The following funds are available within the Pawley Lean Institute:

Scholarships

The Dennis and Carlotta Pawley Endowed Undergraduate Student Lean Award honors those who demonstrate their knowledge of interdisciplinary principles and concepts underlying Lean thinking and leadership through the use of Lean skills in course work, including class projects, internships, independent studies or presentations, either in class or in a work environment.

The Dennis and Carlotta Pawley Endowed Graduate Student Lean Award honors the continued study by graduate students of Lean knowledge, research and practices.

General Fund

The Dennis Pawley Institute is the general Pawley Institute fund that supports instruction, research and further development of interdisciplinary principles and practices of Lean organizational improvement for business, education and public service.

Endowed Professor

The Dennis and Carlotta Pawley Endowed Professorship in Lean Learning supports research that will advance knowledge and theories of Lean learning and/or facilitate the work of University faculty to educate students about Lean principles.

High School Workshops

The Pawley Lean Institute hosts high schools at Oakland University for a one-day program. Students receive an overview of Industrial and Systems Engineering and participate in a hands-on activity (“The Chocolate Factory” simulation), followed by a review as it pertains to a manufacturing environment. Students experience the Augmented Reality Lab (simulations with goggles), enjoy lunch and take a campus tour led by Oakland University Student Ambassadors. Funding supports student meals and reimbursement of transportation costs to the school. 

Lean Community Service Internships

Fall/Winter Semester Internships: Students work with community service organizations for 10 hours per week to complete a Lean process improvement project over a 10-week period. Students earn $2,500 each, apply their learnings, add to their resumes and learn the value of a community service organization. The organization implements the project with clearly defined student and project goals. Students work with mentors to provide midpoint and final presentations to Oakland University, the community service organization and funder.

Summer Internships: Students work on-site with a community service organization for 20 hours per week over a 10-week period. The student is managed by the organization for a variety of assignments, including Lean activities. Each student earns $5,000 and is assigned to a mentor from the university. The students apply their learnings, add to their resumes and learn the value of a community service organization. Students work with mentors to provide midpoint and final presentations.

Student Internships

For organizations seeking students for a co-op opportunity or a summer internship, the Pawley Lean Institute can provide resumes for the organization to review or have students post to an online position.

Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships

The Pawley Lean Institute offers undergraduate and graduate-level scholarships honoring students who demonstrate Lean thinking. An evaluation committee selects recipients based on student applications and written statements. For more information on scholarships, visit our scholarships web page.