April 15: Tour CLC's Baxter Innovation Lab, learn about engineering transfer program
The College of Lake County will host an open house for its Baxter Innovation Lab from 5-7 p.m. Monday, April 15 in Room T120 on the Grayslake Campus. The event, which is open to all age groups, precedes the information session for engineering transfer students from 7-8 p.m. in the same location.
At the open house, visitors will be able to tour the lab and its equipment in operation, see a sample of projects made in the lab and ask questions of staff. Information also will be available regarding volunteer opportunities, including technical advising for project work, mentoring students and teaching workshops. Other opportunities include teaching summer Explore classes for K-12 students, serving on the lab advisory committee, hosting field trips and more.
The 45-minute information session will include details about the CLC engineering transfer curriculum and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) College of Engineering Pathways program (which offers guaranteed admission after successfully completing two years at CLC). Additionally, guaranteed admission agreements with University of Illinois-Chicago and Northern Illinois University will be explained, along with other transfer opportunities. The first two years of any engineering curriculum are common, allowing "pre-engineering" majors to start at CLC and transfer to any engineering field and enjoy considerable savings, according to Professor Rob Twardock, engineering department chair.
"With the average four-year public university tuition at $15,000-20,000 per year, plus room and board of $10,000-12,000, engineering students can save about $25,000 per year by starting at CLC. We offer small classes taught by professors who are professional engineers," he said.
Funded by Baxter International, Inc., the Baxter Innovation Lab is a non-profit instructional makerspace/fab lab and the first public lab of its kind in Lake County. The facility, which opened last fall, serves area residents, entrepreneurs and business representatives in addition to CLC students and faculty. The state-of-the-art lab provides the space and equipment for individuals or groups to design and fabricate prototypes, as well as proofs of concept, with a variety of software, tools and equipment. Among the offerings are 2D and 3D CAD design and digital fabrication, including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills and routers, vinyl print/cut machines and more. In addition, equipment is available for woodworking, metalworking, electronics and programming.
Learn more by visiting the lab website at www.clcillinois.edu/baxterlab or by contacting Engineering faculty department chairs Jan Edwards (jedwards1@clcillinois.edu) or Rob Twardock (rwardock@clcillinois.edu).
To view an alphabetical listing of CLC majors, including science, technical, engineering and math (STEM) fields, visit www.clcillinois.edu/programs.
Registration is now open for Summer Session, which offers two start dates: May 21 and June 10; and for Fall Semester, which begins Aug. 19. To view course offerings and learn how to become a CLC student, visit www.clcillinois.edu/summer or www.clcillinois.edu/fall.
About College of Lake County:
College of Lake County is an innovative community college in Lake County, Ill. that transforms lives with its variety of accessible, quality education options. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, College of Lake County provides affordable options in a state-of-the-art setting close to home. A large student network, with small class sizes,
provides advantages to our students on a career-related program or a path toward a transfer degree. We're proud to serve the diverse needs of our community and student body. Connect to your future today at College of Lake County. For more information, visit www.clcillinois.edu.