By Chris Morgan, Assistant Director of Educational Partnerships
The Enterprise Program provides world-class hand’s on educational opportunities for Michigan Tech students. Since joining the program office in fall of 2019, I’ve had a chance to see this first hand with the amazing student projects that Enterprise teams propose, design, prototype, and validate as part of their teamwork experience. The program is filled with unique individuals who are learning to demonstrate their technical, professional, and leadership skills with real-world applicable projects. The program is also supported by a host of engaged industry partners, advisors, and program staff that are engaged above and beyond expectations to make sure MTU students can receive a world class education.
One opportunity that sticks out from this year has been the Enterprise Manufacturing Initiative. This initiative allows for Enterprise students and teams to propose a manufacturing related project topic, receive funding through General Motors’ University Giving, get timely advice from two dedicated GM manufacturing engineers (MTU alumni), and execute the project with pre-defined timelines and measurable outcomes. This year’s EMI student group proposed 7 new projects, including everything from advanced suspension design on the SAE Baja vehicle, to recycling systems for 3-D printing filament, to a low cost vaccine transport device for impoverished communities. Despite the transition to remote learning, these students produced great strides in the effort to finalize their designs and prepare for prototyping next fall. The Baja Suspension team was even kind enough to bring their entire vehicle up to the Pavlis Honors College common space to show off their accomplishment during a February EMI general meeting.
Looking forward to next year’s Enterprise team accomplishments! Please consider becoming involved in the many opportunities and objectives of the Enterprise program.