Focus on Engineering and Technology

              SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
FOCUS ON ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INDIANA UNIVERSITY - PURDUE UNIVERSITY AT FORT WAYNE
Alumni Newsletter Fall 1990
DEAN'S CORNER
I hope this first issue of Focus on E&T conveys some sense of the excitement that is in the air at IPFW generally and at E&T in particular. A major source of excitement is planning for the new engineering and technology building. Construction of the new facility is scheduled for Spring 1991, with completion expected in 1993. This new building will provide nearly 44,000-square-feet of much-needed classroom, laboratory, and office space for all of our departments except Computer Science, which will remain in Kettler Hall near the university's central computing facilities. The new building will be located between Neff Hall and the parking garage now under construction on the east side of the campus. Since construction of our new building will destroy a substantial number of surface parking spaces, it is important that the parking garage be in service before construction begins. I hope you enjoy Focus on E&T; if you don't, please let us know what we can do to make it better. We are also interested in knowing what you would like to see in future issues. Included on the back of this newsletter is a form for you to use to communicate with us. You may also use the form to send us news about yourself--a new job, an addition to your family, a promotion. Whatever it is, we would like to hear about it. Publication of this newsletter is made possible through the support of your alumni association. Pam Schaaf started the project, and when she moved on to the vice presidency of the alumni association, Nancy Ibarra assumed responsibility for the newsletter. I am grateful to Nancy and to our departmental contributors, Hal Broberg (EET), Brenda Groff (CS), Matt Kubik--who also created the masthead--(CAET), Don Martin (MFT), and Lynn Schlager (ENGR) for donating their valuable time, abundant talent, and boundless energy to this project.
Join the Purdue Alumni Association
Did you know that this newsletter and other IPFW School of Engineering and Technology alumni programs are made possible through the Purdue Alumni Association membership program? A portion of your dues will be returned to the IPFW alumni office to support these and other alumni activities. To join, simply return this membership form with your dues and you'll start receiving The Purdue Alumnus and invitations to many alumni and university events. Please give us your support. Purdue annual dues: single, $20; joint, $25. Name Address City State ZIP Degree(s) and year(s) Mail to: IPFW Alumni Office 2101 Coliseum Boulevard East Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
CONGRATULATIONS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Seven EET students were presented with $600 scholarship checks during the annual banquet culminating National Engineers' Week. These students had high academic averages combined with significant community or school activities. Judges were from the Anthony Wayne Chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers. The honored students (with sponsor and current GPA on a 4.0 scale) were: Darren Herschberger (American Society for Quality Control- 3.62); Donna Kray (Phelps Dodge Magnet Wire- 3.81); Dean Bidwell (Society of Manufacturing Engineers- 3.26); Nick Nikolaenko (Fort Wayne Engineer's Club- 3.66); Winton Roseland (Society of Automotive Engineers/Engineers Week Committee- 3.84); Dave Shepler (Tokheim Corporation- 3.60); and David Wood (Magnavox- 3.75).
EET student scholarship winners are (left to right) first row, Nick Nikolaenko, Dean Bidwell, David Wood, Darren Herschberger; second row, Dave Shepler, Winton Roseland, and Donna Kray.
IEEE CHAPTER NEWS
The IEEE student chapter officers at IPFW for the '89-'90 academic year were: chair-Ken Noonen; vice chair-John Hanauer; secretary-Les Powell; and treasurer-Tim Budzier. The '90-'91 officers are chair-Les Powell; vice chair-Pam Lewis (EE) secretary-Frank Ngo; and treasurer-Tim Budzier.
