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Engineering Program Growth with Mesh Network Collaboration

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Conference

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Seattle, Washington

Publication Date

June 14, 2015

Start Date

June 14, 2015

End Date

June 17, 2015

ISBN

978-0-692-50180-1

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Engineering Physics & Physics Division Technical Session 2

Tagged Division

Engineering Physics & Physics

Page Count

29

Page Numbers

26.638.1 - 26.638.29

DOI

10.18260/p.23976

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/23976

Download Count

661

Paper Authors

biography

Hank D. Voss Taylor University

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Dr. Hank D. Voss, Taylor University
Dr. Hank D. Voss received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of Illinois in 1977.
He then worked for Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratories prior to coming to Taylor University
in 1994. He is currently a Professor of Engineering and Physics at Taylor University. Some of the
courses that he regularly has taught include Principles of Engineering, Intro to Electronics, Statics, Advanced Electronics, Jr. Engineering Projects, FE Review, Control Systems, Fundamentals of Space Flight Systems, Astronomy, and Sr. Capstone Sequence. He was Department Chair for six years in the start-up of the Engineering Physics program.

He enjoys mentoring undergraduate students in aerospace, sensors, and energy-related research projects. Some of the research areas include spacecraft nano-satellite technologies, satellite payload instrumentation, High Altitude research Platform (HARP) experiments, wave particle interactions in space, spaceflight X-ray imagers, construction and renewable energy engineering and architecture, and philosophy of science. Dr. Voss has worked as PI on many NASA, Air Force, Navy, NSF, and DOE research grants and has published over 120 scientific papers.

hnvoss@taylor.edu, Phone 765 998 4843 or 765 618 3813

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author page

Scott Henry Moats Crown College

biography

Bill Chapman University of Arizona

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Dr. Bill Chapman, Associate Professor of Systems at Taylor University
Dr. Chapman is the Director of Systems at Taylor University. He is also involved with the nano-satellite senior design project as an advisor.
Prior to that he worked for 34 years at Raytheon Missile Systems in various systems engineering and chief engineering roles. He retired as the Director of Technology and Research.
His primary research area is Systems Theory. He has published over 20 papers, authored 2 text books and received 4 patents.

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Abstract

Engineering Growth with Mesh Network CollaborationAbstractSmall Colleges and Universities (SCU) are an untapped resource for holistic EngineeringEducation, creative entrepreneurial “big ideas”, and growth of national science, technology,engineering, and math (STEM) literacy in a competitive global market. This paper helps toclarify and examine some of the tradeoffs for existing and proposed two, four, and 5 year SCUengineering programs and suggest ways to support future growth and quality of existingprograms with proven adaptive mesh network architecture.While existing SCU Engineering Physics Programs have many advantages over largeengineering schools they may be weaker in the number of class offerings, the number ofavailable ABET BS majors, the number of department distinctive capacities, low upper classenrollments, ample facilities and equipment, job opportunities and fairs, and documentationoverhead. In addition there are a number of weakly connected 3+2 programs, transfer programs,2 yr. Engineering Technology programs and non-accredited programs.SCU engineering programs may efficiently adapt to a stronger paradigm in education that resultsin lower program cost, improved learning, improved social STEM awareness, and new growth ofmore SCU engineering programs with implementation of some program standardization, hybridclasses, and use of a mesh network communication protocol (articulation agreements). New 2-year SCU engineering programs (2yr Nodes) increase STEM awareness on their campus whilebecoming feeder schools for main 4 yr Node schools with articulation agreements. Five casestudies were undertaken in the context of hybrid curriculum programs in a SCU consortium.A baseline 2 year freshman and sophomore curriculum program is proposed based on casestudies, on research, and on alumni questionnaires. Based on a decade of SCU EngineeringPhysics teaching experience it was also found enabling to give closure to the 2yr programcurriculum with a sophomore type “Cornerstone” class called “Principles of Engineering”. Thisintegrative class is essential for students to be effective in the workforce as an EngineeringTechnologist sophomore applicant, as a competitive summer intern applicant, as a transfer intoa specific Engineering major, and overall early awareness of ABET a-k outcomes. Studentsobtain job ready skills and project abilities in 2 yrs that can greatly leverage their learning andfocus through summer internships.Our recent six year ABET assessment of our engineering physics program indicated that 2 of our3 major strengths were the summer practicums /internships success and the comprehensive realworld challenge design projects. Using a collaboration mesh network strategy coupled withremote technology and proven teaching strengths a more efficient program is planned for pilottesting within some consortium schools for further feasibility assessment. 12

Voss, H. D., & Moats, S. H., & Chapman, B. (2015, June), Engineering Program Growth with Mesh Network Collaboration Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.23976

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