Industry support is the key to Pennsylvania College of Technology's recent purchase of data-collection equipment for the civil engineering technology and surveying technology majors.
Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., New Columbia Joist Co., New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc., Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., Penn Terra Engineering Inc., and the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors all made donations that allowed Penn College to purchase three Ranger data-collection units.
The units will fit existing measurement instruments used for laboratory-instruction purposes and will be used by more than 160 students in the introductory surveying and plane surveying courses in the surveying technology associate-degree major and the civil engineering technology associate- and bachelor-degree majors.
Lawrence J. Fryda, dean of industrial and engineering technologies, said the new equipment will accommodate increases in enrollment in the programs and provide sufficient resources for students to gain hands-on experience in completing laboratory assignments.
The addition of the data-collection units provides students with the opportunity to work with the industry's most current and standard technology and be more productive when they enter the work force.
"It is vital that the graduates of these programs are preparing for their careers using the same technology they will be using on the job," Fryda said. "The technology used in this industry continues to evolve, and to be successful, our graduates must understand and be able to efficiently use this new technology. We are fortunate that the industry is willing and able to support our efforts in this area."
The civil engineering technology and surveying technology majors are among the fastest-growing programs at Penn College. From fall 2002 to fall 2003, the majors experienced a combined growth in enrollment of more than 15 percent.
For more information about civil engineering technology, surveying technology and other majors available at Penn College, contact the Office of Admissions at (570) 327-4761 or (800) 367-9222, send e-mail to admissions@pct.edu or visit http://www.pct.edu