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5000 Town Center is a 33-story high-rise condominium community of 216 private residences located in the center of Southfield’s City Centre district overlooking City Hall and the Evergreen Hills golf course.

Now that much of the steel structure for the A. Alfred Taubman Engineering, Life Sciences, and Architecture Complex has been put in place in the past few weeks, it is easier to envision how LTU’s Quadrangle will look once the project is completed.

Joseph Veryser, Lawrence Tech’s campus architect, said that the project remains on schedule. The building should be ready for occupancy by the end of May 2016. It will take another two months to get the academic facilities ready in time for the fall semester that begins in August 2016.

Detroit-based Albert Kahn Family of Companies is the architect of record, and the DeMaria Building Company of Detroit and Novi is the general contractor. Pritzker Architecture Laureate Thom Mayne of Morphosis is the design architect.

The building is named after retail developer and philanthropist A. Alfred Taubman, who died in April after contributing the lead gift in support of the structure.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Lawrence Technological University will host a free Innovation, Design & Manufacturability Workshop on Tuesday, June 9, from 8 a.m. to noon with lunch to follow.

The workshop will be held in room M336 in LTU’s Buell Management Building on the LTU campus at 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield.

The workshop facilitators are Jeff DeBoer, vice president, Genesis Innovation Strategy, Sundberg-Ferar; and Sue Okray, automotive business director, Munro & Associates.

The hands-on, interactive workshop is designed to save time and money for companies launching new products. The workshop will provide key elements of the design and manufacturability process prior to going to market.

The workshop is designed to help companies that are in the process of creating and producing a durable manufactured product. Space is limited, and preference will be given to early-stage, pre-revenue, Michigan-based companies.
The event is hosted by Tex Criqui, director of the LTU Collaboratory; and Mark Brucki, executive director of economic development and government relations at LTU. For more information, contact Criqui at fcriqui@ltu.edu or (517) 518-1446 (mobile).

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 100 universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists 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 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)

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SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Over 80 teams from 10 states and seven other countries will compete in the 16th annual Robofest World Championships on Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Don Ridler Field House, Lawrence Technological University, 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield. Admission and parking are free.

Robofest is a competition of autonomous robots – computer-programmed to act independently and not remote-controlled – that encourages hands-on learning of science, technology, engineering, and math, known as the STEM subjects, as well as computer science. Teams compete in the junior division (grades 5-9) or senior division (grades 9-12), using a variety of computer programming languages.

Robofest originated at LTU, and this year’s competition includes more than 2,000 students from Michigan and nine other states (Ohio, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Hawaii, California, Missouri, Indiana, and Washington) and seven other countries (Canada, Korea, China, India, South Africa and Egypt, and Ghana).

The challenge of this year’s RoboBowl game is to build an autonomous robot to detect and knock down four pins (water bottles) by bowling tennis balls. In addition, the robot has to measure the height of the black rectangle shape on the table.

The Robofest World Championships include the Exhibition category, a science fair-style competition, in which students demonstrate their imagination and creativity through robotics.

For more information on Robofest, visit www.robofest.net.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 100 universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists 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 include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

The University of Detroit Jesuit High School team RoboCubs, which took first place in the Senior Exhibition category at the Robofest Michigan Championships, is one of 25 Michigan teams that have advanced to the World Championships on May 16. Left to right are ninth-graders Luke Adams, Christian Commen, Grayson Huldin, Ian Wilson, Ben Godfrey, and Jonathon Hopkins. LTU President Virdiner Moudgil is in the back and coach/teacher Jennifer Wint is at right.

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Eric Pope
Managing Editor, University News Bureau
Lawrence Technological University
(248) 204-2210
(313) 505-6508 (cell)
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SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – A new study from the prestigious Brookings Institution ranks Lawrence Technological University fifth in the country for providing the most value-added in preparing its graduates for well-paying occupations. CBS MoneyWatch has hailed the leaders identified in the study as the new “college superstars.”

