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October 26, 2007
Wentworth Professor, Student Honored at World Workplace Conference
Wentworth Institute of Technology Professor Suzanne Kennedy was honored with the Educator of the Year Award from the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) at the World Workplace Conference in New Orleans on Friday, October 26. This award recognizes excellence in developing curriculum and instructing students in subjects related to facility management at a college, university or institute. The award recipient must have gained prominence in his or her field by writing and publishing papers, making presentations to professional organizations, mentoring an IFMA student chapter, and maintaining high quality teaching.
Wentworth’s facilities management program becomes the first program to have two facilities management faculty members honored with the Educator of the Year award. Victoria Hardy, Department Head of the Design and Facilities Department, won the award in 2001.
Wentworth design and facilities student Mallory Prentiss was also honored. She was awarded with this year’s Lee Forrest Scholarship, which includes a $1,500 grant and an all expense paid trip to attend the World Workplace Conference and Expo. The award recognizes Ms. Prentiss’ academic achievement and her participation in professional activities as part of Wentworth’s IFMA student chapter.
Professor Kennedy and Department Head Hardy presented their research findings on emergency planning, evacuations and alternate operational locations. “Exploring Emergency Measures Since 9/11” highlighted the feedback from 100 facility executives as they responded to questions related to emergency evacuation procedures, disaster recovery plans, evacuation drill rehearsals, evacuation training sessions, and the availability of back-up locations.
The findings of the 9/11 Commission Report related to the validation of evacuation procedures of the World Trade Center Towers provided the impetus for conducting the research on emergency planning since September 11, 2001. Research was conducted in May 2007 and respondents were located in Boston, Atlanta, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
The researchers were most interested in the negative responses to survey questions, which they believe reflect the percentage of facilities that are more vulnerable to certain events. Key findings include:
·13% of respondents said “no” to having emergency evacuation procedures
·30% of respondents said “no” to having a disaster recovery plan in place
·18.4% of the respondents do not conduct evacuation drills
·40.4% responded that evacuation training is “not scheduled on a regular basis”
·27.8% of respondents indicated that they do not have a back-up location in the “case of a catastrophic event.
The findings are intended to reveal the importance of emergency planning for facilities managers and serve as a warning to significant potential problems.
Source: Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
October 25, 2007
Alfred State College Hosts NYSETA Conference
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Alfred State College (ASC) recently hosted the fall 2007 Conference of The New York State Engineering Technology Association (NYSETA), a professional organization representing the faculty and institutions in New York State who teach engineering technology and technology. It also provides information on careers in technology, school information, and links to educational information for technology. Included among the events was a plenary session with keynote speaker Keith Gleasman, president, Torvec, Inc., Rochester. His presentation covered the process of design, development, testing, research, and marketing of various automotive-related products and technologies patented by the Gleasman family and Torvec, Inc., which has a long history of association with Alfred State and is a prime example of education-industry alliance.
Other presenters included Steven Ciccarelli, assistant professor and program chair, Electrical Engineering Technology Department of Electrical, Computer, and Telecommunications Engineering Technology (ECTET), Rochester Institute of Technology. The ECTET Department has made a fundamental change in the way it teaches engineering concepts to first-year students. It is believed that students often fail to see the connection between the often abstract concepts introduced in the circuit theory courses and the rest of their program of interest or even the jobs available in the field. The department has added activities and excitement to its programs with more stimulating, hands-on projects, including the TekBot®, a small autonomous robot, platform developed by Oregon State University. Rocio Alba-Flores, assistant professor, Electrical Engineering Technology Department, ASC, discussed the benefits of autonomous mobile robot competitions as an effective tool for engineering technology education. She also discussed how the embedded controller applications course was organized to include activities that directed the students to design, build, and program autonomous mobile robots. David J. Hunt, associate professor, Electrical Engineering Technology Department, ASC, discussed the new undergraduate microelectronics laboratory facility at Alfred State. Through a recent NYSTAR (Science, Technology, and Academic Research) grant opportunity, ASC started its own undergraduate microelectronics laboratory facility at a fraction of the cost of comparable industrial equipment. This laboratory is equipped with Modu-Lab semiconductor device manufacturing equipment, which gives students realistic exposure to the semiconductor planer process. Oxidation, diffusion, photolithography, etch, and vapor deposition stations allow the students the opportunity to design, fabricate, and test their own simple diffused resistors and PMOS devices while gaining experience in microelectronic fabrication techniques. William Dean, associate professor and chair, Computer Imaging and Architectural Engineering Technology Department, ASC, demonstrated the evolution of community-based research in an architectural technology program from a series of unrelated projects to a coordinated effort that is focused on addressing specific environmental needs in the NYS Southern Tier. The presentation offered an overview of projects undertaken, challenges encountered, and lessons learned in this unique integration of applied research and technology in an undergraduate architectural curriculum. Jay N. Smith, Alpha Geoscience, spoke on "The Collapse of the 104-Year-Old Retsof Salt Mine and the Impact on the Area." At the time of the collapse, Smith was general manager of the local Culligan franchise and was asked to evaluate the water problems caused by the collapse. Smith discussed the mine collapse and the resulting effect on the area, especially the impact on the water supply. He also discussed the steps taken with government to cover the immediate and future impacts of the collapse in the form of MOUs, and the work that was done to correct the problem created by the collapse, as well as the testing program that monitors for future problems.
