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Section 2150

Undergraduate Research Projects for Engineering Technology Students

Chih-Ping Yeh, Jeannie Drew, Chris Rockwell, Hai-Chun Chien

Division of Engineering Technology Wayne State University

Abstract

This paper describes three undergraduate research projects conducted in the Division of Engineering Technology at Wayne State University. All of the three projects were supported by the WSU Undergraduate Research Grants. The research problems, approaches taken, and respective roles of the students and faculty member are presented. The impact of undergraduate research on ET education and future challenges are discussed.

1. Introduction

Research experience for undergraduates is of great importance not only for conducting research on a topic that has impact on a current research activity, but also as a tool to enhance undergraduate education1-3. For the engineering technology students, research experiences allow them to carry out in-depth study of engineering concepts, while emphasizing hands-on experiences and practical applications. Participating in funded research projects strengthens the student’s resume, and fulfills the requirements of present day employers, who demand sound engineering skills in their employees.

At Wayne State University (WSU), the Undergraduate Research Council funds up to twelve proposals each semester. All undergraduate students, except graduating seniors, are invited to submit research proposals for competition. The proposed research project must be sponsored by the faculty and involve the undergraduate working in collaboration with a faculty member. Each proposal, limited to four pages, must include a project description, research problem(s), roles of the faculty and student, proposed project duration, budget justification, and a letter of recommendation from the faculty. A budget of $2,000 is available for the student, either as a tuition or stipend, and $500 is available for justified research cost. At the end of the project period, the student or the faculty must submit a final report on the research to the Undergraduate Research Council. The report, limited to three pages, must outline the project’s findings and the respective roles of the student and the faculty. It is suggested by the Undergraduate Research Council that each project be completed in no more than two semesters. For continued research, the original proposal can be resubmitted in the following semester for competition. This allows the student to earn up to $6,000 in an academic year.

The Division of Engineering Technology (DET) at WSU has actively participated in “Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Yeh, C. (2003, June), Undergraduate Research Projects For Engineering Technology Students Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--11746