General Motors, a long-time supporter of Michigan Technological University, has awarded the University a $110,000 grant through its University/Organization Partner Program, once again, supporting the critical needs of STEM Education here at MTU
A significant portion of the grant will be devoted to General Motors’ commitment to the Enterprise Manufacturing Initiative. The grant will also provide continuing support for a variety of student activities, including the Advanced Motorsports Enterprises, Education, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) outreach, underrepresented student groups and diversity programs through the Center for Educational Outreach and Center for Diversity and Inclusion, as well as support for the community-chosen Enterprise project working on an HVAC system that cleans viruses and other disease-causing particles from enclosed buildings.
Housed in the Pavlis Honors College, the Enterprise program consists of student-driven, multidisciplinary teams that work like companies on real-world client projects, whether the deliverable is an innovative product, a pioneering solution or a much-needed service. The hallmark of the Enterprise program is the experiential training it provides to students. The manufacturing engineering initiative focuses on student projects to educate Michigan Tech Enterprise students that manufacturing engineering is a viable area of study and career path.
“Michigan Tech’s Enterprise program is thrilled to again partner with General Motors to develop Enterprise projects that highlight career opportunities available in manufacturing,” said Chris Morgan, assistant director for educational partnerships. “The Enterprise program’s hands-on and can-do attitude fits perfectly as the home for manufacturing project-based learning.”
Michigan Tech is pleased again to have GM as a “Creating the Future” Advanced Motorsports (AMS) sponsor. As part of Michigan Tech’s signature Enterprise Program, AMS represents a consortium of four of the vehicle competition Enterprise teams—Blizzard Baja, Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Formula Car, and Supermileage Systems. Each AMS team is an interdisciplinary organization of students whose goal is to develop a complete vehicle—from concept, through prototyping and testing, and on to final build and ‘delivery’ at the respective competitions. While each team operates as a separate Enterprise entity, the AMS umbrella enables our teams to leverage the diverse talent, economies of scale, and synergistic opportunities afforded to the group as a whole. Ultimately, this hands-on learning environment allows AMS members to develop critical business, engineering, communication, and leadership skills for a successful transition into the workforce.
Michigan Tech and General Motors have had a long-standing partnership dating back to at least 1940, supporting a wide range of activities across campus including scholarships, Senior Design and Enterprise projects, student organizations, sponsored research, recruiting support, youth programs, diversity initiatives and more.
For more information on the Enterprise Program, or GM’s partnership with Michigan Tech, please contact enterprise@mtu.edu.