In a second session, Smith, also spoke on "The Results of Monitoring a Retsof Mine Collapse and the Remedy for the ‘Mine Squeeze,'" covering the results of the monitoring program, the reporting to the different agencies, the plan for brine treatment, and the construction of crystallizer plant at the collapse site. In 2004, Smith left Culligan to work full time on the design and operation of the desalinization plant for the Akzo Brine Mitigation Project. Dr. Anselm Tshibangu, assistant professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, ASC, summarized the creation of the baccalaureate program in manufacturing technology (BTech) at Alfred State, provided an overview of its road map and networking process with external partners to its current standing, and analyzed and explored its future. David Bernreuther, senior operations research/systems analyst, US Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, examined the strategic importance of energy to the United States - the importance it plays in national security and its economic impact. The viability of various alternative energies was critically examined. The presentation offered an overview of energy sources and examined the challenges inherent in replacing imported oil with alternative sources. Luke May, field operations and energy diversity manager, NE Region General Motors Corp., covered the broad spectrum of GM vehicles technologies including conventional, electric, hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell, bio-fuels and flex fuels vehicles technologies. Bill Childs, spoke on "Hot Air Balloons, How They Work, Common Misconceptions, and How a Balloon Is Made and Why."
Additionally, attendees were able to participate in "break out" sessions particular to their discipline, including electrical engineering technology, architectural, civil, construction, engineering tech, and mechanical engineering technology. Participants also toured the newly refurbished labs in the Engineering Technology Building, as well as Dresser-Rand in Wellsville which covered the design, development, manufacturing and testing of steam turbines; and L.C. Whitford in Wellsville which highlighted the company's pre-stressed concrete beams and girders for bridge and building construction. Displays and information on the latest technology, equipment, and published goods were available for attendees to peruse. The group concluded its conference with independent research of spherical objects undergoing impact and aerodynamic loading (a round of golf for non-engineering types).
Source: Alfred State College, SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, New York
October 19, 2007
FIRST Scholarships Now Offered at Capitol College
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FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is dedicated to creating opportunities for young people who dream of becoming technology heroes. Taking courses at Capitol College is a great way to get these students on their way, and in support of the FIRST mission, Capitol is offering two new scholarships, each for $5,000.
This scholarship may be utilized for any undergraduate course of study at Capitol College, and is renewable up to a total of $20,000 over four years, contingent upon good academic standing. Each recipient must meet the regular academic requirements for admission to the college.
To be eligible for this scholarship you must be a senior in high school, have participated in at least one full season during your junior or senior year on a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team or a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team. Applicants must also apply and be admitted to Capitol College as a full-time student.
The deadline for applications is April 1, 2008. Please contact Darnell Edwards for more information on the scholarship and to acquire an application package.
Source: Capitol College, Maryland
Kendall T. Harris, formerly associate professor of mechanical engineering and associate dean, has been appointed dean of the College of Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. Harris officially assumed his post Oct. 1, after being confirmed by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. "Dr. Harris is a distinguished researcher and scholar with a wealth of administrative experience. His record of achievement in aerospace engineering and energy conservation are assets to our university," said President George C. Wright. "Through his established leadership and desire to cultivate students, our College of Engineering will continue to flourish and produce talent and research for Texas, our nation and the world." As Dean of the College of Engineering, Harris will serve as the chief administrative officer of the college in all matters related to academic, faculty and student affairs. He will also be responsible for fund development, policy compliance and student recruitment and retention. Harris, 39, will become the sixth dean of the college, succeeding engineering dean Milton R. Bryant, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Bryant will remain on sabbatical until he returns next spring as a full professor in the College of Business. A licensed professional engineer, Harris began his tenure at Prairie View A&M University in 2005, as associate dean and professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Under his leadership, the college implemented the College of Engineering Success Center, which focuses on the retention of engineering students by offering supplemental instruction for freshman and sophomore students enrolled in math, science and engineering courses. He also conceptualized and facilitated a program that partners freshman advisors from each academic department within the college with advisors from the university's freshman residence complex, University College. This collaboration works through a new freshman course within the College that introduces fundamental engineering, computer science and technology concepts to first year students. "As the new dean of the college of engineering, one of my top priorities is to ensure that the college becomes one of the foremost engineering colleges in the nation," states Harris. "My long-term goal is to reach a level of achievement and recognition that places the college among the global leaders in engineering education, research and service." Harris, who has consistently held joint faculty appointments in aerospace and mechanical engineering departments, assumes the helm of a college that is widely known for producing top black engineers. His efforts have garnered more than $3.2 million in research and program funding. Equipped with this expertise, he will now lead a college with more than 900 