INDIANAPOLIS — Trine University and Citizens Energy Group have begun a collaboration
through Citizens’ Partnership for Excellence in Research and Learning (PERL) program.
“Citizens Energy Group has a longstanding history of supporting our community in various
ways. As a part of this commitment, we are partnering with universities within Indiana
to support professional development and research, as well as other opportunities for
the students,” said Mark Jacob, Vice President, Capital Programs and Engineering for
Citizens. “Our intent is to encourage graduating students to remain in Indiana and
the Indianapolis area to fulfill the workforce needs of Citizens and its supporting
businesses and to become future business leaders in these industries.”
Besides encouraging students to stay in Indiana, Citizens hopes the partnership will
create more professional development opportunities for Trine students and create an
improved exchange of data addressing industry challenges between Citizens’ utilities
and the university.
The university hopes to increase the number of guest speakers from Citizens on campus
and increase the number of field trips to Citizens facilities. Timothy Tyler, Ph.D.,
dean of the Allen School of Engineering & Technology, said the company also hopes
to work with Trine’s Education Resource Center to provide internships for students.
Planning already is underway to have representatives from Citizens serve as guest
lecturers for American Society of Civil Engineers meetings and the Intro to Engineering
Course; to have Trine students tour various Citizens facilities; and to have students
research industry challenges through Trine University’s Innovation One. Citizens is
also providing case studies that can potentially serve as capstone projects for civil
engineering seniors.
“This is a great opportunity for our students to work with professionals in the field,
to see real projects and to gain professional development that ultimately could result
in employment opportunities,” said Tyler.
Learn more about the PERL program in a YouTube video from Citizens Energy.
Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 800,000
people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities only for the benefit
of customers and the community.