 150 freshmen who moved in prior to the start of classes on Aug. 24.

Lawrence Tech’s two older residence halls had a combined capacity of 600. Because of high demand, LTU also leases residential suites for 60 additional students at Arbor Lofts on nearby Civic Center Drive in Southfield.

The 47,545-square-foot, two-story Reuss Hall has five pods with 16 double-occupancy units. The $11.6 million project has been completed except for the landscaping.

Each pod in Reuss Hall has its own common lounge and kitchenette space. Amenities include central laundry facilities on both floors, a bicycle repair shop, a multi-purpose room, a game room, and two conference-type spaces.

“Our new residence hall is designed to encourage students to get out of their rooms and interact and collaborate with other students in the common areas,” said LTU President Virinder Moudgil. “We want to get our new students involved in campus life right away.”

Increased demand for on-campus housing has been created by the expansion of the athletics at LTU, which became a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2011. More than 300 students participate on 16 varsity teams and three junior varsity teams, and LTU will add five more teams in the next two years.

A strong athletics program and additional residential housing are major initiatives in LTU’s overall strategy to strengthen campus life so that students will have more positive experiences outside the classroom, develop more personal relationships, and choose to spend more time on campus.

Lawrence Tech has long been known as a commuter school, and most students continue to commute, but the atmosphere on campus has become more welcoming now that more students live there, according to Dean of Students Kevin Finn.

“Developing a strong core of residential students benefits everyone, including commuter students,” Finn said. “It has been proven that students who get connected on campus and have plenty of friends and activities are more likely to be happier and more successful at Lawrence Tech.”

Students from 25 states and 60 countries attend LTU.

Reuss, the namesake for the residence hall, has served on LTU’s Board of Trustees since 1978 and was chairman from 1993 until 2014. He has filled many other community and higher education roles, including executive dean of Focus: HOPE’s Center for Advanced Technologies.

“Dr. Reuss has brought pride and distinction to Lawrence Technological University and strengthened its pursuit of excellence and service to students,” Moudgil said.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. The Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Tech fifth nationwide for boosting graduates’ earning power, PayScale lists it among the nation’s top 100 universities for graduates’ salaries, and U.S. News and World Report places it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Lawrence Technological University completed construction on Lloyd E. Reuss Residence Hall just in time for the start of the new academic year.

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)

facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

Lawrence Tech to Honor Fikany with Second Global Citizen Award

Lawrence Tech to Honor Fikany with Second Global Citizen Award southfieldcc_3ik8d2

John-Fikany_smSOUTHFIELD, Mich. – John Fikany, the enterprise executive leader for Microsoft’s Heartland Area headquartered in Southfield, will be the second recipient of the Global Citizen Award to be presented by Lawrence Technological University (LTU) on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the start of the new academic year.

The award presentation will be made at LTU’s annual convocation ceremony for new students and their families at 5 p.m. in the Ridler Field House on LTU’s campus in Southfield. It will also mark the conclusion of the annual President’s Global Village Project for LTU students.

Lawrence Tech President Virinder Moudgil established the Global Citizen Award to recognize individuals who have shown great character and leadership in addressing global issues and promoting international and social understanding. This award is given annually to a person who demonstrates the passion and energy to make a positive impact on humanity through collaborative enterprise and spirit.

Fikany leads a diverse team of sales, technical, marketing and services professionals supporting all of Microsoft’s commercial sector enterprise industry accounts in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. In addition, he is the executive sponsor for multiple global customers and Microsoft national strategic initiatives.

With over 28 years of technology and industry leadership, Fikany has served in multiple assignments in his 11 years at Microsoft, including vice president of Microsoft’s Central Region Enterprise Business covering 18 states. Earlier he was responsible for the U.S. Commercial Industry practice and was the vice president responsible for building out Microsoft’s U.S. Manufacturing Industry Sector. He began his career at Microsoft developing the U.S. Automotive and Industrial Equipment business.

Prior to his career at Microsoft, Fikany spent 10 years in the Unisys marketplace and eight years at Oracle Corporation.

Fikany is a native Detroiter who is dedicated to his hometown and actively engaged in many community organizations, including the Detroit Economic Club, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Focus: HOPE, Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, and the Parade Company. He is a member of Governor Snyder’s Cabinet for the Education Achievement Authority in turning around the Detroit public school system.

He is a graduate of Central Michigan University, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate in science and technology in 2014.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. The Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Tech fifth nationwide for boosting graduates’ earning power, PayScale lists it among the nation’s top 100 universities for graduates’ salaries, and U.S. News and World Report places it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)
facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

LTU and DPS Launch Comprehensive Program to Encourage Students in STEAM

LTU and DPS Launch Comprehensive Program to Encourage Students in STEAM southfieldcc_3ik8d2

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Detroit Public Schools (DPS) and Lawrence Technological University (LTU) have established an innovative partnership to enhance education in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) for students at the Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy. The program is designed to continue through their high school and college careers.

