Innovative Senior Project Program Partnering University and Corporate Partners

Eric Paul Pearson

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Capstone Design II
Tagged Division: Design in Engineering Education
Page Count: 20
Page Numbers: 22.882.1 - 22.882.20
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--18180
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/18180
Download Count: 463

Paper Authors

biography

Eric Paul Pearson Northrop Grumman Corporation, Electronic Systems

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Eric P. Pearson is the Sector Director of Development Programs for the Electronic Systems Sector of Northrop Grumman Corporation. After several years as an organizational Staff Manager and the Antenna Integrated Product Team lead for major radar programs he began the development of Internship, Co-op, New Graduate Engineering rotation and Early Career Leadership Training Programs. Eric carries a passion for assisting soon-to-be and recent university graduates as they develop their technical, professional and leadership skills through their early careers in industry.

In addition to his responsibilities at Northrop Grumman, Eric Pearson serves on the Electrical & Computer Engineering and Minority Engineering Advisory Boards at North Carolina State University, serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Engineering at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California, and mentors several engineering managers at Northrop Grumman. In these appointments he serves as a keynote speaker throughout the year speaking and lecturing on engineering, philosophy, leadership, grief counseling and development of leadership teams for several student groups.

Mr. Pearson has also served on several committees and a frequent presenter at the annual conference for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). He is currently the President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE) having presented preconference workshops and sessions during the SoACE conference each year since 2006.

In his spare time Eric has authored two books; “Ryan’s Stories: God’s Perfect Child” (self-published),”A Common Sense approach to Leadership,” is currently writing bedtime stories, and is preparing to start a murder mystery novel.

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Abstract

American Society for Engineering Education 2011 Conference, June 26 – 29, 2011 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Graduate Studies DivisionTopic: Innovative Senior Project Program Partnering University and Corporate PartnersAuthor: Eric P. Pearson Northrop Grumman Corp, Electronic Systems 7323 Aviation Blvd., MS 999 Baltimore MD 21240 W 410-993-6611 Cell 443-883-5714 Fax 410-981-2738Innovation is how the Unites States became great as we developed as a nation. In responseto the increasing need for Graduate Engineers in the United States and the dwindlingfinancial support for public universities, a partnership between the School of Engineering atCalifornia Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo and Northrop Grumman Corporationwas created during 2009/2010 with the purpose of developing and piloting an innovativeprogram where a Cal Poly student would complete a “for credit” Senior Design Project inparallel with completing a Summer Internship, for pay, at one of the University’s CorporatePartners facility. The project would allow the student to gain university credit outside ofthe academic calendar, reducing the need for a professor to be involved in a classroomsetting, make room for additional classes during the following semester/quarter, introducesignificant industry experience, provide a key project for the corporate partner, and test thestudent’s resolve in completing two projects in parallel. The project required significanteffort by the participating student and the corporate partner.After nine months of developing a basic Statement of Work and briefing both EngineeringDepartment Chairs and prospective Students, one Cal Poly student was selected and agreedto complete his Senior Project at the Northrop Grumman, Aerospace Sector, PalmdaleCalifornia facility. All work was performed and scheduled as to not interrupt theinternship requirements. The student worked with the university and the employerrepresentative to finalize the statement of work and project schedule. A complete projectplan and formal presentations were completed during the internship period and the resultsof the project were presented via a live conference call across the country to severalNorthrop Grumman facilities.In addition to the student’s individual efforts on the project, a cohort group from theNorthrop Grumman ES Sector Early Career Leadership Training Program followed theproject, met with the student, arranged formal presentations and documented the entireprocess and results of the Senior project. The Pilot Program was successful, The studenthas received his classroom credit, evaluations and recommendations to the process havebeen recorded and under review; while the Cohort team completes the summary andpresent recommendations to project enhancements and create presentations to share withadditional universities interested in pushing the envelope on Project Based Learning fortheir Engineering students.Eric P. Pearson is the Sector Director of Development Programs for the Electronic Systemssector of Northrop Grumman Corporation. After several years as an organizational StaffManager and the Antenna Integrated Product Team lead for major radar programs hebegan the development of Internship, Co-op, New Graduate Engineering rotation and EarlyCareer Leadership Training Programs. Eric carries a passion for assisting soon-to-be andrecent university graduates as they develop their technical, professional and leadershipskills through their early careers in industry.In addition to his responsibilities at Northrop Grumman, Eric Pearson serves on theElectrical & Computer Engineering and Minority Engineering Advisory Boards at NorthCarolina State University, serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Engineering atCalifornia Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California, and mentors severalengineering managers at Northrop Grumman. In these appointments he serves as akeynote speaker throughout the year speaking and lecturing on engineering, philosophy,leadership, grief counseling and development of leadership teams for several studentgroups.Mr. Pearson has also served on several committees and a frequent presenter at the annualconference for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). He is currentlythe President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE) havingpresented preconference workshops and sessions during the SoACE conference each yearsince 2006.In his spare time Eric has authored two books; “Ryan’s Stories: God’s Perfect Child” (self-published),”A Common Sense approach to Leadership,” is currently writing bedtimestories, and is preparing to start a murder mystery novel.