CAET NEWS
It is with sadness that the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering Technology reports the death of Professor Emeritus Lloyd W. Smith. To generations of students he was known simply as "Smitty". It shouldn't surprise any of his former students that he was still teaching in our department as an associate faculty member even though he had officially retired several years ago. We are happy to note that our Fall '90 enrollment is 217 students--the highest in 15 years. Our growth rate leads the school with a five year trend of 73.60%. Authorization has been given to advertise for the position of department chair to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Professor Helen Plants. We are hoping to attract an individual with both professional and academic managerial experience to be a strong leader for our department. The department is benefiting from the activities of two student organizations. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) sent officers to the 1990 National Conference in New Orleans. The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) currently boasts 51 members. Officers have attended the last two state AIA conventions. Four British construction technology students from Brighton Polytechnic, in England, have spent one semester studying in our department. Two IPFW architectural technology students spent a semester in Brighton. Students and faculty have been involved in several special projects. Professors Wayne Unsell and Bruce Franke led a group of students in preparation of a grant funded land use study for the Southwest Allen County Schools. Professor Matthew Kubik's students prepared renovation designs for IPFW's Helmke Library making room for the addition of the 10,000 volumes held by the art department library on Berry Street. The department has been fortunate to have the interest and contributions of both alumni and local industry. Several thousand dollars of tax-deductible donations have been given to the department gift fund over the past two years. The department's industrial advisory committee has been developing a critical review of the department's curriculum. Its 13 members, include several alumni. A CAET alumni executive committee recently organized to promote social interaction, alumni networking, and professional growth. If you have any ideas or interest contact: Kevin Parece, estimator, Thorleif Larsen & Sons, Masonry Contractors, 1617 Production Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808, (219) 484-8648. For those interested in continuing education, Professor Kubik has organized a three-credit, three-week course in Rome, Italy. Departure is scheduled for mid-May and the total cost is expected to be approximately $2,000. Call the department at 481-6797 for more information. A salary survey of CAET graduates within a recent five year period provides evidence of the value of education. The survey questioned graduates holding only CAET degrees and with 2-3 years experience. Results showed an increase of $13,000 per year earning power for those graduates with a B.S. degree over those holding an associate degree. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the total number of construction dollars has leveled off. Locally a slowdown is also projected. However, Professor Robert Kendall predicts that the need to rebuild the deteriorating national infrastructure should offset other areas of construction affected by the economic slowdown.
COMPUTER SCIENCE NEWS
The Department of Computer Science announces the appointment of James Silver as chair. He has been with IPFW since 1980 and had served as acting chair of the Department of Computer Technology in 1983. Silver replaces Maynard Mansfield who was promoted to dean of the School of Engineering and Technology. Other personnel changes include the promotion of David Thuente from associate professor to professor and the hiring of Sarah Sullivan. She is from Illinois Institute of Technology and is currently teaching the COBOL project course, design and analysis, and management information systems. Computer Science is currently working on a proposal for a Master of Science degree in computer science. We will update you about the status of this new degree program in upcoming newsletters.
ENGINEERING NEWS
The Department of Engineering has grown in both faculty and student enrollment since the baccalaureate program was established nine years ago. There are now five mechanical engineering and eight electrical engineering faculty, plus associates. Our newest additions are Hossein Oloomi in EE (Ph.D., Wichita State); John Renie in ME (Ph.D., Purdue), previously at Illinois; and Aly Mahmoud in EE (Ph.D., Purdue), who joins the department after serving as dean for two years. Another recent addition is the chair, Muhammad Rashid, previously at Purdue-Calumet. Teaching remains our top priority, but the faculty are active professionally and published 30 articles and papers during the '89-'90 year. Enrollment is also increasing and currently stands at more than 110 BSE majors plus about 240 in freshman engineering. During '89-'90, we had 17 BSE graduates. Extracurricular activities for undergraduates are being strengthened with student chapters of ASHRAE, SAE, and IEEE currently active and a Society of Women Engineers chapter forming. Field trips to the design show in Chicago, to the graduate school fair at Argonne National Lab, and to local companies broaden the experiences of our students. The department's major effort for the past one-and-a-half years has been directed at achieving ABET accreditation for the ME and EE programs. This effort culminated in November with the visit of an ABET team. Much effort went into preparing the case and we are hopeful that where we are now, combined with plans for the future, will warrant accreditation. We will be informed of the ABET results next July. We look forward to the challenge of strengthening our program, to a growing enrollment, and to the prospect of expanded facilities in the future.
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY NEWS
IPFW is in the final stages of negotiation with International Business Machines in IBM's Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Education Alliance. The primary goal for this education alliance between IPFW and IBM is to establish a center for computer-integrated manufacturing education, training, and demonstrations. The Department of Manufacturing Technology offers both A.A.S. and B.S. degrees in computer-integrated manufacturing technology and will provide the base from which participation in the IBM/CIM Education Alliance may develop. With the added hardware and software provided through the IBM/CIM Education Alliance, Manufacturing Technology and the School of Engineering and Technology will be able to provide a complete CIM educational package for students and industries in northeastern Indiana and the surrounding region.
Meet your friends at Reunion '91
Gather a table of fellow alumni for the Reunion '91 evening luau, Hawaii in the Heartland, May 18. The day begins with morning minicourses. Reserve your seat by calling the alumni office at (219) 481-6807. Need help gathering classmates you haven't seen since that last calculus final? Call the alumni office.
Keep In Touch!
Please complete and return this form so we can keep our alumni files up to date and relay information about you to other alumni. Name Year of graduation Degree(s) Home phone Address City State ZIP Social Security No. (student I.D.) Employer Job title Work phone Work address City State ZIP Personal and professional news: Return to: IPFW Alumni Office 2101 Coliseum Boulevard East Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
Alumni Office
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