December 2005

Welcome to the December issue of Connections, the American Society for Engineering Education's free e-newsletter.

Spotlight On Our Sponsors:

• Autodesk - Higher Education Programs
  www.autodesk.com/education
   

• The NI News- Academic Edition
  http://www.ni.com/academic
   

• Professional Publications -FE & PE Review
  www.ppi2pass.com
  
  
• Synplicity- Synplify® DSP University Program
  www.synplicity.com/university
  .html
   

Autodesk - Higher Education Programs

As the world’s leading supplier of PC design software and digital content-creation tools, Autodesk wants to be your partner in preparing your students for future careers. Together we can expand the range of teaching and learning opportunities for you and your students and help build a bridge to their future. To learn more about Autodesk’s programs for higher education, visit www.autodesk.com/education

The NI News - Academic Edition

The NI News - Academic Edition keeps you up to date on the latest news and information from NI on measurement, control, and design products and resources for Academia. It also provides a comprehensive resource for professors, students and researchers including schedules of on-campus trainings, curriculum resources, and design contests.  Click here to subscribe today!

http://www.ni.com/academic

Helping You Build Professional Engineers

Professional Publications, Inc. understands that building a successful career takes years of education, experience and growth.

Licensure is the cornerstone of an engineer's career. For over 25 years, PPI has been dedicated to helping you help your students pass the FE and PE exams. We have the resources you need:

• The #1 FE and PE review products.
• The most-visited web site, with exam info, FAQs, Instructor's Corner, and more.
• Exam Cafe (www.ppiexamcafe.com), for online exam practice and assessment tools that are fast, easy, and affordable.
• And now your support for the FE and PE exams can be especially rewarding! Join the new PPI Sales Partner Program (www.ppipartner.com) to earn commissions or discounts just for referring students to PPI books.

Visit www.ppi2pass.com today!

Synplify® DSP Available Through Synplicity’s University Program

Synplify DSP software is the only solution that allows you to target any FPGA device from a single Simulink model.

Because of Synplify DSP’s architecture-independent and vendor-independent blocksets, for use with Simulink, designers are not obliged to make any device implementation decisions at the algorithmic level.  This means architecting your design without thoughts to the final FPGA target device.

Because Synplify DSP is architecturally aware, the RTL generated as output is tuned to provide the best possible solution once you have determined the targeted device.

Synplify DSP Provides:

• DSP synthesis from Simulink
• Fully integrated fixed-point blockset of DSP functions
• User-extensible DSP IP library
• Your choice of FPGA vendor

For further information please contact university@synplicity.com or visit http://www.synplicity.com/
university.html

Welcome to the world of K–12 engineering!

Introducing engineering into the K–12 classroom connects science and math concepts to the everyday engineering that surrounds us. TeachEngineering.com helps teachers enhance learning, excite students and stimulate interest in science and math through the use of hands–on engineering. With a fully searchable, digital library of standards–based lesson plans, and a myriad of “Living Laboratories” that bring real–world engineering principles into the classroom, TeachEngineering's comprehensive curricula are hands–on, inexpensive, and relevant to children's daily lives.

TeachEngineering.com is a joint effort of the University of Colorado, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Colorado School of Mines, Duke University, Oregon State University, and the American Society for Engineering Education, and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation.

Bring the world of engineering into the K–12 classroom with TeachEngineering.com. You don’t need knowledge of engineering to use these curricula!

Search TeachEngineering.com’s digital library at
www.teachengineering.com.

New and Improved Journal of Engineering Education!

The Journal of Engineering Education is a peer-reviewed international journal published quarterly by the American Society for Engineering Education. It serves as an archival record of the leading scholarly research in engineering education. Visit www.asee.org/jee/ to read it online.

