Conference Session

Mentoring Graduate Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amy Wheeless, University of Washington; Brianna Blaser, University of Washington; Elizabeth Litzler, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

ofWashington’s Center for Workforce Development (CWD) has provided a mentoring programspecifically for STEM graduate students. The mentoring program is unique in the amount ofdata that it collects about the participants in order to better understand the mentoring program’seffects on retention and career outcomes. This paper discusses the evaluation and tracking ofmentoring program participants and the findings of this assessment. Graduate students reportboth psychosocial and instrumental benefits from their mentoring relationships. In addition,most program participants complete their intended degree and continue to work in their field ofstudy.IntroductionMentoring of graduate students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)is one of

Conference Session

Faculty Reward System Reform

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Roger Olson, Rolls-Royce Corporation; David Quick, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Samuel Truesdale, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Dennis Depew, Purdue University; Gary Bertoline, Purdue University; Mark Schuver, Purdue University; Duane Dunlap, Western Carolina University; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

of a national science policy forscientific research. 5The United States has not had a coherent policy during the last several decades for the graduatedevelopment of its domestic engineering graduates in the U.S. engineering workforce. These areengineers whose professional careers are not centered on academic scientific research, but ratherare centered on creating, developing, and innovating new, improved, and breakthroughtechnology in industry for competitiveness and the nation’s defense. (See Appendix G)Whereas the nation invested heavily during the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s in the graduateeducation of the U.S. scientific workforce for basic academic research, we have not as a nationplaced a balanced emphasis in the further professional

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Duane Dunlap, Western Carolina University; Roger Olson, Rolls-Royce Corporation

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

now have the capability ofmaking “learning the constant for professional competency” and “time the variable” inprofessional engineering graduate education. This paper presents the issues involved andrecommends changes required in implementing high-quality competency-based learning intofirst rate professional educational programs for working professionals.2. Competency-Based Education for Engineering ProfessionalsThe National Collaborative is effecting a dramatic change in the professional education ofpracticing engineers. This is being done with full recognition of the way in which practicingengineers grow professionally throughout their careers. This is, in many ways, a new paradigmbased on the understanding that receipt of a

Conference Session

Methods & Techniques in Graduate Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yamilka Baez-Rivera, Mississippi State University; Lennon Brown, Mississippi State University; Noel Schulz, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

, shipboard power systems, neural networks, power system reconfiguration and stability among others.Lennon Brown, Mississippi State University Lennon Brown, III, was born in Jackson, MS, on January 22, 1981. He graduated from Mississippi State University in May 2004 and also received his Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University in May 2007. He has worked with many different aspects of Electrical Engineering. During his graduate career, he emphasized in the power engineering field of Electrical Engineering. He also worked in the power industry in regards to increasing his knowledge of power theories being conducted in realistic environments. He

Conference Session

Graduate Student Experiences

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anderson Prewitt, University of Florida; Wanda Eugene, Auburn University; Shaundra Daily, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

culture that is at odds withAfrican-American students’ need to feel as though they are helping others and the need for acooperative educational culture15, 21. This perception affects both the tendency of Black studentsto choose engineering and often the ability of Black students to remain in engineering. Forexample, Powell21 states that there is “considerable evidence that today’s college students,particularly African-Americans and Hispanics, avoid majoring in science and mathematicsbecause societal cultural traits support unfavorable images of scientist and make the attainmentof a scientific career unrealistic.” Surveys of college freshmen and high school juniors showedthat African-American men expressed a greater interest in social service

Conference Session

New Trends in Engineering Graduate Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Charles Farrar, Los Alamos National Laboratory; Michael Todd, University of California-San Diego; Phillip Cornwell, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

Institute’s collaborative research projects described belwo. The firststudent to receive a graduate degree in this program, who also was an LADSS participant,completed his MS degree requirements in March, 2006.The joint degree program addresses training of potential new hires and early-career staff, whilealso serving to retain mid-career staff members who act as instructors and advisors for the early-career staff.Joint LANL/UCSD research projectsIn addition to meeting mission-driven research needs, the joint research projects also serve as aretention tool for staff at all career levels that collaborate with the UCSD faculty and students onthese projects. The new technology development associated with these projects inherentlyprovides the added

