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Get involved in a hands-on outreach project with an inner-city high school group from Indianapolis.   Make an impact in your first semester to help inspire the next generation of engineers as we learn more about our own views and the views of others through class discussions and an outreach project with students from Indianapolis.

IDEAS is a learning community that explores engineering through the lens of diversity and inclusion.  We put our ideas into action through a partnership with an inner-city outreach program in Indianapolis.  We visit their program and host them on engineering day in the fall.  The class designs and teaches the engineering day program where we learn from each other.  The event is a highlight of the fall semester.  Following the program, we are invited to attend a football game with the high school students.  That is even more fun when we win!

Students enjoy the seminar class and describe it as a refreshing break from their other first-year math, science, and engineering classes.  The open discussion format creates a safe space to learn and share.  Some weeks, the discussions are about what is happening on campus while others are exploring an idea around diversity or planning for the outreach event.  The instructors come from diverse backgrounds and openly explore their own biases and views along with the class.

Beyond the classroom, we may explore local ice cream shops, travel to a state park or be hosted by one of the instructors off campus.  IDEAS students often end the semester as a very close community with a sense of accomplishment with our engagement activities.

Eligibility

  • First-time beginning students admitted to the First-Year Engineering Program or to Pre-ABE in the College of Agriculture
  • This learning community is not available to Honors College participants 

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

Fall Semester

Associated Courses and Information

ENGR 10301 - Introduction to Engineering in Practice

ENGR 13100 - Transforming Ideas to Innovation 1

 

Every fee eligible student involved with a learning community (LC) at Purdue will be assessed the $200 LC fee to their university account.  These funds support activities and travel, signature LC events, housing assignments and/or course registration and instructor stipends.

Events and Activities Included:

  • Engineering picnic 
  • Dinner and fun at professor’s home 
  • Introduction to Purdue campus resources 
  • Trip to Indianapolis to visit outreach partner 
  • Trip to Turkey Run State Park 
  • Engineering-based community outreach project 

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.

Learning Communities  HILL 1301 3rd Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906 - (765) 494-2020, learningcommunities@purdue.edu

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