Informational meetings will start in August and run through October. Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy currently has a limited number of openings in this program for students in grades 6-8. Families interested in enrolling should call (313) 240-4377.

Fifty middle school students will become the first Blue Devil Scholars at Sampson-Webber, and 50 additional students will join every year. These students will continue in the program through 12th grade. They will earn college credits and be eligible to attend LTU with scholarship support if they so choose.

Lawrence Tech is making a $3.5 million scholarship commitment to attract larger numbers of DPS students and prepare them for opportunities in STEAM fields.

More than a dozen LTU faculty members will be involved in this partnership with DPS, and the university together with DPS will provide additional resources and funding throughout the life of the project.

“This is an exciting new chapter in Lawrence Tech’s ongoing involvement in Detroit,” LTU President Virinder Moudgil said. “We want to encourage more students from Detroit to attend Lawrence Tech, and this program is designed to prepare them for success both at the college level and in their professional careers in STEAM-related fields.”

The Blue Devil Scholars program is designed to provide a systematic approach to enhance STEAM education for Sampson-Webber students starting in sixth grade and continuing through high school. In the future, the program will expand to grades 3-5, and eventually the process of preparing students for STEAM education will begin in kindergarten.

“Innovative partnerships such as the one created between DPS and LTU are key to the District creating an educational system that is academically competitive,” said Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Darnell Earley. “As we move forward with the transformation of DPS, we will continue to seek out partnerships/programs that enhance our curriculum and provide our students with a clear pathway to success.”

The partnership will also have a professional development component for the teachers selected to participate in this program, including workshops on project-based learning (PBL) and active-collaborative learning (ACL).

Student preparedness will be assessed in middle school. Once the data is evaluated, modules with STEAM content will be created that can be embedded in existing middle school courses. Tutoring by Lawrence Tech students proficient in science and math will supplement the STEAM modules.

In addition to a strong academic component for each year along the way, the program will include extracurricular activities to support and enhance the educational process.

When the Blue Devil Scholars move to high school, they will choose one of five STEAM tracks – art, design, math/science, technology/management or engineering. The students will earn college credits in embedded and dual-enrollment courses taken at LTU and will graduate with a certificate for 12-15 credit hours that will be transferrable to Lawrence Tech.

The Blue Devil Scholars who choose to attend Lawrence Tech will receive scholarship support as long as academic performance standards are met.

The components of the program include:

  • Sampson-Webber students selected as Blue Devil Scholars will continue through 12th grade at DPS’s Detroit Collegiate Prep at Northwestern High School with specific curricular and co-curricular activities that foster knowledge about STEAM subjects, STEAM careers and skill-based learning in STEAM areas;
  • Parents will be engaged in the programming from the beginning to ensure their full support;
  • Later in the program the Blue Devil Scholars will receive a personal computer and instruction on how to use it;
  • During their high school years, the Blue Devil Scholars will also participate in co-curricular experiences at LTU that will lay the groundwork for completing college successfully and then moving into a good-paying, STEAM-related career.

Lawrence Tech already has several programs to encourage high school students to pursue STEAM-related subjects. However, this is the first LTU program that takes a comprehensive approach and starts earlier in the educational process.

“We are confident that students who successfully complete the Blue Devil Scholars program will be well prepared to do well in challenging college courses as soon as they arrive on campus as freshmen,” Moudgil said. “Lawrence Tech is the perfect university for Detroit students to attend for STEAM-related education because we have specialized in those areas for so long.”

For more information about the Blue Devil Scholars program, go to www.ltu.edu/ltu/blue-devil-scholars.asp

Detroit Public Schools offers Neighborhood-Centered, Quality Schools at 97 campuses with a mission to provide a comprehensive, well-rounded, engaging learning experience. Educational advantages include Individualized Learning Maps for all students, research-driven pre-kindergarten classes to prepare the District’s youngest learners, expanded fine and performing arts, music and sports programs at all grade levels, and 21 Community Schools offering extended services to support families. Ongoing advantages include Parent University at the district’s eight Parent Resource Centers, enhanced safety initiatives, and DPS-authorized charter schools led by educators with proven track records of raising achievement. In 2015, DPS graduates earned $164 million in grants and scholarships. To learn more, visit detroitk12.org or call 313-240-4DPS.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. The Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Tech fifth nationwide for boosting graduates’ earning power, PayScale lists it among the nation’s top 100 universities for graduates’ salaries, and U.S. News and World Report places it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus in Southfield, Michigan, include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)
facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

Sustainable Southfield

Sustainable Southfield southfieldcc_3ik8d2

Research from around the globe recognizes the impor- tance of public engagement: it improves trust, builds community, eases policy implementation, and boosts resident confidence in government. But many local govern- ments are struggling to engage residents in a meaningful way. Only 22 percent of Americans attended a public meeting in 2014, and those who do typically engage tend to represent an older and wealthier demographic.

Click below to read more!

sustainable_southfield