The goal of the Brookings study was to go beyond the traditional rankings that reward colleges that primarily admit rich, smart students who can be expected to do better in their careers than most college graduates.  Instead, the Brookings researchers wanted to determine if colleges actually made a difference in preparing their students for successful careers.

The new report encompasses more data sources and covers many more of the over 6,100 two- and four-year colleges than the college rankings from U.S. News & World Report. It seeks to take into account student profiles and their majors when comparing the career outcomes of alumni from different colleges. The yardstick becomes the value-added by a college in comparison to its peer group.

The Brookings study notes that the five quality factors strongly associated with more successful economic outcomes for alumni are curriculum value, alumni skills, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) orientation, completion rates, and student aid.

“The college value-added measures developed in this report more accurately predict alumni economic outcomes for students with similar characteristics,” concluded the authors of the Brookings Institution study.

The study found that LTU added 18 percent more value – virtually the same as the California Institute of Technology –  with respect to occupational earnings power compared to four-year institutions with similar characteristics and students. The study found that alumni skills, the share of graduates majoring in STEM fields and curriculum value strongly predict a college’s value added  in preparing its graduates for well-paying occupations.

“The Brookings Institution study is further validation of the rigor and focus of LTU’s academic programs, the dedication of our faculty, and the high motivation and success of our alumni,” said Lawrence Tech President Virinder Moudgil.

The Brookings study found that the mid-career median salary for all LTU alumni was $98,400.

See the Brookings report at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Reports/2015/04/29-college-value-add/BMPP_CollegeValueAdded.pdf?la=en

LTU’s high ranking in the Brookings study is consistent with the university’s placement in the top 100 colleges and universities nationwide in the 2015 PayScale College Salary Report, which measures the earning power of college graduates.

The average mid-career salary for recipients of bachelor’s degrees from LTU ranked 83rd among more than 1,000 colleges in the Payscale survey. LTU ranked 90th for the salaries of its graduates who received one or more additional degrees.

PayScale also reached the conclusion that students with STEM majors get the best return on their college investment. More than half of LTU graduates (55 percent) included in the PayScale survey majored in STEM subjects.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 100 universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists 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 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)

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SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Lawrence Technological University is one of the 353 most environmentally responsible colleges in the country, according to “The Princeton Review Guide to 353 Green Colleges” released in conjunction with Earth Day.

The Princeton Review chose the schools for this sixth annual edition of its “green guide” based on data from the company’s 2014 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning commitments to the environment and sustainability. Responses from a student survey were also factored in.

In the past The Princeton Review has noted that LTU “boasts a commitment to sustainability spanning new buildings and construction, academic programs, applied research, and campus operations.”

Geothermal wells and a vegetated roof are just two of the impressive features of LTU’s A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center, a unique green building that serves as a living laboratory for sustainability education of architects and engineers.

Those two features of the Taubman Student Center are on LTU’s Low Impact Development Trail that showcases the various stormwater management techniques put into practice around the campus to reduce the impact of development on the environment.

LTU’s inclusion in the prestigious national guide to “green” colleges confirms a long-term commitment to sustainability that has been demonstrated in many areas of the university’s operations and academic curricula, according to Joseph Veryser, LTU’s campus architect.

“Our students see this approach to architecture and engineering as essential for the future of the planet. If anything, our students have been pushing their professors and the administration to pursue even higher standards,” Veryser said. “Both faculty and students aspire to be leaders and innovators in sustainable practices.”

Information about the green college rankings can be found at:

www.princetonreview.com/college-ranking/green-guide

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 100 universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists 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 include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Lawrence Tech has a Low Impact Development Trail that showcases the various stormwater management techniques put into practice around the campus. One of the highlights is the vegetated green roof that covers part of the A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center.

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

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SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Steve Forbes, the chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, will deliver the commencement address at Lawrence Technological University’s 83rd commencement exercises on Saturday, May 9.

