Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Roy A. McCann

-dents to science, mathematics, engineering and technology professions. One aspect of improvingthe retention of students in electrical engineering has been increasing the awareness of high Proceedings of the 2005 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education 6school seniors and undecided undergraduate students regarding the future career and opportuni-ties of engineering graduates. More significantly, it is important to emphasize the social andglobal impact of one’s chosen profession in concrete and realistic terms. For example, learningabout synchronous generators and ac transformers in order to become

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

F. Edwards; T. Daniel; W. Hale; A. Hanson; E. Richardson

the success of theirproposed pathway.The advent of personal computers, societal changes, and continued evolution toward the efficientbusiness model has fostered the need and acceptance of SDL. For example, fewer life-longcompany employees exist, resulting in large retraining needs in the adult-education area alone.Cross estimated that 70% of adult learning is self-directed. In the past several years SDL hasbeen one of highest interest topics in adult education and education in general.6 Knowles statedthat SDL is not an educational fad, but a ‘basic human competence-the ability to learn on one’sown.”7 So why the interest in SDL and what are the advantages? Piskurich lists severaladvantages, including availability when the training is needed

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

George D. Gray

major educational objectives are: 1. Select materials based upon constituent materials 2. Perform mechanics and/or structural analysis 3. Concurrently design and manufacture engineered components or structures 4. Determine performance of materials and structuresWithin the overall course inventory of the CME program the following specific compositerelated courses include: • Introduction to Composite Materials • Topics in Composite Materials Engineering • Composites Manufacturing • Topics in Composite Materials Engineering • Polymer Processing • Mechanics of Composites • Mechanical Characterization Laboratory • Composite Characterization Techniques “Proceedings of the 2005 Midwest section

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Chris Ramseyer; Beth Brueggen

was virtually non-existent.The new faculty realized that there was a pressing need to generate excitement about structuralengineering at OU and to fill Fears Lab with research activity. Kyran Mish, the new leadstructural faculty member, suggested that we consider the structural group to be similar to a start-up company during the rebuilding period. By this he meant that risks often avoided in academiashould be realized as opportunities to a start-up. To support this idea materially, he plowed themajority of his start up funding into renovating the office space at Fears Lab. Proceedings of the 2005 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

R. L. Kolar; K. M. Dresback; E. M. Tromble

A Look at OUr GAANN Program in Civil Engineering R. L. Kolar, K. M. Dresback, and E. M. Tromble School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019 kolar@ou.edu, dresback@ou.edu, etromble@ou.eduAbstract.Congress authorized the GAANN (Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National Need) Fellow-ship program under Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1965; it was first enacted with theEducational Amendments of 1980, and was amended by the Higher Education Amendments of1992. The purpose of the program is to “sustain and enhance the capacity for

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Kellie Schneider; C. Richard Cassady

semester, and INEG majors are required to take the course during their first fallsemester as an INEG student. PrinIE is a three-credit course consisting of two 80-minute lecturesand one 90-minute laboratory. Two years ago, we were asked to take over as the instructor (Cassady) and teachingassistant (Schneider) and to revitalize PrinIE. Upon agreeing to this task, we established threeobjectives for designing and delivering the course. The objectives are: (1) to get studentsintroduced to and involved in both the INEG and University of Arkansas community, (2) to Proceedings of the 2005 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Stephen B. Taylor; Darin W. Nutter; James A. Davis; Joseph J. Rencis

questions began with a literature search for reasonswhy students leave engineering and why they stay. A listing of reasons for leaving was madeand organized according to their general topic which produced the first six categories ofideology. This list of reasons for leaving is as follows along with their respective topic headings.Why Students Leave: Adjustment to College • Educational Climate. The reasons that 40-60% of freshman majors in SME leave these majors have much more to do with the educational climate and the workload required than their ability to complete an SME major 22. • Transition to College. Students’ transition to college from high school is rough or uncomfortable 2. Proceedings of

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Stephanie G. Adams; Jeffrey W. Rieske

society; and 3) toincrease students’ awareness of cultural differences by considering their own culture fromanother’s perspective and thereby develop a global view of research.Introduction Research has shown that research experiences play a critical role in introducingundergraduates to the culture of graduate school and research [1]. Research experiences exposeundergraduate students to the creativity of the research process and enable them to apply formalcourse knowledge. Additionally, undergraduate research experiences encourage students topursue graduate education and have been considered effective in attracting and retaining studentsin a variety of science and engineering careers. According to Dr. James McCullough, formerDirector of

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Jason Weiss; Farshad Rajabipour; Thomas Schmit; Sebastian Fait

Engineering Materials Classes at PurdueThe School of Civil Engineering at Purdue University has long been dedicated to teachingstudents about engineering materials. This dedication began in 1883 with a laboratory for testingmaterials in the college of engineering [1]. In 1899, this lab was moved to the school of civilengineering and eventually became the foundation for CE 231 – Engineering Materials I and CE331 – Engineering Materials II. While these courses were referred to as the "Busting Labs" atthe turn of the century, since the 1960's these courses have strived to provide students with aProceedings of the 2005 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Stephan A. Durham; Mark L. Kuss; Ernest Heymsfield; Hanna Sheppard

which neither parent holds acollege degree. The overall objective of this program is to increase enrollment for students inhigher education institutions. This program involves a six week summer program in which thestudents are engaged in “hands on” activities in the areas of math, laboratory sciences,composition and literature. The Department of Civil Engineering assists in the laboratory scienceportion of the program. Since the Department’s involvement, students have become involved ininnovative ongoing research. Research the students perform is practical and experimental andincludes topics such as field permeability of asphalt, in situ permeability of concrete, andtheoretical specific gravity of asphalt mixtures. At the end of the six week

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2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Kathy Vratil Brockway

1 The Income Tax Return: A Framework for Engineering Economics Kathy Vratil Brockway Kansas State University at SalinaAbstract StatementThis paper will explore the use of the income tax return as a capstone project in an EngineeringEconomics course.IntroductionAs educators, we are faced with the task of connecting textbook theory to real-world application.In Engineering Economics courses, the income tax return is the ideal way to tie together all‘engineering economics’ topics while, at the same time, demonstrating the practicality of thecourse topics

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Norman D. Dennis

some data,36 both numerical and anecdotal, will be presented and discussed regarding the perceived and real37 effectiveness of the workshop.3839 Introduction4041 National enrollment statistics show that engineering programs historically lose more than 55% of42 their entering students to attrition of some form. When viewed in terms of 6-year graduations43 rates, this figure represents an overall 14% reduction in the 6-year graduation rate when44 compared to that rate for all disciplines combined1. In some engineering colleges, increases in Proceedings of the 2005 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education

Collection

2005 ASEE Midwest Section Conference

Authors

Joseph J. Rencis; Hartley T. Grandin

presented sequentially in the following order: 1. Planar Equilibrium Analysis of a Rigid Body 2. Stress 3. Strain. 4. Material Properties and Hooke’s Law 5. Centric Axial Tension and Compression 6. Torsion 7. Bending 8. Combined Analysis: Centric Axial, Torsion, Bending and Shear 9. Static Failure Theories: a Comparison of Strength and Stress 10. Columns Proceedings of the 2005 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education 3A design case study of a hoist structure is included at the conclusion of each topic to reinforcethe concepts presented.Analysis A primary goal in this course is to