Spring Break
Phila. high school students enroll in Applied Eng. Tech. program
Jessica Mangold
Issue date: 8/19/05 Section: News
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The AET program began as a dual degree program with Delaware County Community College. Through partnerships with the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, the program was able to receive grants and awards for community workforce efforts. Now, through the School District of Philadelphia's Gear Up partnership, high school seniors may now learn AET principles at the University City Main Campus. These students will be able to use these earned credits towards their degree if they decide to attend the University.
According to Goodwin College faculty, what makes the applied engineering technology major different is that it forms a bridge to link the engineer with the production workforce. "Someone who is working in this field can be wearing a hard hat one day working on the factory floor and then be wearing a suit and working on the computer and meeting with executives in his well-appointed office the next day," director of marketing and recruitment for the Goodwin College Elizabeth Hanson said.
Students involved in this program are able to utilize the University's internet-based mechantronics lab which is housed in One Drexel Plaza, 3001 Market Street. The laboratory is sponsored by Yamaha Robotics. The University is the only learning institution in the country to develop a technical laboratory with Yamaha Robotics.
According to Hanson, this state of the art laboratory is essential since the AET major focuses mainly on application of theory, which therefore integrates most classes with laboratory work. The laboratory work along with extensive industrial experience makes the applied engineering technology major stand out from other engineering programs. After students graduate, they will ideally be prepared to work in such areas as engineering management, business administration, and health technology.
LaTresa Copes, a sophomore in the AET program, finds that one of the benefits of this major is that she will have the opportunity to start working right out of graduation without months of training. "Our major is very hands-on and not based on theory but on projects that are a reality in the actual workforce."
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