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