In this Issue:

I. Databytes

• Number of Teaching Personnel by Engineering Discipline
• Number of Engineering Teaching Faculty Members by Rank
• Number of Engineering Teaching Personnel by School

II. Congressional Hotline

• House and Senate Approve Science Funding Bill
• Congress Approves Appropriations Bill Funding the Dept. of Energy

III. Teaching Toolbox

• Teaching: The First Year Is Crucial in Keeping Engineering Students in the Program

IV. Fellowship Programs

• Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship Program
• The Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program (NREIP)
• The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
• The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG)
• The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

V. Professional Opportunities

• Faculty leader is sought for Director of National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE) at Texas Tech University

I. Databytes

Number of Teaching Personnel by Engineering Discipline:

            - Mechanical = 4,448

- Electrical/Computer = 4,282

            - Civil = 3,340

- Computer Science (inside engineering) = 2,335

- Chemical = 1,860

- Other = 1,676

            - Electrical = 1,591

- Industrial/Manufacturing = 1,275

- Biomedical = 855

- Metallurgical & Materials = 783

- Aerospace = 693

- Computer = 517

            - Agricultural = 413

- Eng. Science & Eng. Physics = 329

- Engineering (General) = 285

- Engineering Management = 169

- Nuclear = 142

- Environmental = 141

- Petroleum = 111

- Architectural = 105

            - Mining = 68

            - Computer Science (outside engineering) = 849

Note: These numbers were determined by adding tenured/tenure-track faculty, full-time nontenure-track faculty and full-time equivalent of part-time faculty.

Number of Engineering Teaching Personnel by Rank:

            - Full Professor = 11,167

            - Associate Professor = 6,030

            - Assistant Professor = 5,072

            - Nontenure-Track Personnel =1,838

            - Full-time Equivalent of All Part-Time Personnel = 1,312

Teaching Personnel by School:

Back to the index.

II. Congressional Hotline

House and Senate Approve Science Funding Bill

            The House of Representatives and the Senate have now passed the conference report on appropriations bill (HR 2862- H Rept 109-272) funding the Commerce, Justice and State Departments as well as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  The conference committee instituted a .28 percent cut to all departments covered in the funding bill.  An additional across the board cut to the entire FY 2006 budget, which would further decrease the funding levels, is still a possibility. 

            Under the $61.8 billion spending bill, before the 0.28 percent cut is applied, the NSF will receive $5.7 billion, $181 million, or 3 percent, more than the FY 2005 level and $48 million more than requested.  The Research and Related Activities (R&RA) account will increase 3.7 percent to $4. 375 billion.  Within that account, the Engineering Directorate funding will increase 4.4 percent to $586 million.  The Education and Human Resources account would decrease by 6.8 percent to $131 million.  The Math and Science Partnership is funded at $64 million, $4 million above the request.  The Engineering Deans Council is thanking the Congressional Appropriations Committee leaders and the two subcommittees for their support. 

            NASA will be funded at the requested level of $16.5 billion, $260.3 million more than the FY 2005 level.  NASA’s R&D will climb by 7.3 percent to $11.5 billion.  Included within the funding is $271 million for a repair mission for the Hubble Telescope.  NOAA will receive $3.9 billion, $21 million, or 0.5 percent, more than the FY 2005 level.  The bill will now be sent to the White House. 

            For more information, visit: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/.

Congress Approves Appropriations Bill for the Department of Energy  

            The House and Senate have passed the Energy-Water Appropriations Bill (HR 2419- H Rept 109-275) Conference Report.  The $24.3 billion budget for the Department of Energy (DOE) includes $8.7 billion in funding for the Research and Development (R&D) activities.  The DOE’s Office of Science will receive a 0.6 percent increase, or $170 million, to bring funding to $3.4 billion.  The request was a cut of 4.5 percent. 

            Basic Energy Sciences, the largest program in the DOE Office of Science, receives a 3.7 percent increase to $1.1 billion.  Overall DOE energy R&D increases by 10.7 percent, or $122 million, to $1.3 billion.  However, the 10.7 percent increase includes $160 million that was taken out of the FY 2005 budget because of cuts to the Clean Coal Technology R&D program.  

