Pre-Freshman and Cooperative Education (PREFACE) seeks to create a cooperative environment for students heading into their sophomore or junior year of high school who aspire to attend college. It is a one-week, one-credit residential summer workshop that focuses on college readiness with a strong emphasis on math and engineering projects. PREFACE is an early outreach strategy aiming to attract underrepresented students, i.e., African American, Native American, Hispanic American, to Purdue. Participants will learn about engineering careers, see how engineers move the world forward and discover, engage and apply engineering principles through hands-on learning. They live in a residence hall in West Lafayette, meet current undergraduate and graduate engineering students, faculty and administrators and learn about engineering majors.
PREFACE 2025
- June 22-27, 2025
- Interest form deadline: May 30, 2025
- Registration notification: Rolling basis until June 5, 2025
- Payment deadline: June 16, 2025
Program cost
- $100 non-refundable program registration fee
- $1,000 workshop fee
National outreach
PREFACE participants will meet like-minded students from major cities across the United States and Puerto Rico. They will be able to explore the West Lafayette campus, learn about the College of Engineering and first-year engineering requirements, tour selected research laboratories and examine career choices that relate to their values, abilities and goals.
Hands-on projects
In collaboration with one or more of the schools within the college, students will be exposed to the engineering design process used to solve some of the world's most pertinent challenges. They will complete an engineering project, led by faculty and/or graduate assistants, and engage in friendly competition while developing presentation skills.
Academic relations
Most importantly, participants will leave with skills to help them improve their academic profile. With a strong focus on mathematics, students will have a pre-assessment and receive a license for an online academic program that they can continue to use after the program has concluded.
Affordability
Scholarships are available for students who meet need-based scholarship requirements.
In accordance with Purdue policies, all persons have equal access to Purdue University’s educational programs, services and activities, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or status as a veteran. See Purdue’s Nondiscrimination Policy Statement. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these policies, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance at vpec@purdue.edu or 765-494-5830.