Citation
Format

Pearson, E. P. (2011, June), Innovative Senior Project Program Partnering University and Corporate Partners Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--18180

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -                      American Society for Engineering Education                        2011 Conference, June 26 – 29, 2011                       Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada                             Graduate Studies DivisionTopic:         Innovative Senior Project Program Partnering University and               Corporate PartnersAuthor:        Eric P. Pearson               Northrop Grumman Corp, Electronic Systems               7323 Aviation Blvd., MS 999               Baltimore MD 21240               W 410-993-6611       Cell 443-883-5714 Fax 410-981-2738Innovation is how the Unites States became great as we developed as a nation. In responseto the increasing need for Graduate Engineers in the United States and the dwindlingfinancial support for public universities, a partnership between the School of Engineering atCalifornia Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo and Northrop Grumman Corporationwas created during 2009/2010 with the purpose of developing and piloting an innovativeprogram where a Cal Poly student would complete a “for credit” Senior Design Project inparallel with completing a Summer Internship, for pay, at one of the University’s CorporatePartners facility. The project would allow the student to gain university credit outside ofthe academic calendar, reducing the need for a professor to be involved in a classroomsetting, make room for additional classes during the following semester/quarter, introducesignificant industry experience, provide a key project for the corporate partner, and test thestudent’s resolve in completing two projects in parallel. The project required significanteffort by the participating student and the corporate partner.After nine months of developing a basic Statement of Work and briefing both EngineeringDepartment Chairs and prospective Students, one Cal Poly student was selected and agreedto complete his Senior Project at the Northrop Grumman, Aerospace Sector, PalmdaleCalifornia facility. All work was performed and scheduled as to not interrupt theinternship requirements. The student worked with the university and the employerrepresentative to finalize the statement of work and project schedule. A complete projectplan and formal presentations were completed during the internship period and the resultsof the project were presented via a live conference call across the country to severalNorthrop Grumman facilities.In addition to the student’s individual efforts on the project, a cohort group from theNorthrop Grumman ES Sector Early Career Leadership Training Program followed theproject, met with the student, arranged formal presentations and documented the entireprocess and results of the Senior project. The Pilot Program was successful, The studenthas received his classroom credit, evaluations and recommendations to the process havebeen recorded and under review; while the Cohort team completes the summary andpresent recommendations to project enhancements and create presentations to share withadditional universities interested in pushing the envelope on Project Based Learning fortheir Engineering students.Eric P. Pearson is the Sector Director of Development Programs for the Electronic Systemssector of Northrop Grumman Corporation. After several years as an organizational StaffManager and the Antenna Integrated Product Team lead for major radar programs hebegan the development of Internship, Co-op, New Graduate Engineering rotation and EarlyCareer Leadership Training Programs. Eric carries a passion for assisting soon-to-be andrecent university graduates as they develop their technical, professional and leadershipskills through their early careers in industry.In addition to his responsibilities at Northrop Grumman, Eric Pearson serves on theElectrical &amp; Computer Engineering and Minority Engineering Advisory Boards at NorthCarolina State University, serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Engineering atCalifornia Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California, and mentors severalengineering managers at Northrop Grumman. In these appointments he serves as akeynote speaker throughout the year speaking and lecturing on engineering, philosophy,leadership, grief counseling and development of leadership teams for several studentgroups.Mr. Pearson has also served on several committees and a frequent presenter at the annualconference for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). He is currentlythe President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE) havingpresented preconference workshops and sessions during the SoACE conference each yearsince 2006.In his spare time Eric has authored two books; “Ryan’s Stories: God’s Perfect Child” (self-published),”A Common Sense approach to Leadership,” is currently writing bedtimestories, and is preparing to start a murder mystery novel.
AU  - Eric Paul Pearson
CY  - Vancouver, BC
DA  - 2011/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Innovative Senior Project Program Partnering University and Corporate Partners
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/18180
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--18180
ER  -