Fall 2006 Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
November 23, 2005, 10:30 a.m.
Room C-258 Parkview Campus
Present: Osama Abudayyeh, Sherif Yehia, Jun-Seok Oh, Ahmad Jrade, Mike Maurovich, Dennis Randolph, Alicia Torres , Tim Mitchell, Rex Bell, April Bollenbach, Pete Pfeiffer, John Bayha
- Introductions & Welcome
- Dr. Abudayyeh proposed to switch to the outcomes and discuss that first. He explained that the outcomes have three main objectives (see copy attached of outcomes). The Board spent some time reviewing the outcomes.
- Civil and Construction Curriculums
- Dennis Randolph stated that he felt that it was important and that it was discipline specific
- Rex Bell, Pete Pfeiffer, and Tim Mitchell stated that the Physics course was enough and sufficient and that it could be taken off.
- Pete Pfeiffer asked if there were any movement for technical writing in any of our courses. Dr. Abudayyeh stated that our students take IME 142 which teaches technical writing and most of our courses involve technical reports or presentations is also addressed in the senior design course as well.
- Pete Pfeiffer also asked about courses that offer program management skills. Dr. Abudayyeh stated that training and teaching for that is already being addressed in a couple of the courses such as CCE 436 Construction Estimating, Bidding, and Cost Control.
- Conclusion
a. A sign-up sheet was sent around along with packets containing meeting agenda, the Civil and Construction Engineering Objectives and Assessment Plan, Civil and Construction Engineering Outcomes and Assessment Plan and the 2005-2006 Civil and Construction Curriculum and Audit forms.
b. Dr. Abudayyeh explained the purpose of the meeting was to create discussions and get feedback concerning accreditation objectives and outcomes for the two programs, three to five years down the road.
a. Dennis Randolph stated that he would like to see as one of the objectives for graduates have the ability to move in the marketplace and assume more responsibility with advancement in their profession. In addition, how to increase prestige in relation to people wanting to bring engineering to a higher standard.
i. Be more marketable, able to move up in an organization.
ii. Marketable into more responsible position (engineering management positions that promote career growth).
b. Rex Bell said that he felt that all of the outcomes seemed logical, the nuts and bolts are fundamental and agreed with Dennis that more leadership or being leaders in their profession should be addressed more in the outcomes.
c. It was agreed to modify the language as a separate bullet in the outcomes. It was also mentioned by Dr.Yehia that we needed to be able to measure that outcome.
i. Suggestions by Rex Bell and Dennis Randolph was to measure by the person's title, incorporating something into the objectives, measuring within 25-50% of those moved up into a project engineering, project manager or lead engineering position.
ii. Alicia Torres also agreed that it was very important to as a separate bullet.
iii. Tim Mitchell mentioned that one way to measure this outcome is by what professional societies or professional group that alumni are a part of. This information could possibly be used as part of a survey, which could go hand in hand with the leadership component.
iv. It was decided that 25% was the measure to be a member of a society, group, or association as part of the leadership component.
v. Some of the board members mentioned that it would be a good idea to incorporate some sort of formal leadership training in the classroom as well as working it into the curriculum.
vi. A suggestion that the word "excellence" or "seeking excellence" as a part of an objective.
d. All three objectives were approved with the leadership piece added as an outcome.
a. Dr. Abudayyeh went through the Civil and Construction Curriculum.
b. Civil Engineering
i. Dr. Abudayyeh asked the board if the ECE course should be left off the curriculum.ii. CCE 253 was also questioned and it was decided that it should remain but maybe redefine it.
iii. Tim Mitchell suggested that the civil curriculum offer a course that involves materials such as masonry.
iv. Comments on the courses offered in the civil curriculum:
c. Construction Engineering.
i. It was suggested that a business or criminal law be added to the curriculum in the future when the program is more established or at least as an elective. Dr. Abudayyeh stated that in CCE 333 Construction Codes and Specifications covers some of that but in the future it might be worth looking into.
ii. Another suggestion may be to add more undergraduate research component (how to do, where to start, etc.).
iii. Dr. Jrade would like to add construction processes to the curriculum.
a. Dr. Abudayyeh thanked everyone again for coming and asked if there any other suggestions or recommendations to please email him. He also stated that the department would be holding an advisory board meeting every fall term in the afternoon but will combine it with the senior engineering project design day so that the board is able to watch the presentations from the seniors.
b. Meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m. for lunch.
