Conference Session

Aspects of Public Policy in Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William Roper, George Mason University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

, but also forfuture generations to come. In other words, it is the development and restoration of urban areasthat will meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations tomeet their own needs. The course addresses a number of urban design concepts for smart growthand sustainable development including balanced land use planning principals; importance of anoverall transportation strategy; providing urban tree coverage, leveraging public transportationaccessibility; providing a spectrum of housing availability; integration of office, retail andhousing units; reduction of urban area environmental foot print; use of recycled, reused,reusable, green and sustainable products; integration of renewable solar energy

Conference Session

Aspects of Public Policy in Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Todd Myers, Ohio University; Ben Stuart, Ohio University-Athens

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

technologists may not fully appreciate the need for public policy to guide theoptimal advancement of appropriate technologies or to regulate specific technologies’ potentialnegative impact upon society. This disparity creates a gap between innovation and regulation notoften addressed in current engineering and technology curriculum. Engineering and technology colleges are beginning to recognize a need to fill this gap byproviding public policy background to their undergraduate engineering and technology studentsin the form of a planned curriculum. In this paper we will review a recent effort to introduce apublic policy course into the curriculum at a midsized Midwest university’s college ofEngineering and Technology. Specifically, we will

Conference Session

Aspects of Public Policy in Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Charles Pringle, Central Washington University; William Bender, Central Washington University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

shortfalls and university widebudget exercises were performed to plan for reduced budgets. Funding for the following twoacademic years was reduced even further in July 2009.As a means to reduce energy costs and foster sustainable living the department switched from afive to four day work week. The decision to make this switch was discussed and voted on duringan all hands faculty meeting. Most faculty favored such a shift but a very vocal minority wasvehemently opposed to offering reduced services for students. An excerpt for the departmentchairs letter explaining the shift reads “To reduce operating costs, energy expenditures, andprovide sustainable leadership on campus the Hogue Technology Building will only be open fornormal business Monday