students. The college recently opened a new electrical engineering building and graduated its first doctoral degree student in electrical engineering. Through collaborations with NASA and several public and private entities, the college houses seven research centers and is comprised of six departments: chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, engineering technology and mechanical engineering. "The College of Engineering is among the most productive and celebrated of our flagship academic programs," states Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith. "Dr. Harris has the passion for ensuring that our students gain a quality education that can be provided only by the first-rate faculty and staff that the College of Engineering is fortunate to have. He, his leadership team, the faculty and the staff are positioned to advance the college to new heights." Prior to joining the faculty at PVAMU, Harris served as associate professor and associate chairman for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. In this capacity, he managed the departmental budget, curriculum design, fellowships, scholarships and conducted research concerning heat transfer through porous materials, energy conservation and the cooling of electronic components. While serving at the University of Texas at Arlington, Harris also directed the Loan Star Industrial Assessment Center in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, which provided energy, waste and productivity conservation assessments to various manufactures in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In 2004, he received the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award from the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1993, he graduated from the Naval Aviation Officer School as a U.S. naval officer and aviator. His research has been published in publications such as the Journal of Electronic Packaging, the Journal of Porous Media and the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. Harris received a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Kansas. He holds a master's and doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi. He is married to Shundra Harris, who is also an engineer and interior designer.
Source: Prairie View A&M University, Texas
Prairie View A&M University has been awarded a $1 million three-year education research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to identify and evaluate the factors that contribute to the success of academically gifted black students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), who are enrolled at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
College of Engineering faculty members from Prairie View A&M University, Felecia McInnis Nave and Sherri S. Frizell, will partner with three faculty members in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University to conduct the study.
Representing Texas A&M University-College Station in this effort will be: Fred A. Bonner, associate professor, Department of Educational Administration; Mary V. Alfred, associate professor, Department of Educational Administration; and Chance W. Lewis, associate professor, Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture.
The title of the study is, An Empirical Investigation of the Success Factors Impacting African-American Students in Engineering and Technology at Historically Black Universities. Dr. Felecia M. Nave, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, will serve as the principal investigator and Dr. Sherri S. Frizell, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science will serve as the co- principal investigator.
According to Frizell, "This project has the potential to have a significant impact in strengthening the education and research pipeline of STEM students at HBCUs and other institutions. Prairie View A&M University is a noted leader in producing outstanding African-American engineers and scientists."
The goal of this collaborative education research project is to identify factors, through a mixed method approach, that utilize both qualitative and quantitative measures that most significantly contribute to the success of gifted black students in STEM disciplines at HBCUs. This study will be implemented in an effort to better understand how to structure successful collegiate experiences to increase the quantity and quality of students who graduate with STEM degrees.
More specifically, this research endeavor will target students who have excelled in STEM areas at HBCUs. Few research studies have focused on minority under-representation and under-achievement in science and engineering to directly address the needs of high achieving minority students, many of whom struggle as much as their peers who are not identified as high achievers. Researchers feel the impact of this study will be far-reaching and serve as a catalyst for changes in success rates among blacks in STEM disciplines.
Many programs in STEM areas have sought viable solutions to the problems associated with student achievement gaps, particularly among students of color. A study of this nature will provide concrete empirical data to identify and support viable factors that lead to student achievement, particularly for academically gifted black students. Programmatic initiatives, policies and procedures can be developed and subsequently implemented using these factors as a framework.
Researchers at PVAMU and Texas A&M University will further develop strategies in the areas of academic affairs and student affairs. The research team seeks to find effective and cognitive variables which will be measured through six factors: curriculum, teaching style, learning style, campus programming, student-life and out-of-classroom engagements.
Nave reports that "A major strength of this partnership is that it brings together the expertise of outstanding faculty who represent two dynamic colleges with a history of producing cutting edge research."
"Texas A&M University is a noted leader in research; thus it is important to connect to faculty members at the institution who can provide essential feedback and information for this project," continues Nave.
As graduates of HBCUs, both Nave and Frizell, possess first-hand knowledge and understanding of the HBCU culture and the critical role they play in assisting black students in reaching their academic and professional goals.
The first phase of the project will include studies at the ten four-year universities accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, including Prairie View A&M. Once the initial study is complete, phase two of the project will include a dissemination of a quantitative study at the remaining four-year HBCUs with STEM programs.
