Faculty Meeting Notes - Spring 2007-2008

05/28/08

Attendees: Greg Kremer; Izzi Urieli, Frank Kraft, Rudy Pasic, Khairul Alam; John Cotton, Bob Williams, Dave Bayless, Carole Womeldorf, Jesus Pagan, Melissa Feigi, Alex Conatser, TJ Cyders

 

Reminder Schedule

Wed May 28 - faculty mtg (Bob Judd (ISE tech electives), Area of Expertise breakouts to prep for program review)

 

ME vs Civil Softball Game, May 31st, 1PM (?)

 

Wednesday June 4th - 11:15 AM.  Senior celebration day.  Sr class picture with faculty (~11:15).
Food, awards, pictures/videos, etc.

 

Wednesday June 4th - 12 - 2 PM Faculty Program Review Meeting

 

For information:

> Benefit events: for Kelly Jolley today until 1:30PM in HDL center...

 

For discussion:

> Bob Judd - departmental collaborations, especially with respect to technical electives.

 

> Area of Expertise breakouts

Thermal Systems, Lab / Experimental Methods, and Service Courses [Izzi Urieli, Dave Bayless, Carole Womeldorf, Khairul Alam]

1) Review and update outcomes list, especially

> Verify tollgate courses for all outcomes associated with  [ABET-b] OU ME graduates will demonstrate an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data. [DOE in 288?]

> Verify plan for "An ability to explain the operation and performance characteristics of electric motors [Competence; ME498/ME388; Fundamentals & Service Courses]"

> consider the impact of rewritten objective 3 (copied below)

 

2) Area of Expertise assessment summaries for Program review meeting - findings and proposed changes

 

3) Recommend technical elective "concentrations" (for example manufacturing, power, energy, business, design,...) by listing regularly available courses in those areas.

 

Mechanical Systems, Materials & Manufacturing, Design, and Computers/Simulation[Bob Williams, Rudy Pasic, Frank Kraft, Jay Gunasekera, Greg Kremer, Ken Halliday, John Cotton]

1) Review and update outcomes list, especially

> Move "An ability to interpret tensile test data [Competence; ME314; Materials and Manufacturing] (changed from CE223, 1/08)" to ME388?

> Verify plan for "f.2) An ability to evaluate ethical issues that may occur in professional practice [Competence; ME100/ME101; Design]"

> Will colloquium courses be used for any outcomes?

> consider the impact of rewritten objective 3 (copied below)

 

2)  Need Area of Expertise assessment summaries and proposed action items (changes to courses, curriculum, or outcomes) by 10th week

 

3)  Recommend technical elective "concentrations" (for example manufacturing, power, energy, business, design,...) by listing regularly available courses in those areas.

 

Rewritten objective 3:

3.   Graduate mechanical engineers with skills to perform in the work environment, including:

           Safety and health: (for example awareness of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), use of personal protective equipment, Design for Safety methods, ...)

           Technical communication: Oral and written

           Teamwork

           Project management: planning, scheduling, budgeting

           Self evaluation, leading to improvement

           Awareness of international standards, quality standards, and systems of units

           Appreciation of engineering integration with business (market awareness, customer satisfaction, quality, continuous improvement, profit, mission / vision / core values, ...)

           Ethical and effective decision making, involving environmental health and safety, economics, time, quality, performance / operability, and reliability / life.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

05/21/08

Attendees: Greg Kremer; Izzi Urieli, Frank Kraft, Rudy Pasic, Khairul Alam; John Cotton, Bob Williams, Dave Bayless, Carole Womeldorf, Jesus Pagan, Melissa Feigi, Alex Conatser, TJ Cyders

 

Reminder Schedule

Wed May 28 - faculty mtg (Area of Expertise breakouts, prep for program review)

Wednesday June 4th - 11:15 AM.  Senior celebration day.  Sr class picture (~11:15). Food, awards,

                                                       pictures/videos, etc.