            Almost two-thirds of DOE’s R&D portfolio goes to basic and applied research, with the remainder going to development and R&D facilities. More than a third of this research portfolio goes to support of the physical sciences, a third to engineering research, and the remainder to the computer sciences, mathematics, and other disciplines.  The bill will now be sent to the White House. 

            For more information, visit: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/doe06c.htm.

Back to the index.

III. Teaching Toolbox

Teaching: Starting With Square One

The first year is crucial to keeping engineering students in the program.

By Phillip Wankat and Frank Oreovicz

IF ENGINEERING SCHOOLS want to retain students, they must start off on the right foot. Students who leave engineering programs typically do so engineering during or immediately after their first year, even though most of them are capable of completing the program.

These students are often naive about university requirements, and they typically don't have good study habits. Extensive orientation programs could help them sharpen their study skills and also make better course selections. Placement in appropriate courses during the first semester strongly affects retention. Students can become bored with "easy" classes and overwhelmed in tougher ones.

Classes that are too large also turn off students new to engineering. Students want to feel welcome and be treated as individuals, both of which are difficult to pull off in a class of 200. In general, big schools have greater attrition rates than small schools. Engineering schools should make sure that every student has the opportunity to take at least one small class where he or she can get to know the professor. First-year seminars offering wide-ranging topics have been successful at a number of schools.

Teaching methods based on active learning play a role in retention by increasing involvement. Unfortunately, large first-year classes encourage the extensive use of lectures-it's worth noting that retention increases when there are fewer lecture classes. Contrast these large lecture courses with hands-on courses, real-world experiences such as co-ops and undergraduate research. The trick is starting these programs during the students' first semester.

Engineering is known to have "gatekeeper" courses such as calculus and physics. Instead of using them to weed out students, we need to design these courses so that motivated students can master them. Greater retention more than pays for the additional cost that might arise from revamping courses.

The math skills of entering students, particularly in pre-calculus, require close monitoring because success in engineering hinges on them. Students who don't have high school calculus should be tested in college algebra and trig, and those who fail should be enrolled in a summer program. This would allow them to graduate on time.

Another step in the retention effort is developing courses that show the connections between subjects. Those courses increase retention by bringing relevance to the material for the students. Faculties should also rethink required first year courses and take advantage of recent ABET changes that grant schools more freedom in what has to be included. Tradition without relevance is not a sufficient reason for requirements.

Arguably, though, attitude is most important. Students can tell when professors care and when they really want them to succeed. Even a few professors trying to weed out students can cause the retention rate to head south.

Phillip Wankat is director of undergraduate degree programs in the department of engineering education and the Clifton L. Lovell Distinguished Professor of chemical engineering at Purdue University. Frank Oreovicz is an education communications specialist at Purdue's chemical engineering school. They can be reached by e-mail at purdue@asee.org.

Back to the index.

IV. Fellowship Programs

Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship Program

The SMART scholarship program provides students with full tuition, monthly stipend, room and board and other normal educational expenses. The purpose is to promote the education, recruitment and retention of rising junior and senior undergraduate and graduate students in science, mathematics and engineering studies. The SMART Scholarship Program is open only to citizens of the United States, and students must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible. There is an employment obligation to DoD with this scholarship program.  The application deadline is February 17, 2006.  Go to:  http://www.asee.org/smart for detailed information about the program and to apply online.

The Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program (NREIP)

The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) is now administering NREIP, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). NREIP is a ten week summer research opportunity for undergraduate Juniors & Seniors, and Graduate students, under the guidance of a mentor, at a participating Navy Laboratory. The stipend amounts for the program are $5,500 for undergraduate students and $6,500 for graduate students. U.S. citizenship required; Permanent residents accepted at certain labs. The application is currently open and must be completed by February 17, 2006. Go to: http://www.asee.org/NREIP.

