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EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2015

The BYU-Idaho Department of Physics tied for third in the country for the number of physics teachers it graduated in 2013-14. The department was subsequently inducted into the Physics Teacher Education Coalition’s

“5+ Club.”

The Physics Teacher Education Coalition, or PhysTEC, started “The 5+ Club” three years ago as a way to award universities around the nation for filling a country-wide need for more qualified physics teachers.

“The high schools can’t find qualified people to teach math and science, so we’ve been given the directive as a nation to produce more qualified science and math teachers,” Steven McNeil, chair of the Physics Department, said.

This call for qualified physics teachers is a gap in the educational system that has needed filling for a number of years, with many high schools using other science teachers to teach physics, even when they haven’t been specifically trained to do so.

Last year, BYU and BYU-Idaho combined to account for around one-fifth of all physics teachers who graduated in the United States. This accomplishment is due in part to the emphasis the BYU-Idaho Physics Department has placed on training physics teachers.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished here and what’s ongoing, and the kind of kids that the Lord sends us,” Brian Pyper, faculty member in the Physics Department, said.

“They’re really good kids. They’re high-quality, thoughtful, show-up-on-time, devote-their-best-effort kind of kids.”

Pyper went on to say that all of the students he has had the opportunity to work with have all been highly acclaimed by

their supervisors, and by the schools they work for.

He says the students at BYU-Idaho perfectly fit the need the country has for hard-working, honest, qualified teachers, and he hopes the acclaim and exposure they receive through this recent award will only continue to draw students to the program.

Pyper sees in the students he teaches a desire to help in any way they can, and teaching provides them an opportunity to both help and serve the youth of this country.

“They feel a sense of earned success, a sense of satisfaction as a result of their effort, and teaching does that,” Pyper said. “It doesn’t do it very lucratively, but the reason people go into education is usually not because they’re looking to make a lot of money. Which we are glad we have students like that.”

BYU-Idaho recognized for graduating high number of physics teachersBy Brock Allen

Physics majors begin publishing research» By Brock Allen

BYU-Idaho has begun placing an emphasis on helping students in the Department of Physics publish research before graduation as a way to help them become competitive for top graduate schools.

While publishing research is not a requisite for a bachelor’s degree like it is for a PhD, much importance has been placed on undergraduate students to actively participate in research and to go through the process of publishing their research.

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Department of Physics faculty member Bryan Pyper accepts “The 5+ Club” Award on behalf of BYU-Idaho.

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Physics majors publishing research: continued from page 1

“At any time in the past it would have been helpful to be published in science,” Evan Hansen, faculty member in the Physics Department, said. “At a top grad school it would have always been looked on favorably, but it seems that now if you haven’t published, you probably won’t compete well enough to get in.”

The process of publishing research becomes valuable experience for these undergraduate students in a variety of ways. Through this process they are able to learn the minutia of publishing, as well as learn how to present at professional conferences. When a graduate program sees a student has published and has gone through all the requirements it takes to publish, it helps them see the student can immediately contribute to the university as well as to the entire research community.

Because of the advantages this presents, the faculty in the Physics Department has created programs, as well as goals it wants to achieve in order to help students participate in publishing.

“We decided to start establishing research groups here on campus where they could get some good solid research and get involved with student-mentored projects,” Stephen McNeil, chair of the Physics Department, said. “We’ve set a modest goal at this point to just get five papers published in the next five years, and I think we are going to meet it.”

These student-mentored projects offer a rare opportunity for faculty-student interaction that isn’t common at most universities.

“Here I work with students much more like we’re on the same team. Instead of being too special to talk to, students develop the skills to talk to people who know a lot here,” Hansen said. “With this individual attention and opportunity, I think there is great opportunity to get to the place where you actually do really meaningful research.”

The Physics Department hopes to continue to build upon these programs, and help more students participate in the publishing of research in the coming years.

Animation students attend industry conference in California» By Paul Morgan

Josh Abegglen, a faculty member in the Department of Art, recently traveled with a group of students to Burbank, Calif. to attend the Creative Talent Network

Animation Expo. The conference lasted three days and allowed students to gain greater insights into the many different aspects of the world of animation.

“The conference is appropriately located because traditionally Burbank is the seat of the animation industry,” said Abegglen.

“It’s steeped in tradition and has access to a lot of animation studios including Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Sony Image Works, and Disney, which are just a few miles away.”

While at the conference, students were provided with tremendous opportunities to meet with professionals within the industry. Students were not only able to network with potential employers and specialists, but were also able to experience portfolio reviews and even some interviews.

“I personally benefited from talking with other artists and getting portfolio reviews,” said Brittany Gneiting, a student in the Department of Art. “It was also good for me to know how to better network and get myself out there.”

The 10 BYU-Idaho students’ attendance at the conference was made possible through the efforts of Abegglen, who had embarked on a search to find a convention more suited to enhancing his student’s comprehension of the industry a year earlier.

“The aim of the trip was to give students to chance to grow in their comprehension of what exists out there because being in Idaho, unfortunately we often don’t have

the opportunity to experience first hand what is taking place in the animation and entertainment industries,” said Abegglen.

The conference provided students with a first hand look at the diversity within the different worlds of animation. Both traditional and digital animation was represented and students were able to familiarize themselves with how the animation industry is structured, as well as getting a taste of its culture.

Among the various activities offered at the conference, one student was able to interview with Nickelodeon and received positive feedback. As a result of the interview he was able to develop a more solid plan for how to grow and develop himself as a color stylist for animation.

