Lawrence Technological University

Lawrence Technological University, also known as Lawrence Tech or simply LTU, is a private university located in Southfield, Michigan. The school offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs in engineering, science, mathematics, architecture, graphic design, and business. Lawrence Technological University's four colleges are Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management.

Lawrence Tech was founded in 1932 in Highland Park, MI by the Lawrence brothers as the Lawrence Institute of Technology and adopted its current name in 1989. The school mascot is the blue devil, and the school colors are blue and white. Lawrence Tech moved to Southfield, Michigan from its site in Highland Park, Michigan in 1955. It is located at the John C. Lodge Freeway and 10 Mile Road, at the present time.

Lawrence Tech has consistently been among the Top Tier for "Universities-Master's (Midwest)" by U.S. News & World Report. It was ranked 37th out of several hundred Midwestern Universities in 2006, and 47th in 2007, 40th in 2008, and 55th in 2009. In addition, the University tied for 49th of 100 "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs" in U.S. News & World Report 's Best Universities-Masters-Midwest in 2010. Other distinctions include: Princeton Review "Best in the Midwest" in 2010; Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognition, 2009; G. I. Jobs "Military Friendly School," 2010; State of Michigan Center of Excellence for Sustainable Infrastructure and Structural Testing; an Intel "Top 50 Unwired Campus"; a Michigan Green Leader; Architectural Record among "America's Best Architectural Schools" in construction methods and materials; and Michigan's Going Green Award." Bloomberg-Businessweek also reported that the earning power of a Lawrence Tech bachelor's degree ranks in the highest 30 percent of all U.S. universities.

§History

It was a firm belief in the future that motivated Russell E. Lawrence to found a university in 1932--in the midst of the economic chaos of the Great Depression. While less farsighted individuals made predictions of gloom, Russell Lawrence and his brother, E. George Lawrence (who led Lawrence Tech from 1934 to 1964), turned a dream of preparing students for leadership in the new technical era into reality.

For nearly 80 years, Lawrence Tech has continued to prosper and accelerate its growth, hone its educational philosophy of theory and practice, build important community and professional alliances, and forge partnerships with the firms, organizations, and industries who hire Lawrence Tech alumni.

Wayne H. Buell, who served as president from 1964 to 1977 and as chair of the board and chief executive officer until 1981, worked to build a firm foundation for the University's early emergence as a technological leader. He first advanced the notion that Lawrence Tech was a private college serving a public purpose.

Several new buildings, the addition of graduate degrees, and the massive growth of computer facilities marked the presidency of Richard E. Marburger, who served as president, 1977-93, and also as chair of the board of trustees and chief executive officer, 1981-93.

Charles M. Chambers became president in 1993 and served as chancellor in 2006. During his presidency, he oversaw significant enhancement of the University's international reputation as a distinguished center of technological education and research. A Strategic Plan and Campus Master Plan were adopted to guide the University. Other achievements include: construction of the University Technology and Learning Center, University Housing-North; the A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center; a redeveloped campus quadrangle; the Center for Innovative Materials Research; establishment of a Faculty Senate; conversion of the computer system to a client server model with full Internet2 connectivity and online library access; creation of Michigan's first completely wireless laptop campus; and expanded bookstore, dining, and student activity facilities.

Lewis N. Walker was named interim president in February 2006, became president on July 1, and was inaugurated on November 2, 2006. He had previously served as provost, the University's chief academic officer, and executive vice president. Walker is committed to developing the leadership skills of Lawrence Tech's students and is working with faculty to add a leadership component to the curricula of all undergraduate programs. In addition, he is forging partnerships with universities worldwide that bring international students to campus and provide further opportunities for Lawrence Tech students to study abroad.

Lawrence Tech was founded on the principle that every person should have the opportunity for a college education. From the beginning, there were no restrictions on entering students relating to race, color, creed, or national or ethnic origin--only the requirement that students qualify for admission and have the desire to succeed. Working students could earn a baccalaureate degree by attending evening programs, day programs, or a combination of the two--a feature unique in 1932 and still remarkable today.

The school was originally called Lawrence Institute of Technology. Its present name, Lawrence Technological University, was approved on January 1, 1989, by the State of Michigan, and more clearly describes Lawrence Tech's undergraduate and graduate mission.

