06/18/2026
The distance from NIU to Custom Aluminum Products in Genoa is just 16 miles. The journey from learning about workplace safety in a classroom to experiencing it firsthand is much greater.
This spring, students in NIU's Environmental, Health and Safety program stepped into a manufacturing environment to conduct safety assessments, observe operations and see how safety principles are applied every day.
The semester-long partnership with Custom Aluminum Products gave students valuable hands-on experience while helping bridge the gap between theory and practice.
“Experiential learning opportunities like this prepare our students to lead from day one in their careers," says CEET Dean Dave Grewell.
Read how this industry partnership is helping prepare the next generation of safety professionals.
Through a symbiotic partnership, Custom Aluminum Products in Genoa opens door to experiential learning for CEET engineering students.