Wednesday June 4th - 12 - 2 PM Faculty Program Review Meeting

 

For information:

> Benefit events: Gladys, Kelly,...

 

> SIS system implementation will be a multi-year process.

 

> The Ohio State University Research Foundation, leading a partnership with Ohio University, Case Western Reserve University, and University of Toledo were recommended for $10,476,924 in funding to establish a collaborative cluster in Advanced Energy Systems. The Ohio State University and Ohio University will each receive one endowed Research Scholar position .

 

> Increasing emphasis on Online Education in Ohio - Guiding principles for online education passed at UCC this week, Ohio Learning Network report "Catalyst for change: E-learning in Ohio" distributed by the Provost,...

> Could be helpful for students in summer...

> We will continue to work on this and try to start something.

 

> CE220 and Physics 253 scheduling conflict

> EE304 and ME288 conflict

 

Move Mechatronics to Spring

 

ME vs Civil Softball Game, May 31st, 1PM (?)

 

> ABET Timeline updates:
> May 08 [Complete]: Program Educational Objectives recertified and approved by Advisory Board (including SAB)

> June 08 (to be approved at the program review mtg):

> "Review-ready" outcomes list (including new outcomes as required by PEO updates) with implementation dates and updated tollgate courses

> Review ME Department Statement Of Purpose [and verify consistency with new college mission in RCENT Strategic Plan]

> 07-08 and 08-09 academic years: Assess new courses (101, 288/388/488, 303/304, 314,...) and existing courses per our assessment plan with a special emphasis on compiling evidence of "closing the loop"
> By end-of-summer ’08: 1st draft of self-study report completed to identify areas of concern
> By end-of-summer ’09: Complete self study copy suitable for external review
> During 09-10 academic year: Compile course binders and address any open items or areas of concern
> By end of Winter ’09: Course syllabi and faculty resumes compiled
> January 2010: Final Self Study Draft complete
> July 2010: All info sent to ABET
> Fall 2010: ABET visit

 

For Discussion: ABET (Advisory Board Mtg Department Overview Presentation and ABET overview)

> ABET dual-level accreditation:

POLICY CHANGE APPROVED TO ALLOW DUAL-LEVEL ENGINEERING PROGRAM ACCREDITATION At its spring meeting on Saturday, March 29, the ABET Board of Directors approved a change to section II.B.8.a. of ABET's Accreditation Policy and Procedure Manual that will allow institutions to seek accreditation for their engineering programs of the same name/discipline at multiple levels (i.e., bachelor's and master's) concurrently. This voluntary option, which has been unavailable for most of ABET's history, is known as "dual-level accreditation."  The change will go into effect with the 2009-2010 accreditation cycle.  More on dual-level accreditation can be found at http://www.abet.org/dual.shtml.

 

> Decision points and concerns with outcomes list (including impact of new PEOs)

> Need Area of Expertise assessment summaries and proposed action items (changes to courses, curriculum, or outcomes) by 10th week

> Consider going electronic with all reports (get multi-sheet scanner to support it?)

> Goal: link example work and rubrics for all outcomes to our outcomes list by 08-09

> Goal: Link ABET syllabi and outcomes to curriculum flowchart

 

Time permitting:

> ME PhD - next steps (need to partner with CASE)

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

05/14/08

Attendees: Greg Kremer; Izzi Urieli, Ken Halliday, Rudy Pasic, Khairul Alam; John Cotton, Bob Williams, Dave Bayless, Carole Womeldorf, Jesus Pagan, Melissa Feigi, Alex Conatser, TJ Cyders

 

Reminder Schedule

      Wed May 14 - faculty mtg (Department business)

      Tuesday May 20th - 11AM - 1 PM in Stocker lobby or outside along Stocker bridge. 
Alpha Design judging day - Ken, John, Carole and Izzi will help.

      Wed May 21 - faculty mtg (ABET focus)

      Wed May 28 - faculty mtg (Area of Expertise breakouts, prep for program review)

      Wednesday June 4th - 11:15 AM.  Senior celebration day.  Sr class picture (~11:15).
                                                              Food, awards, pictures/videos, etc.


