Events & extracurricular activities

Railroad Engineering and Activities Club (REAC)

The Railroad Engineering and Activities Club (REAC) was formed in 2005 and is recognized as an official student organization on campus. In 2006, REAC became the first (and so far only) AREMA student chapter. Today there are almost 40 members in the club from eight departments on campus. The objective of the club, as stated in their charter, is to organize and participate in events that increase the visibility of the rail industry on campus and in the community. For more information, please visit REAC web site.

Railroad Events

Rail Transportation Program and REAC organize regularly events to increase the exposure of students, staff, faculty, administration and community to rail transportation. The best known is probably the Annual Railroad Night, where Tech participants get an opportunity to meet and socialize with rail industry representatives. Other examples of the events are Rail History Night and Boy Scout Merit Badge day.

Pre-university events

Rail transportation program participates in and sponsors university-organized events targeted to middle-school and high school students to introduce the latest generations to rail transportation. Two examples of such events are Construction Career Days (CCD) and YesExpo!

Professional affiliations and conferences

Several Michigan Tech faculty and students are members of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-way Association (AREMA). Faculty has made presentations on rail related topics in numerous education and engineering conferences.

Web site and promotional material

Michigan Tech uses various methods to invite students and public to learn about railroading at Tech and rail transportation in general. Rail Transportation Program web site is one of the top web sites visited for railroad engineering education and Rail Transportation Program distributes newsletters and brochures to those interested in the program / rail transportation. The program has also been the subject of several newspaper and magazine articles in local, industry and national press.