Central College and three Pella companies are partnering to support a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering program.
Central College President Mark Putnam said the college’s partnership with Vermeer, Pella Corp. and PPI is a prime example of the state, the business community and private education working together to advance Iowa’s STEM initiative. Putnam and Vermeer CEO Mary Andringa announced the new program Monday night at the iExplore STEM festival. Central’s four-year engineering major will include coursework in electronics, thermodynamics, materials and dynamic systems, physics, and mathematics.
Jeff Weld, executive director of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, said the birth of an engineering program at Central College is beautifully timed and welcomed by STEM advocates across the state.
“When you consider that many thousands of young Iowans are at this very moment engaged in the STEM Council’s K-12 pre-engineering programs, each proven to inspire the next generation of innovators, higher education had better get ready,” Weld said. “Woven into a liberal arts scaffold, Central’s engineering degree will answer the clamor for critical and creative thinkers to drive our 21st-century economy.”
Pat Meyer, CEO of Pella Corp., said Central’s commitment to innovative and exceptional higher education is critical to the success of Pella and the business community.
“We, at Pella Corporation, are pleased to be a part of that,” Meyer said. “Central has a real opportunity to educate engineers in a unique way with strong corporate partnerships, personalized attention from faculty and engineering professionals, and focused preparation and skill sets that are adaptable over a lifetime.”