“The college looks outward to find meaning and impact for our students’ educational experiences and our faculty’s expertise.”

In the words of Albert Einstein, “a person starts to live when he can live outside himself.” The College of Technology continues to take an outward view of the world around us and seeks ways to enhance and advance it.

Whether it’s a faculty member working with an Indiana hospital system on Six Sigma concepts or a group of computer graphics technology students developing a Web site to facilitate fundraising for a sick child, the college looks outward to find meaning and impact for our students’ educational experiences and our faculty’s expertise.

Our corporate partners are an invaluable resource in providing outside perspectives on industry trends and future knowledge demands in shaping the curriculum for our students’ education. This issue features the engineering technology disciplines in our college and the impact that business and industry and technological advances have made on the tangible (labs, equipment) and intangible (curriculum) changes that have taken place over the past two decades.

Increased focus and interest in study abroad opportunities is broadening the perspectives of our students and faculty. Over the past five years, participation has increased 140 percent. During the past school year, 84 students ventured outside the American borders seeking personal enrichment, an enhanced education, and cultural understanding — merits that will also increase their marketability in the workforce following graduation.

One final focal point to share with you in this issue is graduate studies. A decade ago, the college’s graduate enrollment hovered around 40 graduate students. Since 2002, enrollment has increased 73 percent from 175 to 270 students. Gary Bertoline, assistant dean for graduate studies, shares with you “why,” including the attraction of sponsored research funding, which has tripled in four short years.

Alumni, your educational experience has shaped who you are today. We hope that you will continue to share with us your success and endeavors and seek us out when you return to campus. Our second annual “Technology Week” celebration, packed full with technology events, is slated for April 7-11. Also, a new social and professional online network called “Boilersphere” was recently launched to reconnect you with past classmates and Purdue people. Sign-up information is contained in this issue.

As always, I welcome correspondence from all of our College of Technology alumni and friends and hope that 2008 provides you with new insights and opportunities.

Hail Purdue!

Dennis R. Depew, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Technology