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) is now administering SEAP, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). SEAP is an eight week summer research opportunity at participating ONR laboratories for high school student who have completed at least grade 9, must be 16 years of age for most Laboratories, and a U.S. citizen. A graduating Senior is eligible to apply. The stipend for the summer program is $1,500 for new students; $1,550 for returning students. The application is currently open and must be completed by February 17, 2006.Go to: http://www.asee.org/SEAP.

The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG)

The fellowship program is sponsored by the Army Research Office, Office of Naval Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program This program is intended for U.S. citizens at or near the beginning of their graduate studies in science and/or engineering programs. The fellowships are for three year tenures. The stipends begin at $30,500 for first year fellows, $31,000 for second year fellows, and $31,500 for third year fellows. Full tuition and fees and a health insurance allowance are included as part of the program. The application deadline is January 6, 2006.  Go to: http://www.asee.org/ndseg for applications and detailed program information.

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

This program is open to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents and offers a competitive stipend as well as insurance, relocation, and travel allowances.  This program offers one to three year postdoctoral fellowships designed to increase the involvement of scientists and engineers from academia and industry to scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Navy.  This program has a rolling admission.  Go to: http://www.asee.org/nrl to learn more about the program.

Back to the index.

V. Professional Opportunities

An enterprising faculty leader is sought to be the Director of the National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE) at Texas Tech University. 

The appointment will be 12-month faculty in the College of Engineering as professor.

Desired qualifications:

• scholarship and experience in ethical issues

• communication skills

• leadership skills

• securing external funding

Additional information about Texas Tech and NIEE available at www.ttu.edu and www.niee.org. 

Applications must be submitted to Texas Tech University On-Line at http://jobs.texastech.edu (Requisition #60334).  TTU is an equal opportunity employer; qualified minorities and women are encouraged to apply. For inquiries call Patti Harper, 806-742-3525 extension 235.

Back to the index.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS (due January 27, 2006)

2006 ASEE Workshop for K-12 Engineering Education

June 16, 2006, Chicago, IL

Proposals are sought for workshop presentations on engineering for K-12 teachers and engineering educators who work in K-12 outreach. Workshops should feature hands-on, classroom activities; provide take-home or classroom-ready materials for participants to use in their own teaching; and be designed to engage participants in interactive exercises.  For more information, please visit http://www.engineeringk12.org/k12workshop.

ASEE Announces New User Interface for K-12 Outreach Program Database

Regular users of the EngineeringK12 Center’s outreach program database will now find the collection of K-12 and pre-college engineering, math, science, and technology programs easier to use and convenient to update.  By simply registering with the database, outreach program providers will now have access to the new user interface, allowing them to add, edit, and manage listings at anytime.  This feature will ensure that the most current information on engineering outreach programs is available to database searchers.

Home to hundreds of listings, the EngineeringK12 Center’s outreach program database is a great resource for parents, teachers, and students to search nationwide for an outreach program that matches their needs.  From lesson plans for teachers, to engineering summer camps for students, the database offers a wide variety of programs offered by universities, industry, and government.  Registration is only required to add and manage an outreach program in the database.  Registration is not required simply to search.

You can register to be an outreach program database user at: http://www.engineeringk12.org

Connections is brought to you by the American Society for Engineering Education.

Over 12,000 engineering and engineering technology faculty members and administrators enjoy the many benefits and services that ASEE offers. The Society's award-winning magazine ASEE Prism and academic publications (Journal of Engineering Education and Profiles of Engineering Colleges) keep members up to date with the best and latest in engineering education, engineering research trends, and academic issues, while 47 professional interest groups and a varied selection of meetings provide professional development and networking opportunities that no other society can offer within the engineering education community. Members also receive reduced rates at local and national conferences, discounts on ASEE products, money-saving members-only discounts on financial, insurance, and travel programs, plus an ever growing variety of online services. Our goal is to focus on issues that matter the most to you in our publications, meetings, and on-line services, and to enable you to interact with others who share your specific engineering and educational interests. To join online, just go to www.asee.org/members, or contact our member services department at 202-331-3520 for further information.

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