***Need to schedule faculty program review meeting for ~ 2 hours 10th week (or exam week). 
10th week options:  Wed June 4th after Sr celebration.  ~ 12 - 2 PM. 
                                   TH June 5th, 10-12 or 2-4 (or any other 2 hour block)

                                    F June 6th, any 2 hour time block

Please check your schedule and reply by Monday May 19th with any time conflicts you have with the proposed meeting times.  It is important to show full participation at this faculty program review meeting.

 

For information:

> ICMT faculty search has resulted in an offer.  The ME candidate was judged acceptable.  More info later.

> Please remind faculty that students funded in spring or in the fall can get a summer tuition waiver but need to register for at least 9 graduate credit hours (this is in light of the course that Dave intends to teach).  Student will be responsible for fees. [Frank]

> Part A of the IE PhD qualifying exam will be offered per my e-mail of several weeks ago.  Off the top of my head I remember that Chalmersk Dasaard must take it.  Also remind faculty about students taking the comprehensive exam before credit hours are exceeded (I think Elvedin Kljuno falls in this category).  If students don’t follow the rules or otherwise get a waiver, they may very well run into problems. [Frank]

> PCARD statements must be resolved and signed by the end of the month of the statement

> TEAMS next year is on a new Theme: Behind the Scenes: The Engineering  of Theme-Parks.  Does anyone in your department have an expertise or an interest? (Contact Costas, vass@bobcat.ent.ohiou.edu)

> Thanks to a generous one-time budget increase, substantially higher funding for Group I and II faculty travel will be available through the International Travel Fund (ITF) over the next two years.

> [Bob] Advising items (ME urban legends, and quick questions). 

    > ME288/388/488 transition, EE313/ME470 conflict, ...

> Biomedical Manufacturing course proposal from IT (IT385).  Prereq topics are manufacturing processes and CAD.  Do we want to propose ME314 & ME351 as alternate prereqs to make the course available to MEs?  If so, would we accept it for tech elective credit?

> Bob Judd is interested in coming to a future meeting to discuss ISE courses (how they can be made more attractive to MEs as tech electives). 

> Provost/Deans/Chairs Meeting on TH May 15 on SIS system.  Issues with finance & administration attitudes and treatment of academic/research units was postponed to the next chairs meeting.  More later...

> RCENT Strategic Plan (March 10 2008 version) which was sent to all faculty for review was approved at the last RCENT faculty meeting.  It is unclear what impact it will have.

> RCENT Workload Policy which was sent to all faculty for review was discussed but was tabled to resolve language concerning the suggested minimum number of hours listed for faculty with "significant expectation of scholarly activity."  It is likely to be approved after minor changes. 

> Potential impacts: It includes a requirement for a departmental workload policy.  It also states "The chair will review the teaching load assignment with each faculty member annually...A written document will be produced stating the expectations of the faculty member for this particular load assignment."

> SAB Suggestion: Create a suggested tech electives sheet for the ME program (Ken offered to work on this)

 

For discussion / approval:

> P&T guidelines: Review of proposal from committee. 

> Faculty decided to include in the ME procedures a fourth year review (after completion of three years) using a dossier following the college guidelines.

> Raise pool distributions will be handled as in the past.  Greg is happy to meet with anyone to discuss their individual situation relative to the overall raise pool.  Rudy reports that $160K was distributed to the college.  Greg will try to find out how it was split amongst departments.

> ME budget projection through year end is positive.  We will continue to discuss our options.

 

 

Time permitting:

> Increasing emphasis on Online Education in Ohio - Guiding principles for online education passed at UCC this week, Ohio Learning Network report "Catalyst for change: E-learning in Ohio" distributed by the Provost,...

> ABET dual-level accreditation approved (Ugrad and Grad program accreditation is now possible for programs.)

