Purdue News
May 1995
More on-campus interviews bode well for grads
The good news for students entering the job market is that the number of on-campus
interviews is picking up, indicating an increase in hiring, says Richard Stewart,
director of the University Placement Service at Purdue. Stewart says on-campus interviewing this year increased from the previous year for the first time since 1988-89, with
658 companies conducting interviews, up from 554 last year. Larger firms such as
General Motors have returned to campus, and the number of smaller firms, such as
personal-computer and consumer-electronics companies, is growing as well. In high demand are
graduates in computer science and engineering, such as programmers, systems analysts
and designers of wireless communications products. Stewart says jobs eliminated by
downsizing at large companies may be offset by job growth among smaller companies. John
McLaughlin, interim dean of Purdue's Schools of Engineering, says the turnaround
in the economy may be the reason why this year was far better than last year in terms
of job offers to Purdue's mechanical, electrical and civil engineers -- a large portion of
engineering graduates. He says civil engineers for infrastructure development and
environmental services are hot again. CONTACTS: Stewart, (765) 494-3981; McLaughlin,
(765) 494-5346.
20 U.S. teachers chosen for Ackerman Center institute
Twenty elementary- and middle-school teachers from 13 states and Washington, D.C.,
will attend an institute June 11 to June 25 at Purdue to seek ways to improve citizenship
education. Participants in the first summer institute organized by the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship will go home with a $1,000 grant to start
a citizenship program in their community, says Denee J. Mattioli, center director.
The participants will return to Purdue in January to report about the projects they
instituted at their schools.
The Ackerman Center in Purdue's School of Education, created last year with a $2 million
gift, is based on the belief that American democracy will survive only if each new
generation embraces these core democratic values: individual rights, the common good, justice, equality of opportunity, diversity, truth and patriotism. The center also
sponsors workshops and civic-education projects for teachers and students, develops
curricula, and serves as a national resource center for citizenship-education materials. News release available from Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2096.
CONTACT: Mattioli, (765) 494-2372; Internet, dcorbin@vm.cc.purdue.edu
Purdue Solar Racing Club prepares to take its place in the sun
Purdue's Solar Racing Club hopes to outshine the competition when it enters its solar-powered
car in a national race June 20-29. The Purdue group is one of 40 teams that will
compete in Sunrayce 95, a biennial cross-country race of solar-powered cars built by college students from across North America. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Energy, Sunrayce 95 begins in Indianapolis on June 20 and finishes eight days and
1,100 miles later at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. In
addition to cash prizes for first-, second- and third-place teams, awards will be presented
for technical innovation, engineering excellence, artistic talent, teamwork and good
sportsmanship. Purdue's entry is called the Heliophile, which is Greek for "sun lover." The teardrop-shaped body is about 18 feet long and 6 feet wide at the widest point.
When completed, the car will weigh about 750 pounds, including driver, and will incorporate
approximately 750 solar cells. Photo available from Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2096.
CONTACT: Mike Gaines, Solar Racing Club president, (765) 494-9277;
Internet, gaines@ecn.purdue.edu
Residence halls emphasize services as enrollments fall
Faced with declining enrollments but the same number of residence halls, universities
are advertising the benefits of on-campus living. For example, students in all of
Purdue's 11 residence halls have voice mail, fax service and direct, high-speed computer access to the Internet through hall computer labs or personal computers in their
rooms. Students' identification cards this fall will double as a debit card to pay
for items purchased at hall grills. All halls offer health-conscious menu selections,
flexible dining hours and a packed-lunch option. One hall has gone smoke-free, and one
is completely air conditioned. "We want students and parents to be aware that they're
getting a lot for their money," says John Sautter, residence halls director. Purdue's
residence-hall system is among the 10 largest in the country. CONTACTS: Sautter, (765)
494-1000; Internet, jasautter@smly-01.hfs.purdue.edu or Barbara Middleton, manager,
marketing and communications, (765) 494-1000; Internet, bamiddleton@smly-01.hfs.purdue.edu Color photo of student at computer in her room available from Purdue News Service,
(765) 494-2096.
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Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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