Lawrence Tech was founded as a college of engineering with only a few hundred students and a handful of faculty. Today it offers over 100 programs in four colleges, with a total enrollment of nearly 4,500 students, and employs over 400 full- and part-time faculty. In terms of enrollment, Lawrence Tech is among Michigan's largest independent colleges.

In 1950, associate programs were added to Lawrence Tech's baccalaureate offerings. In 1952 the College of Management was created, having its origins in an earlier industrial engineering curriculum. Master's degree programs in management were launched in 1989. The College of Architecture and Design evolved in 1962 from the former architectural engineering department and in 1993 launched a Master of Architecture program. The College of Arts and Sciences was established in 1967. Master's degree programs in engineering were begun in 1990 and in Arts and Sciences in 1997. Doctoral programs were launched in 2002.

Concurrently, there has been an enormous expansion and improvement of facilities. The University's first campus was located in Highland Park, in a building leased from Henry Ford adjacent to the huge manufacturing facility where he built the Model T and perfected the moving assembly line. As enrollment grew, the University acquired acreage in Southfield and in 1955 opened its first building on what had been a General Mills research farm. The campus has since expanded to over 100 acres (0.40 km²) and 12 major buildings, as well as the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Affleck House in Bloomfield Hills, which was donated to the University in 1978.

In 1977, Lawrence Tech shed its "commuter" classification by opening the nine-story University Housing-South residence hall. The 1980s and 1990s were distinguished by the opening of the Wayne H. Buell Management Building and the Don Ridler Field House, numerous improvements to existing buildings, and a substantial increase in state-of-the-art laboratory and computer equipment. The University Technology and Learning Center opened in 2001, University Housing-North in 2002, and the A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center and the Center for Innovative Materials Research in 2006. Just recently, the University received an anonymous cash donation for $20,000,000 which is the largest gift in its 81 year history. The donation will be used to support the STEM fields of science, technology, and mathematics by creating a Marburger STEM Center that supports those programs. A large portion of the donation will also go to need based scholarships. Construction will begin at the start of the 2014 fall school year.

§Academics

College of Architecture and Design: Architectural Studies, Architecture,Architecture (Direct Entry for Masters), Game Art, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interaction Design, Interior Architecture, Transportation Design

College of Engineering: Aeronautical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Audio Engineering Technology, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Communications Engineering Technology (Associate Degree), Construction Engineering Technology (Associate Degree), Construction Management, Electrical Engineering (Electronics Engineering Concentration), Energy Engineering (Minor), Engineering Technology, Industrial Operations Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Associate Degree), Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology (Associate Degree), Robotics Engineering

College of Arts and Sciences: Chemical Biology, Chemical Technology (Associate Degree), Chemistry, Computer Science (Minor), Computer Science, Economics (Minor), English (Minor), English and Communication Arts, Environmental Chemistry, General Sciences (Minor), General Studies, History, Humanities, Mathematics (Minor), Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Media Communication (Minor), Media Communication, Molecular and Cell Biology, Philosophy (Minor), Physics, Physics and Computer Science, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Premedical Studies (Pre-Professional), Pre-Dental (Pre-Professional), Pre-Law (Pre-Professional), Pre-Medical (Pre-Professional), Psychology (Pre-Professional), Radio and Television Broadcasting (Associate Degree), Spanish (Minor), Technical and Professional Communication (Minor)

College of Management: Business (Minor), Business Administration, Information Technology

§Athletics

Lawrence Tech teams are known as the Blue Devils. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) while men's ice hockey team is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) at the Division III level as a member of the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC). Men's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, ice hockey, lacrosse and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball.

Lawrence Tech re-instated athletic programs in 2011 and joined the NAIA. Men's soccer and bowling, along with women's volley joined the already established men's ice hockey team for the university's athletic offerings during the 2011-12 academic year. During its second season in the NAIA the university will begin competition in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's lacrosse, and women's soccer.

Lawrence Tech fielded athletic teams throughout its history from 1930 to 1962. The 1950-51 men's basketball team played the 1951 National Invitation Tournament, held at Madison Square Garden in New York. Lawrence Tech was defeated by Dayton, 71-77 in the opening round of the tournament. Blaine Denning, an alumnus from the 1951 team, went on to play professional basketball with the Baltimore Bullets of the NBA.

§Student life

On campus extracurricular activities include leadership opportunities and clubs. The University is also home to chapters of many fraternities and sororities.

