September 10, 2004 5:41 PM CDT

UMR Receives ACTE Award for Work with RTI

By Rolla Daily News

The University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) has received the 2004 Award of Merit from the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) for the campus' collaboration with Rolla Technical Institute (RTI) on several research and educational projects.

UMR received the award Tuesday, July 27, during the opening session of the Missouri ACTE's annual conference in Springfield, Mo. RTI nominated UMR for the award.

UMR was cited for involving RTI students and faculty members in several research and educational projects during the past five years...

One project involves RTI masonry students in UMR research to strengthen building materials. RTI students worked with researchers in UMR's Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies to test the strength of new, lightweight construction materials in concrete blocks. The RTI students built a wall using fiber-reinforced composite materials developed at UMR, then observed as UMR students tested the technology...

"The partnership between UMR and RTI is truly unique because it brings together a major research university and a technical institute to work toward the common cause of providing a relevant and meaningful educational experience to students from both institutions," says UMR Chancellor Gary Thomas. "This partnership has been beneficial to both parties over the past five years, and we look forward to years and years of continued collaboration."

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