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PPG Helps Fund Corrosion Engineering Major

Friday, August 28, 2009

The PPG Industries Foundation (Pittsburgh, PA) has announced that it has donated $5,000 to The University of Akron (UA; Akron, OH) to support development of the nation’s first undergraduate program focused on corrosion engineering.

“We are very pleased to receive support from PPG to help us establish this unique engineering program, with an emphasis on preparing students to effectively address the $276 billion annual cost of corrosion to the U.S. economy,” said Dr. George K. Haritos, dean of the UA College of Engineering. “The funding will be used to support outreach efforts to build student interest in this newly approved curriculum.”

The U.S. Department of Defense has provided most of the funding to UA for this new program of study. Dr. Haritos said the major will consist of an engineering core with concentrations on a strong corrosion science foundation, effective corrosion engineering principles, and corrosion management components.

PPG operates a chemicals manufacturing facility in Barberton, OH, in the Akron area. Scientists from the company’s coatings research facilities near Pittsburgh will act as adjunct professors for some courses in the new corrosion engineering program.

“PPG is strongly committed to supporting the communities where its employees work and live,” said Chuck Kahle, chief technology officer and vice president, coatings research and development, for PPG Industries. “We are proud to support The University of Akron in its efforts to establish an academic curriculum that’s focused on an area of importance to PPG and our customers. We are excited to play a part in guiding curriculum development, to have PPG researchers teach corrosion engineering courses, and to support the students and graduates of the program in their professional development.”

PPG established the PPG Industries Foundation in 1951 to demonstrate the values of the company by enhancing the quality of life in communities where it has a presence. For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

The University of Akron is the public research university for Northern Ohio. The Princeton Review listed UA among the “Best in the Midwest” in its 2008 edition of Best Colleges: Region-by-Region. For more information, visit www.uakron.eduhttp://www.uakron.edu/.