§Notable alumni

The following is a list the presents other notable alumni.

• Steven A. Ballmer, while still simultaneously enrolled in high school, participated in Lawrence Tech's Summer Science Institute, then spent a year at the University, excelling in six of Lawrence Tech's top mathematics classes. Ballmer is a former CEO of Microsoft.
• Bennie L. Benjamin, B.S. Civil Engineering 1955 - retired director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, which serves nearly half of Michigan's citizens and is one of the nation's largest water and waste treatment organizations
• John Buffone, B.S. Architecture 1974, B. Architecture 1975 - Little Caesars Vice President of Architecture, oversaw design of Comerica Park. He managed a team of hundreds of architects, artists, and designers to develop the ballpark, which features a carousel, Ferris wheel, and 150-foot (46 m) wide fountain.
• Donald W. Date, B.S. Architectural Engineering 1949 - The late chief architect for the United States' Panama Canal Co. His Canal improvements and modernizations significantly increased efficiency and tonnage transported through the Canal.
• John DeLorean, B.S. Industrial engineering 1948 - Former GM executive who created the first muscle car and an American businessman who founded the De Lorean Motor Company based in Northern Ireland.
• Ed Donley, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1943 - Former president of Air Products & Chemicals and Lawrence Tech's largest benefactor, and former Chairman of the United States Chamber of Commerce in the 1980s.
• Alan Haase, B.S. Electrical Engineering 1982 - President of AGC Aerospace & Defense Composites Group, accomplished turnaround expert in leading underperforming companies to produce profitable, sustainable growth.
• Elizabeth Howell, B.S. Electrical Engineering 1992 - Vice President of Operations at ITC Holdings Corp., the nation's largest independent electricity transmission company. Miss Howell is a NERC certified system operator and is a board member of the Midwest Reliability Organization.
• Ronald Knockeart, B.S. Electrical Engineering 1963 - inventor of the laser bar code scanner and pioneered keyless entry door locks on cars.
• John W. Laister, B.S. Aeronautical Engineering 1938 - During World War II, developed the revolutionary high wing/rear door cargo plane design still used in cargo aircraft worldwide.
• Thomas S. Moore, B.S.EE 1986- general manager of Daimler-Chrysler's advanced vehicle research and development program, called Liberty and Technical Affairs. He oversees development of all future Chrysler products, working with a five to 10 year lead time.
• James P. Ryan, B.S. Architectural Engineering 1966 - former owner and one time principal of one of the nation's leading architectural firms that specializes in commercial and shopping center development. Highly acclaimed designs include the Somerset Collection and Great Lakes Crossing malls.
• George W. Sierant, ME 1947 - engineered the first viable rear-facing child safety seat in 1966. The six-way seat adjuster was another of many driver comfort and safety innovations Sierant developed during his 34 years with General Motors.
• Alfred Taubman, former Lawrence Tech architecture student - one of the nation's leading real estate developers, innovators, and owners of shopping malls throughout the U.S. He also owns Sotheby's auctioneers and until recently owned the A&W restaurant chain.
• Lewis Veraldi, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1968 - late father of the original Ford Taurus and Sable. As Ford Motor Company vice president in charge of car development, Veraldi pioneered cross-disciplinary personnel teams that led to the launch of these cars. The "team" development process he innovated has become the industry standard.
• Vincent G. Dow, B.S. Electrical Engineering 1979 - Vice President and Chief Engineer of Electric Distribution Operations at DTE Energy. Oversees DTE's electrical system, including new customer connections, engineering, power plant electrical equipment, and all distribution system construction. Also oversees Ass Optimization, distribution contract management, performance management, the Smart Grid efforts and NERC standards and compliance for DTE.

§Notable faculty and staff

• Wayne Buell, B.S. Chemical Engineering 1936 - Lawrence Tech's president in 1964 Was a member of the first class to attend Lawrence Tech for four years from 1932-1936. The Buell Management building was named in his honor.
• Don Ridler - Before coming to Lawrence Tech in 1932 to build an athletic program, he coached Michigan's first professional football franchise. The Ridler Field House was named in his honor.

§Photo gallery

§See also

• Association of Independent Technological Universities

§References

§External links

• Lawrence Technological University
• Lawrence Technological University Athletics
• Lawrence Technological University Online Degrees

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