Open letter to students about our transformation

During the last several months you may have heard bits and pieces of information about some exciting plans and activities in our college. Much of the publicity has revolved around topics such as the transformation of the college, the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, and a new competency-based degree being developed. I am sending you this email to answer some of the questions you may have and to highlight some great news we received earlier this week.

Major gift to the college

Let’s start with the great news. The College of Technology has received a major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. that will bring us a new building as well as financial support to reshape and strengthen student learning. Details of the grant are described in a news article and in a university news release. The building, which is tentatively projected to be ready for Fall 2017, will be used exclusively for student project space, while the financial support will target experiential (hands-on and real-world) activities, integrated curricula, and state-of-the art teaching and learning methods. The Lilly Endowment’s generosity demonstrates enormous confidence in and support for our efforts to transform the college.

The transformation of the college

In August 2013, the Purdue University Board of Trustees approved a plan to transform the College of Technology as one of the Purdue Moves initiatives, a bold path that touches both what we do and how we do it. There are many pieces and parts, all designed to better meet the needs of students and the needs of industry: senior capstone experiences, internships, competency-based programs, integration of humanities and technology studies, innovation and entrepreneurship, certifications, new degrees aimed at Indiana-based industries, and a cultural shift in which faculty play an even greater role in mentoring students and guiding them to achieve their aspirations via faculty-student connection programs. I encourage you to learn about the college’s transformation and its milestones online.

Two key milestones occurred this academic year when a group of first-year students and several dozen fourth-year students began to enjoy the fruits of the transformation’s early stages. A group of first-year students enrolled in a pilot program that included a significantly redesigned learning environment with integrated curricula and expanded project-based learning. During the last six months faculty and students have identified elements of this pilot program that have worked particularly well and that can be offered on a larger scale across all of our departments. We are now preparing a first-year experience that will be administered in Fall 2015 to all of the college’s first-year students. At the same time, over 100 fourth-year students in our School of Engineering Technology took part in an industry-sponsored senior capstone project course, giving them the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills they acquired during their first three years in solving a real-world challenge. Efforts are now underway in each of our departments to offer senior capstone experiences to all fourth-year students in Fall 2015.

I believe the benefits of our planned transformation are well understood, and with the support of our president and provost, the Lilly Endowment Inc., and other friends and partners, our faculty and students have the opportunity to make enormous progress and take steps few others are contemplating.

The college and the Polytechnic initiative

We are the College of Technology, and the college is being transformed under the umbrella of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. I view the institute as a virtual organization that encompasses the entire college; all of the elements and characteristics of our transformation represent what is often called the Polytechnic initiative. The Polytechnic Institute is not solely the organization that is administering the pilot program to the small group of our first-year students; rather it refers to the people, processes, and resources involved in the transformation, which now represents the entire college. Will the College of Technology change its name to the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, or will the two names peacefully co-exist or be combined? In all candor, our Purdue Move’s proposal called for us to transform into the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, clearly suggesting an eventual name change. Although there is strong reason to embrace this path, there are many factors to consider. We are talking with employers, alumni, faculty, and students. We are working with marketing experts. And we will proceed with the best interests of our students. For now, our greatest efforts are aimed at transforming in significant, not business-as-usual ways, with the term “Polytechnic Institute” representing that transformation.

Competency-based degrees

One final element of our transformation that I would like to mention is competency-based education and, in particular, the competency-based degree that faculty have proposed and the path we will follow. Competency-based programs are a bold effort to give students more autonomy and flexibility in their education. The approach focuses on demonstrating mastery of concepts and skills rather than classroom seat time during fixed-calendar semesters. Students receive credentials, often referred to as digital badges, based on demonstrated competencies as they are achieved. This is a process that gives students latitude over how long it takes to graduate and better informs employers about what graduates are able to do. Our faculty proposed a competency-based bachelor of science degree in transdisciplinary technologies studies and, in doing so, won a challenge that President Daniels issued last year. The degree proposal is going through university and state review and may be offered as early as Fall 2015. As our experiences grow in the competency-based program arena, we anticipate offering additional competency-based degrees across all of our departments in the coming years.

As dean of the College of Technology, my role is to ensure our faculty have the resources they need to develop and offer top-quality programs and conduct impactful research and to ensure our students – you – receive the highest quality education possible. If you ever feel we are falling short in meeting our obligation, please do not hesitate to let me know. Finally, if you have any questions regarding our transformation or any other topic, feel free to send them to techdean@purdue.edu. I also will have open office hours Feb. 24 (2-3 p.m.) and Feb. 27 (10-11 a.m.) to answer questions.

Best wishes for success during the remainder of the term – Boiler Up!

About The Author

Gary Bertoline's picture
Gary R. Bertoline is Dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Computer Graphics Technology, and a Professor of Computer & Information Technology. Prior to becoming dean, he served as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Technology. From 1995 through 2002, Gary served as Department Head of Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue University.