Director of Outreach and Technical Education Claude Goguen, P.E., LEED AP, recently traveled to Ball State University and Trine University to conduct guest lectures as part of NPCA’s local outreach.
On Sept. 30, Goguen traveled to Muncie, Ind., to guest lecture for two sessions of professor Dick Stafford’s Architecture 214 course at Ball State. Both of Goguen’s lectures covered general uses of architectural precast and were well received by approximately 50 sophomore and junior architecture undergrads.
Goguen also connected with professor Mike Mezzo to discuss future opportunities for NPCA to get involved in Ball State’s construction management program.
The following day, Goguen continued to Angola, Ind., where he provided education to civil engineering students at Trine University. The first guest lecture covered sustainable uses of precast concrete and was offered to approximately 25 undergraduate students in professor Gary Greene’s civil engineering materials course.
Goguen attended the ASCE student chapter meeting later that evening and presented on the versatility of precast concrete. There were around 27 civil engineering students and faculty at the meeting.
NPCA professional staff have been involved with the Ball State architecture program since 2012 and have educated nearly 530 students over the last eight consecutive fall semesters. And at Trine University, NPCA has educated nearly 315 civil engineering students since 2013.
NPCA’s efforts to conduct outreach at local universities each year have led to a prominent presence of precast concrete within each program for little cost and time spent.
You can do it, too! Whether your goal is to find future employees, teach the benefits of precast to future specifiers, or help professors incorporate precast into the curriculum – or all three – connecting with them personally will help you reach your goal.
For assistance and direction on conducting local academic outreach, watch our Precast Learning Lab video on Building Education Relationships.
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