LTU will hold indoor ceremonies beginning at 1 p.m. at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac. The university is awarding 760 degrees and certificates this academic year.

Forbes is the nation’s leading business magazine with a circulation of more than 900,000. Various editions of the magazine together reach a worldwide audience of more than 5 million readers. Forbes Media has a variety of new publications, websites, investment newsletters and businesses worldwide.

Forbes, who writes editorials for each issue of the magazine, is a prolific book author, commentator, and the only four-time winner of the Crystal Owl Award, a prize given to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.

His latest book is “Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy – and What We Can Do About It.”

Forbes campaigned for the Republican nomination for the presidency in 1996 and 2000. The national agenda that he continues to promote includes a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental school choice, term limits, and a strong national defense.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 100 universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists 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 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

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Students can register now for summer semester classes that begin Wednesday, May 13, at Lawrence Technological University. Day, evening, weekend and online options are available, including many fast-track certificate programs in growing career fields.

Lawrence Tech has associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs that can lead to careers in areas such as robotics engineering, biomedical engineering and computer science.

Call 1-800-CALL-LTU, ext. 1, or visit www.ltu.edu/futurestudents to find out about registration.

For additional information, contact admissions@ltu.edu or (248) 204-3160.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 100 universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists 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 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

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The Marburger STEM Center at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) offers more than 20 engineering, science, design and technology summer camps for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in improving their academic preparation while previewing career fields and college experiences. The week-long summer camps will be held from June 22 through July 24.

There are camps for architectural engineering, architecture and interior design, automotive engineering, basic design, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, forensic science, game art, imaging and graphic design, industrial design, nanotechnology, psychology, sketching for architecture and design, transportation design, and web design.

Expert professors will introduce participating high school students to the latest innovations in modern labs and studios. Current Lawrence Tech students will also assist campers.

Students can commute or live on LTU’s campus to get a glimpse of college life. The high school students can live in college housing, eat in the cafeteria, and participate in organized activities each evening.

Camps cost between $550 and $800, based on subject and whether the student lives on campus. There is a $100 discount for attending two camps and a $200 discount for attending three camps. Registration closes June 1.

Save $50 per camp by attending Blue and White Days (www.ltu.edu/blueandwhitedays) on Lawrence Tech’s campus.

Top students in each camp will be eligible for scholarships to Lawrence Tech.

Early registration is recommended as the camps fill quickly. Additional information and all registration forms are at www.ltu.edu/community_k12/summer_camps.  For more information, contact Assistant Provost Lisa Kujawa atsummercamps@ltu.edu.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 100 universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists 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 include over 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Caption for “LTUdesign”:

High school students study design at a Lawrence Tech summer camp.

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

facebook.com/lawrencetechu
twitter.com/lawrencetechu

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Rick Bloom, a partner at Bloom Asset Management in Farmington Hills, has been named an executive in residence for the College of Management at Lawrence Technological University.  He will advise and educate students on a variety of financial topics to help them with money management.

“I have always had a passion for educating young people about managing their money and finances, and being an executive in residence provides me an opportunity to use my financial expertise to assist students to make better decisions with their finances now and after they graduate,” Bloom said.

Bloom will provide one-on-one counseling for students on career choices, will assist with the College of Management’s high school outreach, and will be a guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, finance and leadership. He will help with course assessment by serving as a judge for student presentations and will be a part of the team that measures the impact of faculty research on society, government, industry and non-profits.

Bloom has been named one of the top financial advisors in Michigan for 2015 by Barron’s magazine and one of the Top 250 financial planners by Worth Magazine. He writes a financial column each Thursday and Sunday in the Observer & Eccentric chain of newspapers. He hosted the “Money Talk” radio show on WXYT 1270-AM for 16 years, and has also appeared on WXYZ Channel 7.

He is an honors graduate of both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Law School. He is a licensed attorney and a certified public accountant (CPA).

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 100 universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists 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 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