For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Jennifer Cahill Project Lead The Way (317) 669-0871 jcahill@pltw.org
INDIANAPOLIS – Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is proud to announce its newest affiliate partner, North Dakota State University (NDSU). In this new role, NDSU will support PLTW’s professional development programs, host annual conferences for PLTW school administrators and counselors, provide ongoing support to PLTW schools, and offer a variety of student recognition opportunities. NDSU joins approximately 60 other PLTW affiliate partners in supporting STEM education.
”Project Lead The Way is excited to welcome North Dakota State University to our network of outstanding university partners supporting our schools, teachers, and students,” said PLTW President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Vince Bertram. “Their support in the state of North Dakota and beyond is critical for preparing America’s next generation of problem solvers and critical thinkers.”
PLTW is the nation’s leading provider of K-12 STEM programs, with more than 6,500 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia currently offering PLTW courses to their students.
As a part of NDSU’s new partnership with PLTW, the university will offer teacher training for both PLTW Engineering and PLTW Computer Science. The partnership will facilitate engagement among schools that offer PLTW, NDSU, and industry partners who share an interest in reaching students and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Additionally, the relationship with PLTW will allow NDSU to expand its reach while providing a unique connection to schools and teachers that the institution has not had in the past.
“Through this partnership with PLTW, we are not only prepared to offer training and professional development opportunities for teachers, but we want to be a resource and support for them as they, in turn, educate the next generation of STEM professionals,” said Holly Erickson, NDSU STEM outreach coordinator and PLTW affiliate director.
As a land grant university, part of NDSU’s mission is to serve the state and its people. In becoming an affiliate university, NDSU will give North Dakota PLTW teachers closer access to training and professional development and, as a result, give students within the state greater exposure to and experience in STEM.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with PLTW to enhance K-12 STEM education across the state of North Dakota and in our region,” said College of Engineering Dean Gary R. Smith. “In the College of Engineering, our goal is to educate creative and innovative problem solvers who are prepared to meet the needs of a global society. This partnership with PLTW is a natural fit to help us attain that goal.”
In addition to PLTW, NDSU supports a variety of other K-12 programs aimed at getting students interested in STEM. NDSU serves as a local BEST Robotics competition site, as well as one of four regional championships in the nation. NDSU is a Technology Student Association TEAMS competition host site. Finally, NDSU runs a variety of after-school clubs and summer camps to engage students in STEM, including TechGyrls – an after-school program specifically targeted at getting young girls interested in STEM.
About PLTW Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is the nation’s leading provider of K-12 STEM programs. PLTW’s world-class, activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, help students develop the skills needed to succeed in our global economy. More than 6,500 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently offering PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.
About North Dakota State University North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student-focused, land-grant, research university with more than 14,500 students. It is notably listed among the nation's top 108 public and private universities in the Carnegie Commission of Higher Education's elite category of "Research Universities/Very High Research Activity," with several programs ranked in the Top 100 by the National Science Foundation.
Founded in 1890, NDSU offers 100 undergraduate majors, 86 master's degree programs and 50 doctoral degree programs. NDSU is fully accredited as an institution by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The main campus is located in Fargo, N.D., with Extension Service and Research Experiment Station locations all across the state.
The university is an economic engine that educates students, conducts primary research, creates new knowledge and advances technology. The university provides affordable access to an excellent education at a top-ranked research institution that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment, educating future leaders who will create solutions to national and global challenges that will shape a better world.
The largest college on campus, the NDSU College of Engineering offers ABET-accredited degrees in eight engineering disciplines and an ACCE-accredited degree in construction management.
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