“I wanted students to have an experience where they would benefit more in a professional manner. This conference did just that and as a result students were privy to a number of unique experiences that they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise,” said Abegglen.

Josh Abegglen

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The BYU-Idaho mechanical engineering program has grown from a two-year associate degree to one of the university’s fastest growing degrees.

During the Ricks College era mechanical engineering (ME)

was only a two-year associate program. It wasn’t until 2003 that it became a four-year bachelor of science program.

The following year the program produced its first graduates with seven students earning four-year BS degrees. The program has experienced continual growth since then.

Today, BYU-Idaho’s

ME program is the largest undergraduate ME program in both Idaho and Utah. The number of graduates has steadily increased every year since 2004 with the exception of 2011, when the number of graduates declined by only two.

It is a market-driven profession,

and the market has steadily increased since the program’s implementation here at BYU-Idaho. While the number of students participating in other university programs have dropped in recent years, the ME degree has continually increased.

In 2006 there were 210 declared

majors. That number has more than tripled since then. Today there are 1,049 declared ME majors.

“It has never taken a hit,” said Greg

Roach, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “It has continued growing, even during the recession.”

The growth of the ME program has been the cause of minor complications in the department. But growth problems are good problems, according to Roach.

“It can be a challenge figuring out classrooms, buildings, and

equipment, but it blesses a tremendous amount of students with educational opportunities,” said Roach.

The opportunities for ME students aren’t limited to Rexburg alone Online classes and university-to-university collaboration is opening doors on a much broader range.

The program is in

the process of putting eight classes online as part of an online associate degree. This would cause huge

growth internationally, especially considering the growth and success of the Pathway program.

Marc Skinner, Director of Inter-

University Relations, says they have been working closely with the University of Idaho, Washington State University, Montana Tech of the University of Montana, as well as other universities.

“Our purpose is to develop strong relationships with other universities to give students the opportunity to transition from here to there as quickly and smoothly as possible,” said Skinner.

These factors have contributed to the

growth of the mechanical engineering program, and will continue to contribute to its growth in the future.

“It’s amazing to see a program start from

nothing and get as big as it is today,” said Roach. “We are knocking on the door of becoming one of the top 50 universities graduating ME students.”

Mechanical engineering program shows impressive growth» By Clint Urick

Our purpose is to develop strong relationships with other universities to give students the opportunity to transition from here to there as quickly and smoothly as possible.M A RC S K I N N E R D I R E C TO R , I N T E R- U N I V E R S I T Y R E L AT I O N S H I P S

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BYU-Idaho has had yet another successful year at the annual student construction competitions in Nevada. At the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) competition BYU-Idaho placed third in the design build category while the four-year team placed 13 out of 34 at the Residential Construction Management Competition (RCMC) sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

In January teams traveled from all over the country to compete in the RCMC in Las Vegas. Ron Kinville, the faculty advisor for the competition, said it was an outstanding event.

“Both teams presented well,” Kinville

said. “We were competing against 250 of the best construction management students in the nation so to come away 13 out of 34 was very respectable.”

The competition coincided with a

job fair and the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. The students had a great opportunity to rub shoulders with industry leaders in an intimate setting. A couple of different companies approached BYU-Idaho students with job or internship offers.

“We actually had more offers than

students available to accept them,” said Kinville. In February the ASC competition found similar success for

BYU-Idaho students. Six teams from BYU-Idaho travelled to Sparks, Nev. to compete against 41 universities. The design build team performed very well, and earned a third place trophy.

Shawn Jensen, faculty advisor, said they were very close to coming home with more trophies, but a student’s computer crashing and some other technical difficulties may have kept them from the podium.

“Overall, we did extremely well,” said Jensen. “Our students represented the university very well, and we continue to promote the brand of BYU-Idaho.”

The BYU-Idaho brand proved successful once again at the job fair following the competition.

“Companies were flocking around us,” Jensen said.

Two students came away with internships in Hawaii and five students were invited to PCL’s student day—an event that only garners 25 invites.

In an email to one of the students following the event, a company representative said, “We actually talked about doing a recruiting trip up to BYU-Idaho because the students we have met from the school have been so outstanding.”

“The whole purpose of these competitions is to give students exposure and to come home with job offers and internships,” said Jensen. “That’s the main purpose of it. The recognition that comes is a side benefit.”

Between the ASC and NAHB competitions, there are 18 students who will return for next year’s competition and the experience will be a great advantage. These students are already setting up their teams and preparing for next year’s competition.

News & NotesA monthly publication of University Relations

A D V I S O R Marc Stevens

W R I T E R S Brock Allen, Paul Morgan, Clint Urick

PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Lewis, Ryan Chase, Leanna Davidson, Tyler Rickenbach

If you have any ideas for future issues, please e-mail newsdesk@byui.edu.

THANK YOU

Dear BYU-Idaho Administration, Faculty & Staff,

The beautiful floral arrangement that was sent for my father-in-law’s funeral services was amazing. The entire family was very touched and deeply appreciative for the thoughtful support and kindness displayed them during a difficult time. Thank you for all you are and do to lift those in need. Warmest regards,

April Spaulding

Construction management students perform well at national competition » By Clint Urick

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT COMPETITIONS

It is not a requirement to be a construction management major to compete in the ASC and NAHB sponsored student competitions.

There has been a variety of majors competing in past competitions—namely architecture, civil engineering, interior design, business management, etc. A background in construction is preferred, but not required.

Contact Ron Kinville at kinviller@byui.edu or Shawn Jensen at jensensh@byui.edu for more information on how to get students involved.