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

04/16/08

Attendees: Greg Kremer; Izzi Urieli, Ken Halliday, Rudy Pasic, Khairul Alam; John Cotton, Bob Williams, Frank Kraft, Carole Womeldorf, Jesus Pagan, Melissa Feigi, Alex Conatser, TJ Cyders

 

Reminder Schedule

   * ME faculty interview of ICMT candidate Jinsuo Zhang scheduled for April 16, 9:30 AM.  Research presentation April 16 at 1 PM in Stocker 103.

       Wed April 23: Administrative Professionals Day - Lunch

       Wed April 30 - Faculty meeting with Dean Irwin

       Wed May 7 - ASME student / faculty social

        Friday May 9 - ME Advisory Board, all faculty encouraged to attend 8:30-9 social and 9-10 AM mtg
                               (John, 5 minute intro presentation on your research?)

                               ( Dave, 1 example of a good, marginal, and poor formal report needed from Sr Lab, with abstract or executive summary, for board members to review to evaluate written communication skills of our graduating seniors.)

      Saturday, May 10th - SrD Demo Day. 10AM, in front of Stocker and in 103.

      Wed May 14 - faculty mtg (Department business)

      Tuesday May 20th - 11AM - 1 PM in Stocker lobby or outside along Stocker bridge.  Alpha Design judging day - judges needed

      Wed May 21 - faculty mtg (ABET focus)

      Wed May 28 - faculty mtg (Area of Expertise breakouts, prep for program review)

      Wednesday June 4th - 11:15 AM - 1 PM. Senior celebration day.  Sr class picture (~11:15), food, awards,
                                                                         videos, etc.

***Need to schedule faculty program review meeting for ~ 2 hours 10th week (or exam week)

 

For information:

1. Responses from Dean Irwin on some of our questions

> New faculty line requests need to be supported by comparisons to peer ME departments, not internal comparisons within RCENT.  He suggests we read the USO document and look at those metrics to see the advantage we may get from doing well with respect to our metrics.  Even with good case, little chance at new positions from Provost since money is being directed to faculty salary equity increases, not new positions.  Soft money or Russ money positions are a possibility.

> Dean's main role in the allocation of the Russ bequest is to set up the committee and implement their recommendations.  There will be some opportunities for departments to make proposals for some of the money - details later.  No money will be spent before July 1, 2009.  Endowed positions (i.e. Energy and Environment) may be a part of it.

 

For discussion / approval:

1. Top student award winners identified (GPA based).

2. Discuss and rank Robe Leadership seminar 08-09 nominees:

   > Nichole Blackmore

   > Jonathan Robe

   > David Jones

   > Ryan Risdon

3. Curriculum and catalog items.

  > ME303 prereq should be: C or better in CE220 and NOT 403 (already approved by UCC)

  > ME304 prereq should be: ME301 and 303 and NOT 403 (will submit change form to remove 314 concurrent)

  > ME351 prereq should be: IT101 and (304 or concurrent) and NOT ME350 (Yes, it already is)

  > EE313 should be a prereq for a ME388 (Yes, it already is)

  > Delete courses ME290, 322, 402, 411, and 465. 

  > Provide descriptions for ME381 and ME481 (internships), and and ME432 -  [Analy/Simulation Transpt (4)

Prereq: M E 412.]

> Update catalog to reflect ME280 and ME380 and send informational memo to UCC programs committee.  Also we need updates concerning moving Freshmen Eng Comp and CE220, deleting CE223, modifying the Hum and SS requirement to meet the new University requirement, and adding explicit language that 48 credits of MATH and Basic sciences are required for graduation (to address the transfer student loophole on this that could be a problem with ABET).

4. Some discussion of adding a Bio course to the curriculum.  All agree it is a good idea, but there are some issues to overcome.  Discussion will continue later.