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Norman Egbert; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

performing jobs classified asengineering. By 2006, that value reached approximately $150 billion.1, 2While not aninsignificant sum, an argument can be made that the actual value is much higher.Subjectively, the value could be equated to the public perception of engineering. Publicperception about most topics including engineering fluctuates. During the U.S. quest to put aman on the moon in the 1960s, engineering was recognized as a highly respected profession.Late in the 20th century, though, the desirability of engineering as a career or even as asignificantly positive contributor to society was questioned as job demand waxed and waned. Inaddition, the growth of technology was viewed by many as complicating their lives, andengineering was perceived

Conference Session

Mentoring Graduate Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ronald Kane, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Clarisa Gonzalez-Lenahan, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Michael Kerley, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Jerome Paris, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Janet Bodner, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Ronald Rockland, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

their owncourses in favor of this one. The course focus is pedagogy but also provides instruction in skillsvaluable for the professional workplace. Students who are not Teaching Assistants now but maywant to become a TA later or are likely to pursue careers that involve instruction often select thiscourse as an option. The courses makes extensive use of techniques and ideas developed at otheruniversities (Ref. 3,6,7,8,9,10).The faculty Graduate Council, the primary academic committee at NJIT responsible forreviewing courses and programs, approved this course and made it a requirement for allTeaching Assistants in 1999. The stated policy is that students should not be in charge ofrecitation sessions or do lectures until they have competed this

Conference Session

Mentoring Graduate Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Frehill; Amanda Lain, New Mexico State University; Ricardo Jacquez, New Mexico State University; Lauren Ketcham, New Mexico State University; Karen Luces, New Mexico State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

is now has a fourth cohort of students at NewMexico State University. For each student, pre- and post-program data were available viaindividual interviews, focus groups, transcripts, students’ writings related to career goals, andinterviews with their advisors. These rich data provide multiple insights about the students’mentoring experiences as well as the expectations of their mentors.Although the program is now working with its fourth cohort of students, the analyses in thispaper are based upon results from just the first two cohorts. Almost all of the members of thesetwo cohorts have transitioned out of the program. The cohorts differed in terms of thedisciplines and ethnic backgrounds of the students. For example, all of the members of

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina; John Bardo, Western Carolina University; Duane Dunlap, Western Carolina University; Stephen Tricamo, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Eugene DeLoatch, Morgan State University; Dennis Depew, Purdue University; Mark Schuver, Purdue University; Gary Bertoline, Purdue University; Albert McHenry, Arizona State University; Timothy Lindquist, Arizona State University; Joseph Tidwell, Boeing Co.; Mark Smith, Rochester Institute of Technology; Raymond Morrison, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.; Harvey Palmer, Rochester Institute of Technology; Norman Egbert; David Quick, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Roger Olson, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Mohammad Noori, California State Polytechnic University; Samuel Truesdale, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Edward Sullivan, California Polytechnic State University; Joseph Rencis, University of Arkansas; Carla Purdy, University of Cincinnati

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

productiveengineering careers in industry. As reflected by the National Society of Professional Engineers(NSPE), there are “nine levels” of progressive professional responsibility and leadership abilitiesrequired in creative engineering practice. Undergraduate engineering education prepares the engineerfor entry into the profession at Level I Engineer. But, it does not prepare the engineer for creativepractice at all levels of engineering. Further professional studies, experience, and actual creativeperformance are required beyond entry-level for further professional development in engineering.Finding # 5: Revitalizing the U.S. Engineering Workforce for leadership of technologicaldevelopment & innovation in industry is one of the nation’s primary engines

Conference Session

Mentoring Graduate Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kaustubh Nagarkar, General Electric; Krishnaswami Srihari, State University of NY-Binghamton

