PULLMAN – The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science received a donation of numerous calibration and measuring instruments, including multiple power quality analyzers and a network analyzer, from the Fluke Corporation this week .
All electrical engineering teaching labs at WSU rely on the use of such instrumentation. And because much of the lab work involves chip designs which operate at very low voltages, the maintenance of state-of-the-art, properly functioning test equipment is key to ensuring that the equipment doesn’t do damage to the very devices it is being used to test.
“Fluke is a strong supporter of education, particularly in Washington state, where we are headquartered,” said Jim Cavoretto, corporate technology officer and vice president of engineering at the Everett-based company. “Providing a quality learning environment with access to the latest technology gives students a great foundation as they move into the workforce. We are delighted to be able to contribute to programs like the electrical engineering school at Washington State University. Together we are working to insure that students receive an outstanding education and companies in our state and around the country have the engineering talent they need to be successful in the marketplace. “
Behrooz Shirazi, director of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, said partnerships with corporations such as Fluke allow WSU to better prepare students to join the next generation of work-ready power engineers. There are currently 65 students enrolled annually in the school’s power system and protective relay labs.
“With generous gifts from our partners in industry, our students receive more than just a textbook education,” said Shirazi. “The real-world applications they’re learning now will allow them to enter the workforce confident in their knowledge and their abilities.”
Since 1984, Fluke Corp. has donated more than $1.1 million in cash and equipment to the WSU Pullman and WSU Tri-Cities campuses.
