New Programs In Mechanical Engineering And “The Engineer Of 2020”
- Conference
- Location
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Honolulu, Hawaii
- Publication Date
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June 24, 2007
- Start Date
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June 24, 2007
- End Date
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June 27, 2007
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Mechanical Engineering
- Page Count
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15
- Page Numbers
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12.1104.1 - 12.1104.15
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--2856
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/2856
- Download Count
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747
Paper Authors
Nidal Al-Masoud Central Connecticut State University
Nidal Al-Masoud is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Engineering at Central Connecticut State University since 2003. He is a coordinator of the mechanical engineering program. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2002. He has authored numerous technical and educational papers and was the recipient of ASEE 2006 mechanics division best paper award. He is an active member of several professional societies such as ASME, AIAA, ASEE, and IEEE. E-mail: AlmasoudN@ccsu.edu
Peter Baumann Central Connecticut State University
Peter F. Baumann is an Associate Professor of Engineering at CCSU. His industrial experience spans 20 years. He is Past Chairman of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committee B7 and also Past Chairman of his local ASM International materials chapter. Dr. Baumann received a B.S. in Metallurgy at Penn State, earned an M.S. from MIT Mechanical Engineering, and completed a Ph.D. in Materials Science at Polytechnic University. E-mail: BaumannP@ccsu.edu
Alfred Gates Central Connecticut State University
Alfred A. Gates is a Professor and Chair of the Engineering Department at Central Connecticut State University. He has 15 years of industrial experience involving manufacturing, design and analysis of Submarine Components and Navy related equipment. In addition Dr. Gates has worked in the aerospace industry, helicopter fuselage and rotor blade aerodynamics coupled with wind tunnel testing. Currently Dr. Gates is involved with high temperature Fuel Cell Research and development. Dr Gates earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and BS ME and MS ME from Rochester Institute of Technology. E-mail: GatesA@ccsu.edu
Zdzislaw Kremens Central Connecticut State University
Zdzislaw B. Kremens received the M.Sc. and Ph.D, degrees in Electrical Engineering from Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland in 1976 and 1979 respectively. He received his D.Sc. degree in Technical Sciences in 1990. His current research interests in electrical engineering include frequency control, impact of deregulation on control practices, analysis of interconnected power system and artificial intelligence. Since 1998, Dr. Kremens is dean of the School of Technology at Central Connecticut State University, USA. He is a member of a number of professional associations including ASEE, IASTED, CIGRE, and IEEE. E-mail: KremensZ@ccsu.edu
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
New Program in Mechanical Engineering and “The Engineer of 2020”
Abstract Development of the new Mechanical Engineering program has been described in detail, in reference to two recent reports of the National Academy of Engineering, commonly known as “The Engineer of 2020”. Various aspects of a curriculum design, as well as program implementation, are discussed in the context of the NAE findings and recommendations with regard to future engineering education. Presented first is a brief overview of published NAE reports, their findings and relevant recommendations. The second part presents the new Mechanical Engineering program and discusses the relevant impact of “The Engineer of 2020” on program objectives, particularly as it relates to curricular requirements. In addition, some aspects of the recruitment implementation plan are also discussed in the paper. Lessons learned from the entire process conclude the paper.
1. Introduction
Central Connecticut State University’s School of Technology has recently faced an unprecedented challenge — but also a unique opportunity — in curriculum development. The school was charged with establishing a brand new (and the first) full engineering program in its academic offer. The faculty and administration started building an engineering program virtually from scratch. One must note, however, that implementing major components toward a future engineering program had been underway for many years. The university already has in place fully qualified engineering, math and science faculty, technical and computer laboratories, established linkages with industry — as well as data gleaned from previous feasibility studies on engineering at CCSU. All of this was the result of a well developed strategic plan and consequent strategic management. At the moment of expanding its academic offer to include engineering, the school had four engineering technology majors, three technology majors, and also programs in technology education and applied sciences.
As always is the case with new academic disciplines, implementation of the new mechanical engineering program was a tremendous challenge, both in terms of logistics and resources, but foremost in regard to curriculum and program mission.
Along with brand new program development, we realized a great opportunity to join and implement current and NAE validated recommendations on future engineering education. Unlike existing programs, which are subject to natural inertia hindering subsequent program modification, we faced an unrestricted curriculum playing field. The circumstances can be
Al-Masoud, N., & Baumann, P., & Gates, A., & Kremens, Z. (2007, June), New Programs In Mechanical Engineering And “The Engineer Of 2020” Paper presented at 2007 Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 10.18260/1-2--2856
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