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

homework assignments, a term project and a term paper. All theseassignments are designed to help the student research and learn new material. Criticalthinking is encouraged. The enrollment and interest in this course has grown over the pastthree years.ImpactThe first course on health systems engineering had a significant impact. Several studentswere introduced to a very different application of Industrial and Systems Engineering.Since the inception of the concept of research and coursework in health systemsengineering, students have turned their attention to career avenues in the healthcareindustry. Several of our graduates have found excellent career opportunities in healthsystems, especially at large hospitals.SummaryThis paper has presented our

Conference Session

New Trends in Engineering Graduate Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daniel Walsh, California Polytechnic State University; Stacey Breitenbach, California Polytechnic State University; Robert Crocket, California Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

. The second, they are not sure that their academic performance asundergraduates places them in competitive positions for graduate school. Third, they believe itwill cost them thousands of dollars to continue their education, in tuition and living expense.Fourth, they believe it limits their future career options. Fifth, they believe it is much better to goto work, and then return to grad school. And finally, students are afraid of academic “burnt-out”after their undergraduate degrees, and need a change in environment.To address these in turn. First, no investment one makes in themselves has a better return thangraduate education. Examining the data for average salaries of degreed engineers over thecourse of their lifetime available in NSF

Conference Session

Graduate Student Experiences

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stacy Eisenman, University of Maryland; George List, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

. Not every graduate student leaves with a degree. There are many differentreasons why one may choose to go to graduate school, not every successful graduatestudent has the same reason. If the reason for attending graduate school is strong enough,then graduate school is a good choice.Once a decision has been made to attend graduate school, the assignment of choosing aschool, advisor and area of research is handed out. This should be treated as the toughestassignment of the graduate career, because these decisions it can and will have aninfluence on you for the rest of your life. Making a poor decision at this point can cost alot of time and personal suffering, while making a good decision can be well rewarded.This does not mean these decisions

Conference Session

Graduate Student Experiences

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Elizabeth Van Ruitenbeek, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Marina Miletic, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

assist student chapters with advertising ASEE and engineering pedagogy.The Purpose of Student ChaptersThere are already several excellent papers advising students how to build a successful ASEEstudent chapter1,2,3. This paper will not duplicate that information but will instead present ourvision of the future role of the ASEE national organization in the development of thrivingstudent chapters.ASEE student chapters are uniquely positioned to execute the ASEE mission to "encourageyouth to pursue studies and careers in engineering and engineering technology"4. ThrivingASEE student chapters on university campuses promote engineering pedagogy among graduatestudents, undergraduates, and children at K-12 schools in their communities. Active

Conference Session

Professional Graduate Education & Industry

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mark Schuver, Purdue University; Mark Smith, Rochester Institute of Technology; Duane Dunlap, Western Carolina University; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina; Joseph Tidwell, Boeing Co.

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

invited papers prepared for a special panel session of the NationalCollaborative Task Force on Engineering Graduate Education Reform to enable a strong U.S.engineering workforce for competitiveness and national security. There has been a significantincrease in educational opportunities for the working professional, as employees and theircompanies have recognized the criticality of continuous learning to sustaining economic growthand prosperity in a highly competitive global economy. To meet the needs of a demanding andhighly diverse constituency, educators have experimented with a wide range of program formats,modalities, and pedagogy in an effort to insure a high quality learning experience in the face ofsignificant career obligations. This

Conference Session

Faculty Reward System Reform

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dennis Depew, Purdue University; Gary Bertoline, Purdue University; Mark Schuver, Purdue University; Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina; Duane Dunlap, Western Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

competitiveness and national security purposes.DiscussionThere is a large and growing need for the advancement of professional education for the nation’sengineers in industry. There is an especially critical need to develop engineers as ‘champions’,‘innovators’, and ‘leaders’ throughout their professional careers through professionally-orientedgraduate studies. This need is so large that it is not out of the question to consider creatingacademic departments [graduate centers] within existing colleges of engineering and technologythat cater solely to the professional graduate degrees. These “professional studies departments”[graduate centers] would have their own administrative structure, leadership, and faculty whoseprimary mission is to develop and

