Conference Session

Research and Education in Radiation and Radiologic

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sheldon Landsberger, University of Texas, Austin; Ofodike Ezekoye, University of Texas, Austin; David Hearnsberger, University of Texas, Austin; Rose Stiffin, Florida Memorial University; Michael Elliott, Florida Memorial University; Dimitri Tamalis, Florida Memorial University; Carlos Handy, Texas Southern University; Elena Stefanova, Texas Southern University; Muchere Russ, Huston-Tilliston

Tagged Divisions

Nuclear and Radiological

advanced computingtechniques to design the next generation of nuclear reactor fuel elements, the need for newengineers, scientists, and health physicist has never been greater. To help existing andburgeoning academic programs succeed, we propose to work with Historically Black Collegesand Universities and other Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) to increase enrollment at thegraduate level to provide a higher better educated engineers and health physicists.GoalsIn our program we will work closely with three HBCUs to make clearer the career opportunitiesin nuclear science and technology. We have chosen three distinct types of programs to workwith of which two programs are in the state of Texas and one is in Florida. The two Texasprograms are Texas

Conference Session

Research and Education in Radiation and Radiologic

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erich Schneider, University of Texas, Austin; Steven Biegalski, University of Texas, Austin; David Hearnsberger, University of Texas, Austin; Sheldon Landsberger, University of Texas, Austin

Tagged Divisions

Nuclear and Radiological

Institute.We took several measures to promote the Institute. First, publicity materials includingbrochures and a webpage (http://snei.engr.utexas.edu) were developed. We undertooktwo recruitment trips in Fall 2008, one to Texas Southern and another to The Universityof Texas of the Permian Basin. The recruitment presentations were made in the contextof a guest lecture at a survey course. The presentations and recruitment materials focusednot only on the Institute curriculum but also on the careers for which the Institute isgeared to help prepare its graduates.Institute graduates are paid a stipend of $1000 and textbook allowance of $200. Finally,the students will be reimbursed for travel expenses of up to $500 and receive six UT-Austin course credits

Conference Session

Curriculum Development and Teaching Models in NRE

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brenden Mervin, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Guillermo Maldonado, University of Tennessee

Tagged Divisions

Nuclear and Radiological

fundamental principles are now embedded in variouscomputational software packages developed by nuclear fuel vendors, software companies,universities and national laboratories. These software packages have become a larger componentof nuclear engineering practice, and therefore a gap presents itself as nuclear engineers transitionfrom the classroom to the workplace. Furthermore, the currently increasing demand for nuclearengineers is persuading more nuclear engineers to explore their career opportunities immediatelyafter receiving their undergraduate degree. This implies that most of these engineers will enter Page 14.484.2the workplace with little to

Conference Session

Curriculum Development and Teaching Models in NRE

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Keith Holbert, Arizona State University; Jeffrey Goss, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Nuclear and Radiological

Page 14.204.4courses prior to graduation, and still have enough courses remaining to complete the graduate-level certificate program. Furthermore, for those who do wish to pursue a graduate degree, theyare generally more inclined to pursue an advanced degree in the same discipline for which theyearned an undergraduate degree, and the credits earned for this graduate certificate could beapplied to, for instance, the 30 hours required for a Masters degree in their particular major fieldof study.It is important to note that these courses and the certificate program were designed not only to beaccessible by students in a variety of fields, but also for the purpose of retraining (mid-career)engineers whose experience in other industries could be