5. ABET schedule review

 

ABET Timeline:
> 07-08 and 08-09 academic years: Assess new courses (101, 288/388/488, 303/304, 314,...) and existing courses per our assessment plan with a special emphasis on compiling evidence of "closing the loop"
> By end-of-summer ’08: 1st draft of self-study report completed to identify areas of concern
> By end-of-summer ’09: Complete self study copy suitable for external review
> During 09-10 academic year: Compile course binders and address any open items or areas of concern
> By end of Winter ’09: Course syllabi and faculty resumes compiled
> January 2010: Final Self Study Draft complete
> July 2010: All info sent to ABET
> Fall 2010: ABET visit

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

04/09/08

Attendees: Greg Kremer; Izzi Urieli, Rudy Pasic, John Cotton, Frank Kraft, Carole Womeldorf, Jesus Pagan, Stephanie Walker, Melissa Feigi, TJ Cyders

 

> SAB: Wed May 7 is the date selected for the ASME student / faculty social this quarter

> Discussion of new approach to Area of Expertise groups.  There was consensus that reorganizing into two large groups to allow easier scheduling makes sense.  The proposed groups (copied below) were discussed and approved.  For clarification, the service course group includes what was previously called "fundamentals and service courses".  There will be some courses that may go into whatever group the instructor is in, but we can work out those details as we go.  The chair of each committee has not yet been appointed - Greg will work on that.

 

Thermal Systems, Lab / Experimental Methods, and Service Courses [Izzi Urieli, Dave Bayless, Carole Womeldorf, Khairul Alam]

 

Mechanical Systems, Materials & Manufacturing, Design, and Computers/Simulation[Bob Williams, Rudy Pasic, Frank Kraft, Jay Gunasekera, Greg Kremer, Ken Halliday, John Cotton]

 

> Due to the large number of faculty unable to attend the meeting, we remained in one large group and discussed and gave feedback on the outcomes assessments done by John and Carole, since they are still new to the process.

> One point of clarification is the difference between our policy to keep one copy of graded marginal work for assessment purposes (each time an outcome is assessed), and the policy of creating an ABET course binder in the year before the site visit (2009-2010 for our new review) in which the best, worst and average examples of all assignments are saved, regardless of whether they demonstrate an outcome or not.

> Reminder of upcoming meetings:

      Wed April 16: Curriculum, ABET business and "ABET training"

       Wed April 23: Administrative Professionals Day (and Department business)

       Wed April 30 - Faculty meeting with Dean Irwin

       Wed May 7 - ASME student / faculty social

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

04/02/08

Attendees: Greg Kremer; Izzi Urieli, Ken Halliday, Rudy Pasic, Khairul Alam; John Cotton, Bob Williams, Frank Kraft, Carole Womeldorf, Dave Bayless, Jesus Pagan, Stephanie Walker, Melissa Feigi, TJ Cyders

 

Reminder Schedule

> House Bill purchases need to be made/encumbered before April 4th 2008.

> Upcoming Meetings:
      Wed April 9 - Area of Expertise mtgs to review and discuss assessment info from last quarter [Spring only]

 * April 15th catalog change deadline

      Wed April 16: ABET business and "training"

       Wed April 23: Administrative Professionals Day (and Department business) - Possible date for social

       Wed April 30 - Meeting with Dean Irwin

       Wed May 7 - Possible date for social

 

For information:

> ME Budget update - Still in red but salary savings from Khairul and Frank and Stocker money from the college (which we have been waiting on all year) should put us back in good shape.  We may even be able to release some discretionary funds or make a few extra equipment purchases.  There is increasing concern that all carry forward accounts (maybe even RI) could be taxed, so we may want to start considering spending down accounts if we have important maintenance or new purchases to fund.

> 015 update: Old gas bottles have been removed from 015.  015 door repairs have been made to improve closing.  Randy is still investigating "door open" alarm options, but all alarm requests must now go through police office.  Swipe card lock can be installed for ~$700, but there would be some ongoing charges for reprogramming.

> ONCA info for ME students - pizza lunch on April 8th.  Ideas for other students to invite?

> Ken Sampson encourages us to send students to him if they need money for student projects.

> ORSP - Jim Rankin reports that electronic transmittal forms are up and operating

> Other announcements, issues to resolve, etc?

