Chapter 8

Orientation to the Engineering

Education System

Chapter Overview

Organization of engineering education Community college role in engineering

education The engineering education system Academic advising Academic regulations Student conduct and ethics Graduate study in engineering Engineering study as preparation for other

careers

Organization of Engineering Education

Engineering education in the U.S.

Organization of the engineering unit

Position of engineering unit in the university

Engineering Education in U.S.

2,533 four-year colleges and universities in U.S.

352 have ABET accredited engineering programs

1,495 accredited programs (average of just over four programs per institution)

Accreditation is critically important

Organization of Engineering Unit

Engineering department headed up by department chair or department head

Several departments form a school or college headed up by the “dean”

Non-engineering departments (computer science, engineering technology, etc may be part of engineering unit

Position of Engineering Unit in University

University Organization

C h a irD e pa rtm e nt o f

C iv il E n g in e e ring

C h a irD e pa rtm e nt o f

E le c trica l E n g ine e ring

C h a irD e pa rtm e nt o f

M e cha n ica l E ng in ee ring

D e an o f E n g in ee ring

P ro vos t/V ice P res id e n tfo r A cad e m ic A ffa irs

P re sid e n to r C h an ce llo r

Community College Role in Engineering Education

1,683 community colleges in the U.S. 40 percent of engineering graduates attended

a community college at some time Articulation and course selection Advantages of starting at a community college Applicability of Studying Engineering to

community college students

ABET Engineering Criteria 2000

1) Students (quality-meeting the standards-transfer credits-coverage)2) Program Educational Objectives (mission, needs, curriculum and achievements in

performance)3) Program Outcomes and Assessment (student improvement by graduation date,

applied math, exp. design, design a realistic component or system, team effort, solve an eng’g problem, communication skills, contemporary issues, skills of modern tools and software )

4) Professional Component (one year math &science, 1.5 year of eng’g major related courses plus general technical courses)

5) Faculty (Number, competency, university service, professional development, interaction with industries & professional practitioner- participating in professional societies, licensure and PE)

6) Facilities (classroom, lab, lab equipments , computer lab, infrastucture and software in the filed of studied)

7) Institutional Support and Financial Resources (to attract, retain and provide for well-qualified faculty. Also support personnel and institutional services..

8) Program Criteria: Each program must satisfy applicable program criteria or programs, if the program title covers two areas.

Program Assessment Process

Establish educational objectives and outcomes Measure whether objectives and outcomes are

being achieved Identify program strengths and areas for

improvement Develop plan of action and implement changes

to bring about improvements

Academic Advising

Quality of advising can be a problem Take personal responsibility for getting proper

advising Sources of advising Faculty Staff Other students Publications (student handbook, catalog)

Academic Regulations Academic Performance

Grade point averageInterview

continue education

Easy start

Credit/No credit Incompletes Repeat grade policy Academic renewal Credit by examination Other

Recognition for Academic Performance

ProbationDisqualificationDean’s ListGraduation RequirementsGraduation with Honors

– Top 5%: CUM LAUDE– Top 3%: MAGNA CUM LAUDE– Top 1%: SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Enrollment Policies

Selecting your major Changing your major Double majors Minors Registration Drop/add Policy Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Course Substitutions Overload policy

Student Rights (Examples)

Right to receive advisement Right to express your views, receive instruction, be

graded fairly Right to form and participate in clubs and

organizations Right to publish or broadcast our opinions or

concerns Right to file petitions Right to file grievances Right to privacy of your records

Student Conduct and Ethics (Examples, P320)

Cheating or plagiarism Forgery, alternation, or misuse of campus documents,

records or identification Obstruction or disruption of the campus educational

process Physical abuse of any member of the campus

community Theft of campus property Sale or possession of dangerous drugs And many more

Academic Dishonesty

Cheating

Fabrication

Facilitating academic dishonesty

Plagiarism

Graduate Study in Engineering

Benefits of graduate study in engineering

M.S. degree in engineering

Ph.D. degree in engineering

Full-time or part-time

How will you support yourself?

Engineering as Preparation for Other Careers

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Law

Medicine

Good Luck!

Professor Roozbehani

West Loop Campus

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas

USA

Spring 2010

Group DiscussionEthical Dilemma

In your group, discuss the following situation:

A friend has been sick and asks to copy your homework that is due in a few hours. What do you do?

Appoint a leader to keep the discussion on topic and a recorder to record and report what was learned

Alternate Group Discussion Benefits of Graduate Education

Poll your group members to determine how many plan to pursue formal education beyond the B.S. degree in engineering. Then brainstorm a list of the rewards, opportunities, and benefits that result from pursuing a graduate degree in either engineering or another discipline (e.g., MBA). Discuss each of the benefits on your list. At the end of the exercise, poll your group members again.

Appoint a leader to keep the discussion on topic and a recorder to record and report what was learned