Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stem Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MOU with Purdue Northwest aims to give Central High engineering students field access to clean energy projects
Summary
A Purdue University Northwest partnership funded through a NIPSCO subgrant would bring Central High engineering students to labs and field sites, including a June 9 visit to the St. Joseph solar farm, district staff said. The program is free to the district and targets STEM and energy career exposure.
District staff presented a memorandum of understanding with Purdue University Northwest for a clean energy and smart grid program funded through a NIPSCO subgrant.
Doctor Yanders said the project will give Central High engineering students practical experience in clean energy and STEM careers through classroom work and field trips, noting an early field trip scheduled for June 9 to the St. Joseph solar farm. The PLTW (Project Lead The Way) teacher at Central — who sought the grant — will lead students from his engineering classes through the summer program; staff said the cohort is small (fewer than 10 students reported) and that the program is provided at no cost to the district under the grant.
Trustees asked whether the program is the weeklong Dream to Degree program or a longer multiweek field experience; staff clarified that the clean energy MOU is the multi‑week NIPSCO bridging grant rather than the one‑week Dream to Degree program. Staff emphasized the program’s goal is to introduce students to engineering and energy sector pathways and to use existing grant funds rather than district operating funds. The work session recorded discussion and scheduling; there was no formal contract or vote recorded at the session.
