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Goss Scholars
The Goss Scholars Learning Community provides first-year Engineering students who have demonstrated scholastic excellence opportunities to extend the depth of their educational experience. This year-long experience seeks to foster a seamless academic and social adjustment for students as they as they enter college and delve into theoretical and practical applications and rewards of engineering as a profession.
Purdue University and the College of Engineering have been home to many pioneers. William Freeman Myrick Goss was the first Dean of the Schools of Engineering at Purdue. He built an engineering laboratory unlike anything in the world at the time, complete with a 100,000 pound locomotive transported across corn fields. It can be said that Goss built Purdue Engineering, and he pioneered engineering education. Goss Scholars interact with one another and engage in transformational experiences to enhance their education inside and outside the classroom.
Goss Scholars have typically completed college-level coursework as high school students, which can allow flexibility in their plan of study. With this flexibility, students might begin advanced courses, work towards a minor, certificate or dual degree, engage in undergraduate research opportunities, global experiences, or internship or co-operative work experiences earlier in their collegiate career. Academic Advisors work with Goss Scholars to identify their interests, set goals, and tailor their first-year experience.
Goss Scholars enroll in relatively small-sized advanced engineering design courses fall and spring semester, which satisfy First-Year Engineering requirements and prepare them to continue into challenging engineering curricula, research, and other undergraduate experiences. Peer Mentors (continuing students who have completed the first year Goss Scholars program) connect with Goss Scholars in and out of the classroom, and small-group activities as well as collaborative academic projects add structure and depth to the experience. Additional learning community activities provide balance to the academic focus of Goss Scholars; students can elect to participate in socially-focused activities (like ice skating, movie nights, pumpkin decorating, picnics, and game nights), in leadership development events (the Boiler Challenge Low Ropes and High Ropes teambuilding courses), and in academically-directed sessions designed to help students succeed in examinations and projects.
Please note that space is limited in this learning community.
Eligibility
- New beginning students enrolled in the College of Engineering
- High School core GPA and standardized test scores above the First-Year Engineering cohort averages
- A strong foundation in physics and calculus coursework
- For information, please contact Suzanne Walker, scwalker@purdue.edu
Residential Component
- Required. The location of learning community housing will be determined based on the incoming size and needs of the learning community.
- A signed housing contract is required to apply to this learning community. Once a housing contract is completed, you will indicate your learning community housing preference within the learning community application. Applications received by the priority deadline will be considered first.
- If you want to be placed with a preferred roommate and be admitted to a learning community with a required residential component, both you and your roommate must apply (and be accepted) to the same learning community. Students admitted to learning communities with a required residential component cannot be paired with students admitted to learning communities with an optional residential component.
- For specific question regarding learning communities, email learningcommunities@purdue.edu.
- Completing a housing contract is a separate process from applying to a learning community. If you have questions about housing, contact University Residences (https://www.housing.purdue.edu/) at housing@purdue.edu.
Duration
Full Academic Year
Associated Classes
Track 1
Fall:
- ENGR 16100 - Honors Introduction to Innovation and the Physical Sciences of Engineering Design 1 (4 credits)
Spring:
- ENGR 16200 - Honors Introduction to Innovation and the Physical Sciences of Engineering Design 2 (4 credits)
Events and Activities Included:
- Boiler Challenge Course
- Industry Field Trips
- Peer Mentor Breakout Sessions and Small Group Activities
- Trip to Exploration Acres
- Exam Prep Sessions
- Movie Nights with Mentors
- Ice Skating
- Spring Picnic
Information above is subject to change. If you are placed in the LC, the associated courses will be on your schedule prior to you registering for the rest of your courses.