Conference Session

New Trends in Engineering Graduate Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Phillip Sanger, Western Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

12.1393.5and stimulating careers for the people of WNC.Our partners, shown in Figure 4, represent all the human and institutional resources needed to besuccessful in this challenging initiative: academic, technical, healthcare and aging care providersas well as business and entrepreneurial connections.The goal of the Collaborative is to collect needs and product ideas from our members includingstudents, faculty, healthcare providers, and elderly retirees and develop them into viable businessopportunities solving problems faced in healthcare and by aging citizens. The building of thebusinessopportunitypackage isundertaken bymultidisciplinary studentteams(primarilyWCU)mentored andsupported byWCU facultyand externalexperts. Theproductdevelopmentprocess

Conference Session

New Trends in Engineering Graduate Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ronald Kane, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Clarisa Gonzalez-Lenahan, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Stephen Eck, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

Fellowships as a graduate student, applicants to Master'sprograms that separately require GREs for admission evaluation, and all applicants whose last Page 12.162.4degree was from outside the United States are required to submit GRE scores. For the majorityof NJIT undergraduate BS/MS participants, consistency with the GRE policy overall meant thatvery few BS/MS participants were required to submit GRE scores.The program was initially targeted toward full-time students but with so many undergraduatestudents working off-campus and recognizing the reality of professional careers, the programwas expanded to include part-time students for all the various

Conference Session

Methods & Techniques in Graduate Education

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ronald Kane, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Clarisa Gonzalez-Lenahan, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

. (Another paper (Ref. 2) discusses theBS/MS and BS/PhD programs that were developed and enhanced at NJIT in order to attract theuniversity's own highly diverse population to part-time and full-time graduate study.) Thegraduate office and the university therefore made a concerted effort to have NJIT involved andactive in a number of regional and national programs to address diversity in its doctoralprograms. Since 1990 therefore, NJIT has become a member of or more active in the followingprograms:The Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement program.The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc.(GEM).The Minority Academic Career Program of New Jersey.Project 1000 consortium centered at Arizona

Conference Session

Mentoring Graduate Students

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Scott Rogers, Georgia Institute of Technology; Recep Goktas, Georgia Institute of Technology; Ulas Tezel, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

concerning as many master’s studentsin our program continue onto Ph.D. programs or pursue careers in engineering research upongraduation. Page 12.722.12Table 2. Selected assessed skill benefits as indicated in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 studiescategorized by degree program. Skill Program Benefit, 2005-06 Program Benefit, 2004-05 MS Res PhD MS Res PhD Concl Concl Mean SD Mean SD Mean

Conference Session

Faculty Reward System Reform

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Donald Keating, University of South Carolina; Thomas Stanford, University of South Carolina; John Bardo, Western Carolina University; Duane Dunlap, Western Carolina University; Gary Bertoline, Purdue University; Dennis Depew, Purdue University; Mark Schuver, Purdue University; Eugene DeLoatch, Morgan State University; Stephen Tricamo, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Timothy Lindquist, Arizona State University; Albert McHenry, Arizona State University; Harvey Palmer, Rochester Institute of; David Quick, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Mohammad Noori, California State Polytechnic University; Joseph Tidwell, Boeing Co.; Roger Olson, Rolls-Royce Corporation; Samuel Truesdale, Rolls-Royce Corporation

Tagged Divisions

Graduate Studies

engineering is not one of those criteria. The faculty reward system recognizes teaching, research, and service to the profession, but it does not give the same status to delivering a marketable product or process, or designing an enduring piece of the nation's infrastructure.” “Of course, what you measure is what you get. For the most part, our faculty are superb "engineering scientists," but they are not necessarily folks who know a lot about the practice of engineering. At most schools, for example, it's hard to bring someone onto the faculty who has spent their career in industry, even though such people would be extremely valuable to the students; their resumes simply don't fit what the reward system values. Sometimes, it's