SOUTHFIELD — Lawrence Technological University is emerging as an applied research powerhouse while continuing a successful transition to an undergraduate-focused residential campus.
That was the word from President Virinder Moudgil this week at his annual State of the University address, attended by about 200 faculty and staff.
LTU President Virinder Moudgil
The university’s 2016 strategic plan called for the university to make that residential transition, along with becoming a national leader in STEM and design education, providing state-of-the-art technology for students and staff, and providing for future facility needs. The university is making good on all those goals, Moudgil said.
LTU had much to celebrate in 2017 and early 2018, Moudgil said – including the accreditation of its College of Management by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a prestigious accreditation achieved by only 5 percent of the world’s 16,000 business schools. Nine programs in the College of Engineering were also accredited by engineering education’s standard-setter, ABET – including three new programs established over the past five years.
The university was one of only 23 schools in the nation out of more than 500 applicants to receive a grant to advance undergraduate research among underrepresented populations from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute – and the only grant-winning institution in Michigan. The effort was spearheaded by the College of Arts and Sciences, which has also added a successful new program in nursing. The College of Architecture and Design is seeing strong industry recognition for its young transportation and industrial design program.
As part of the undergraduate transformation, LTU next fall will open a fourth residence hall that will bring the total number of students living on campus to more than 1,100. Included among them will be a 105-student-athlete football team that opens play Sept. 1 against Oakland University and a 75-member marching band.
The College of Management was responsible for 61 academic journal publications, six books, 19 chapters in books, and more than 50 conference presentations. The College of Architecture and Design sponsored 22 public lectures and 19 exhibitions on campus, along with numerous design events and conferences. Moudgil also praised the College of Engineering for numerous industry-backed research projects and industry donations.
LTU has also beefed up campus and online security, while migrating to new and improved software systems, Moudgil said. Online education programs now enroll 780 students, up from 644 last year.
Lawrence Tech is also adding dual-enrollment programs for high school students at 13 Detroit-area schools this fall.
Moudgil quoted American computer scientist Alan Kay, saying “The best way to predict the future is to invent it. We are in the process of inventing the future at LTU.”
This story was published in Technology Century
