What is the IDOT Engineering Academy?

Launched in 2008

IDOT partners with schools and school districts

Educational modules from AASHTO TRAC outreach program.

TRAC - Transportation and Civil Engineering, provides eight modules that introduce students K-12 to the work world of transportation and civil engineering while improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills (STEM).

Why the IDOT Engineering Academy?

Increase interest in STEM at the K-12 level

IDOT uses TRAC modules to promote civil engineering as a career

Long range goal of increasing diversity in the IDOT workforce

The challenge is to develop innovative new programs to inspire more students to pursue STEM subject expertise, and specifically to encourage them to consider transportation careers.

Benefits

Students learn by working directly with professional engineers

TRAC provides “canned” STEM curriculum

Helps IDOT reach underserved communities with STEM programming

Mentoring programs

Improved Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math skills (STEM)

Public-private collaborations (private engineering firms)

The Engineering Academy Program

Most Engineering Academy Programs begin in October and hold their final sessions by the end of December or may flow into January and February.

The program is flexible and is developed to accommodate the school which may opt to offer an afterschool or Saturday club.

Examples of Engineering Academy Programs

Chicago Public Schools, Thornton Township High School District and Peoria School District 150 In schools (9th through 12th grades) during school day or immediately

after last class period Some schools opted for a Saturday program

Rockford School District Saturday Academy open to all district high schools during February

and March Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview District 89 and Springfield District

186 After school explorer clubs for 6th, 7th and 8th grades

Examples of Engineering Academy Programs

Upward Bound – East St. Louis After school groups

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago with DePaul University Saturday Academy

Summer 3-Day Engineering Academies Daley Community College - Chicago Chicago Public Schools - ACE Technical Charter East St. Louis Community College Center – Collinsville Springfield School District - Capital College Prep Academy

Summer Engineering Academy

Afterschool Explorers Academy