Engaging Industry in a Chemical Engineering Program at a Hispanic-serving Institution

Matthew Lucian Alexander

Download Paper | Permalink

Conference: 2024 ASEE-GSW
Location: Canyon, Texas
Publication Date: March 10, 2024
Start Date: March 10, 2024
End Date: March 12, 2024
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 4
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--45376
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/45376
Download Count: 15

Request a correction

Paper Authors

biography

Matthew Lucian Alexander P.E. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

visit author page

Dr. Alexander graduated with a BS in Engineering Science from Trinity University, a MS in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. He worked for 25 years in environmental engineering consulting bef

visit author page

Download Paper | Permalink

Abstract

Engineering degree programs typically engage industry in their local or regional area through an advisory board, as required for ABET accreditation, through college-industry interactions associated with industry hiring, and through industry-funded student scholarships. Our chemical engineering program has expanded our engagement with industry well beyond these typical interactions. This expanded level of interaction has multiple benefits, both for our department in its mission, as well as for our students who graduate and are employed by local industry. This presentation will review the different types of industry / university engagement that our department has utilized and will assess those activities which are most beneficial and those which are of less benefit. First, for the benefit of the students, our faculty instructors engage with area industry by organizing class field trips to chemical engineering industrial facilities and also bringing industry speakers to the students. This latter activity occurs in several different venues, such as part of chemical engineering courses, as part of a summer bridge program for underclassmen students, and in career-oriented talks or discussions conducted by local student chapters of national engineering professional societies. In this same vein, industry personnel also provide open information sessions about their companies at the university campus, typically at the same general time as the university-organized career fair held each semester. Secondly, principally for the benefit of the department, industry personnel serve on our industrial advisory boards and they also volunteer as judges for our senior design conference held at the end of senior capstone courses. The industry personnel on the industrial advisor boards provide excellent feedback on their expectations of recent graduates that they may hire. The involvement of industry personnel in judging for the design conference is itself and excellent venue for industry / student interactions. The judges / students interaction provides students insight on what employers think of student work, besides providing the judges with a preview of the skills of specific students. Third, there are interactions with industry that are mutually beneficial to both our department and to industry. These include a Port Industries Consortium group led by a department faculty member, which provides regular technical short courses for the benefit of industry operators and engineers. Additionally, faculty from our department have periodically visited industry sites to assist in public outreach and donation / sponsorship events at their locations. These activities are typically not a direct benefit to the university students, however they serve to build connections between industry and our faculty, and thus lead to further engagements that does benefit the students.

Citation
Format

Alexander, M. L. (2024, March), Engaging Industry in a Chemical Engineering Program at a Hispanic-serving Institution Paper presented at 2024 ASEE-GSW, Canyon, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--45376

TY - CPAPER
AB - Engineering degree programs typically engage industry in their local or regional area through an advisory board, as required for ABET accreditation, through college-industry interactions associated with industry hiring, and through industry-funded student scholarships. Our chemical engineering program has expanded our engagement with industry well beyond these typical interactions. This expanded level of interaction has multiple benefits, both for our department in its mission, as well as for our students who graduate and are employed by local industry. This presentation will review the different types of industry / university engagement that our department has utilized and will assess those activities which are most beneficial and those which are of less benefit.
First, for the benefit of the students, our faculty instructors engage with area industry by organizing class field trips to chemical engineering industrial facilities and also bringing industry speakers to the students. This latter activity occurs in several different venues, such as part of chemical engineering courses, as part of a summer bridge program for underclassmen students, and in career-oriented talks or discussions conducted by local student chapters of national engineering professional societies. In this same vein, industry personnel also provide open information sessions about their companies at the university campus, typically at the same general time as the university-organized career fair held each semester.
Secondly, principally for the benefit of the department, industry personnel serve on our industrial advisory boards and they also volunteer as judges for our senior design conference held at the end of senior capstone courses. The industry personnel on the industrial advisor boards provide excellent feedback on their expectations of recent graduates that they may hire. The involvement of industry personnel in judging for the design conference is itself and excellent venue for industry / student interactions. The judges / students interaction provides students insight on what employers think of student work, besides providing the judges with a preview of the skills of specific students.
Third, there are interactions with industry that are mutually beneficial to both our department and to industry. These include a Port Industries Consortium group led by a department faculty member, which provides regular technical short courses for the benefit of industry operators and engineers. Additionally, faculty from our department have periodically visited industry sites to assist in public outreach and donation / sponsorship events at their locations. These activities are typically not a direct benefit to the university students, however they serve to build connections between industry and our faculty, and thus lead to further engagements that does benefit the students.

AU - Matthew Lucian Alexander P.E.
CY - Canyon, Texas
DA - 2024/03/10
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Engaging Industry in a Chemical Engineering Program at a Hispanic-serving Institution
UR - https://peer.asee.org/45376
DO - 10.18260/1-2--45376
ER -