Source: Prairie View A&M University, Texas
Drexel University's LeBow College of Business has been named one of the nation's top 10 schools for entrepreneurs in the latest Entrepreneur and The Princeton Review ranking of graduate and undergraduate entrepreneurship programs, released today.
In a survey of 900 schools, LeBow College of Business placed third for undergraduate programs and seventh for graduate programs, making it the top choice for programs in the Greater Philadelphia region. The survey will be featured in Entrepreneur magazine's November issue, which hits newsstands October 23. "This recognition underscores our commitment to shape students with a distinct ‘entrepreneurial mindset'," said Dr. George P. Tsetsekos, dean of Drexel University's LeBow College of Business. "Our programs foster innovation and creativity in business to enable students to develop their entrepreneurial spirit, whether that is in a startup or developing new businesses within established companies." LeBow College achieved the ranking based on key criteria including the entrepreneurial emphasis of the curriculum, mentoring, experiential learning, faculty credentials, and the success of graduating students and alumni. Results of the survey suggest that LeBow, through its Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology, demonstrates a commitment to practical, hands-on experiential learning to provide the skills that translate into real-world businesses. "The Baiada Center provides an innovative and unique approach to entrepreneurial development, offering interdisciplinary education and coaching, world-class resources and a physical environment for accelerated business creation," said Mark Loschiavo, executive director of the Baiada Center. "Our programs, workshops, courses and training provide a continuum of care for innovators and entrepreneurs, driving new business creation, sustainability and growth." LeBow College of Business offers an undergraduate concentration in entrepreneurship and a concentration at the graduate level, as well as a minor in entrepreneurship accessible to students from other schools within Drexel University. "LeBow College manifests Drexel University's entrepreneurial vision in its curriculum and approach to student learning," said Dr. Donna De Carolis, academic director of the Baiada Center and associate professor of management. "The College's entrepreneurial course offerings are designed so students have the opportunity to work with regional new ventures."
Source: Drexel University's LeBow College of Business, Pennsylvania
October 2, 2007
University of Wyoming: Newcomb Grant Recipients Return to UW to Share Experiences
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Three University of Wyoming graduates returned to the College of Education recently to share their experiences through a beginning teacher grant. Mindy Buell, Spanish teacher for Carbon County School District 2 at Hanna-Elk Mountain School; Katie Moore, special education/primary living skills teacher for Albany County School District 1 in Laramie; and Erin Vineyard, first grade teacher for Converse County School District in Douglas, all received the Lola B. Newcomb Beginning Teacher Support Grant. All three recipients graduated from the UW College of Education in 2006, and the grant aided their professional development the past year. The recipients returned to the UW campus for a day of presentations, visits to undergraduate education classes and meetings with college administrators. The Lola B. Newcomb Beginning Teacher Support Grant is made possible by a gift from the estate of Mrs. Newcomb, who attended summer school at the UW College of Education in the 1930s. The grant provides $1,000 in professional development funds to first-year teachers in Wyoming who are graduates of UW. Grants allow use for a range of activities, including: mentoring, conferences and workshops, travel related to those activities, substitute time to allow the recipient to participate in professional development opportunities, and purchase of materials for the classroom.
Source: University of Wyoming
October 2 , 2007
CareersUSA Founder & CEO Marilyn Ounjian to Speak at
Nova Southeastern University’s Business School
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Marilyn J. Ounjian, founder and CEO of CareersUSA, will be speaking at Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship on Oct. 15 as part of the Business School’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The free public lecture will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Julian and Ellen Knight Lecture Hall in the Carl DeSantis Building, located at NSU’s Davie campus (3301 College Avenue). Space is limited and RSVPs must be made by calling (954) 262-5065. In 1981, Ounjian founded CareersUSA in Philadelphia after financial hardships forced her from college and into the workforce. Now based in Boca Raton, CareersUSA, a national temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire staffing firm, has taken off in the last three decades. It’s become a thriving national firm that’s a pioneer in web-based staffing and human resources solutions. It has annual revenues in excess of $45 million and operates in 26 offices nationwide. Ounjian was named The South Florida Business Journal’s 2005 Business Woman of the Year and was a regional finalist for Ernst & Young’s 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year. The Distinguished Lecture Series is designed to provide students and members of the community a glimpse into the minds of successful and outstanding entrepreneurs and business leaders. The series has previously welcomed business titans such as Jack Welch, The Honorable Clarence Thomas, Robert L. Johnson, Alan Potamkin, Ronald Bergeron, Stephen A. Ross, Ph.D., and H. Wayne Huizenga.
Source: Nova Southeastern University, Florida
Wentworth Institute of Technology Bachelor of Science in Management
Wentworth Institute of Technology (Wentworth) offers a Bachelor of Science in Management through the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Management. The BS Management has been developed to prepare students for a range of ... [more]
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