   * avoid 314/401 scheduling conflicts in the future

   * Need 2 faculty for ME-only learning communities next year.  John and maybe Dave or maybe Greg.

   * ICMT faculty interview of ME candidate scheduled for April 16 1-3 PM

   * Some concern with the lack of grad courses this quarter.

 

For discussion / approval:

1. Student Awards (discussed and selected winners of Leadership and Outstanding Sr award)

2. House Bill update from Izzi (along with info on CNC Mill cost-sharing agreement with ISE)

3. SAB/GSAB

 > Possible dates for student/faculty social this quarter April 23 or May 7.

 > Student Surveys will be distributed to 40 sophomores in ME224, 44 juniors in ME304, and 49 seniors in ME472.

 > Update on grad MATH545 course: Try to avoid using it in the future, but if we do make sure to work with the instructor beforehand to identify an engineering problem to be used throughout the course.  The class was very theory-based with no applications problems.  Also MATLAB intensive with no instruction for grad students unfamiliar with it.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Open items:

>  Technical Writing Committee: (John, Greg, Frank,...)

> Develop standard Technical Writing guidelines for the department (common expectations for reports).

> Define a standard citation format for all departmental undergraduate (lab and design reports) and graduate (project and thesis) reports.

> Discussions initiated with CHE faculty concerning content of CHE418

> Thermal systems group is preparing to include a thermal systems design activity (with assessment) in ME328. The proposed wording of the outcome is:

[ABET-8] The program must demonstrate that graduates have the ability to work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas, including the design and realization of such systems

8.1) Design and realization of mechanical systems [Competence*; ME472**; Design***]

8.2) Design of thermal systems [Competence; ME328; Thermal Systems]. 

> Note that the realization aspects of both mechanical and thermal systems are developed and assessed in the capstone design sequence (ME470/ME471/ME472), but that a specific thermal design activity is assessed in ME328.

> Lab / Experimental Methods: Frank Kraft, Dave Bayless, Izzi Urieli, Bob Williams, Khairul Alam,
[More definition of ME388/488 (are we doing the 6-8 experiments, each sponsored by a different faculty member for ME388?), assessment of ME288/388/488, use of lab space (015, 408, 298,...), need to address the outcome: An ability to explain the operation and performance characteristics of electric motors [Competence; ME388 or ME488], ...]

> Materials and Manufacturing: Frank Kraft, Khairul Alam, Jay Gunasekera [Determine how best to use the new CNC lathe to address the outcome: The ability to program and use CNC machines to manufacture simple parts [Competence; ME388], Develop tensile tests with the Instrom to handle mechanical systems in ME388 to serve as an acceptable replacement for CE223,...]

> Computers, programming and simulation: Izzi Urieli, John Cotton, Bob Williams
[ET181 new outcomes, ET181 and MATH344 assessment follow ups, ME351 and ME451, ...]

> Mechanical Systems: Bob Williams, Rudy Pasic,
[linear systems sequence, servo mechanism labs, Mechatronics, ...]

> Design: Greg Kremer, Ken Halliday, John Cotton
[ME303 and ME304/ME351, and ME451 (development and assessment),...]

> Other Items

> Address issue with transfer students and total # of hours of Math and BS (in catalogue, DARS, and by assigning a "transfer advisor")

> Address issue of the lack of courses for students early in the program (if they do not start in MATH263A)

> Promote tech elective "concentrations" such as Energy, Biomedical, Robotics, Automotive, Manufacturing, ...

> Develop department-level understanding of an appropriate scope and level of difficulty for a graduate project (vs. a thesis).

> Need more SAB members (personal invitations to freshmen, sophomores and juniors) and GSAB members (Sarang, Erik K., PhD from Khairul or Bob ?)

> Report to Task Force on Centers of Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education - due date and format TBD
> College Strategic Plan and Workload policy

> IT117 Long Term Plan

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Modified January 2008, Copyright 2008, Ohio University

 
To ENT home       To ME home     To GK home