Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 1
OUTCOMES ASSESSMENTA Presentation to Constituents
Academic Year 2003/2004
By: Juan Carlos Morales, ChairpersonDepartment of Mechanical Engineering
Universidad del TuraboSummer 2004
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 2
In Memoriam
Antonio Feliciano
Friend and Associate Dean of the
School of Engineering
Deceased June, 2004
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 3
Acknowledgements? Team University of Turabo? To the entire University of Turabo community
for rising up to the challenge of preparing for the September 2004 Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) evaluationof the Mechanical Engineering Program. It is only because of this superior team effort that the program is deemed ready for its first ABET accreditation.
? SUAGM Central Administration? For their full support of the School of
Engineering specially the president’s office, the purchasing department and the webmaster’s office.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 4
Contents? Introductory Remarks? Constituencies of the M.E. Program? Why Outcomes Assessment ?? The Assessment Process? M.E. Program Educational Objectives? Highlights – Alumni Performance (Attainment of
Objectives)? The Vision of Ana G. Méndez? The Vision of the M.E. Program? Endowed Scholarship Program? M.E. Program Outcomes? Student Evaluation of Engineering Faculty? Summary of Assessment Results
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 5
Introductory Remarks
? This presentation satisfies one of the action items stipulated in the Outcomes Assessment Plan of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
? With this publication (a yearly publication) we accomplish the objective of informing our constituents of the present state of the program and the activities carried out during the past year to improve it.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 6
Constituencies of the M.E. Program
1. Students of the M.E. department2. Alumni (our graduates)3. Employers of our graduates4. Faculty of the department5. Administrators of the SOE, University
of Turabo and SUAGM
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 7
Why Outcomes Assessment ?? The Department of Mechanical Engineering is
preparing for its first ABET Accreditation in September 2004. The ABET Guiding Principle is as follows (cited from ABET Self Study Questionnaire):
? “ABET Engineering Criteria 2000 is based upon what students learn in the courses of their program of studies as opposed to what they are presented in a curriculum. Consequently, institutions are required to have educational objectives and to employ outcomes assessment techniques to determine the degree to which program goals and objectives are being attained. The assessment, in turn, is used in an ongoing process of improving student learning through enhancements to the program.”
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 8
The Assessment Process
VISION & MISSION
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
? Student Evaluation of Engineering Faculty Survey
? Faculty Course Assessment Form Survey
? Exit Survey of Graduating Students
? Direct Assessment Forms
Data Analysis Chairperson Report
One-Day Faculty Meeting
“CLOSING THE LOOP”
? Employer Survey
? Alumni Survey
Data Analysis
Chairperson Report
SOE Industrial Advisory Board Meeting (2003 Cycle)
ME Industrial Advisory Board Meeting (2006 Cycle)
“ABET” Faculty Meetings
(Monitor implementation of improvement strategies)
Program Assessment “Two Loop” Cycle
EVERY-SEMESTER LOOP
EVERY-THREE-YEARS LOOP
One-Day Faculty Meeting
“CLOSING THE LOOP”
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 9
Mechanical EngineeringProgram Educational Objective (1)
1. To technically prepare our students for successful employment as well as for graduate studies in mechanical engineering (or allied disciplines). This will be accomplished primarily by providing them with the following:
? Knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering
? Laboratory experiences? Engineering design experiences? Exposure to modern engineering tools
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 10
Mechanical EngineeringProgram Educational Objective (2)
2. To instill in our graduates a high degree of professionalism as evidenced by the following:
? An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
? Effective communication skills? Effective participation on multidisciplinary
teams? A broad education and an understanding of
contemporary issues
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 11
Mechanical EngineeringProgram Educational Objective (3)
3. To produce graduates with the attitude and ability to apply practical knowledge in the workplace, and willing to continuously develop their skills throughout their careers.
? (Note: The objectives underwent small changes in their wording from last year’s set.)
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 12
Highlights – Alumni Performance(Attainment of Objectives)
? An alumni survey is performed every three years. The next cycle is in the 2005/2006 Academic Year. The following statistics are from the last alumni survey (2002/2003):? 90% of graduates employed as engineers? 60% of graduates pass FE exam (Reválida part 1)? 60% of graduates pass PE exam (Reválida part 2)? 23% of graduates attend graduate school? University of California at Berkeley, Cornell,
Georgia Tech, RPI, and Purdue among others.? 81% are members of a professional society or have taken
continuing education courses or both.
? These results are positive proof that we are meeting our program educational objectives.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 13
The Vision of Ana G. Méndez
? It has been approximately 60 years since the late Ana G. Méndez started this educational system and thus opened the doors of opportunity to capable and motivated but poorly trained Puerto Rican students. In many cases these students were, and still are, the first generation in their families to attend a university.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 14
The Vision of the M.E. Program? “To become the number one choice for all
motivated students who wish to pursue a mechanical engineering education in Puerto Rico.”
? The word “all” indicates that, while we keep the spirit of opportunity that inspired Ms. Ana G. Méndez, we also strive to attract highly qualified students into the program.
? The word “motivated” is also important as students, once admitted, are put through the rigor of the curriculum without exception.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 15
Endowed Scholarship Program
? The scholarship program is an attractor of highly qualified students.
? Currently, 125 scholarships are granted to engineering students (27% of the student population) for a total amount of $374,076.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 16
M.E. Program OutcomesGraduates from the M.E. Program shall have:
a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering.b. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret
data.c. An ability to design a system, components or processes to meet desired needs.d. An ability to function on a multidisciplinary team.e. An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems.f. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.g. An ability to communicate effectivelyh. A broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a
global and societal context.i. A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.j. A knowledge of contemporary issues.k. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.l. Familiarity with statistics and linear algebra.m. An ability to work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas
including the design and realization of such systems.
? (Note: Outcomes a-k were simplified this year and Outcomes l and m were added.)
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 17
Student Evaluation of Engineering Faculty
? 87% of the full-time faculty and 82% of the adjunct faculty scored higher than 4.0 on a scale of 5.0.
? No faculty member scored below 3.0 which would automatically start a process of monitoring and mentoring.
? Our department has always been recognized for its dedicated faculty and for its close interaction with students. This assessment tool provides students the opportunity to voice their satisfaction as well as their concerns.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 18
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (a) Knowledge of math, science and engineering
? Will eliminate the design project from the course requirements of ENGI 160 Engineering Graphics to concentrate on developing students’ ability to create a better working drawing in AutoCAD that properly includes a frame, title block, scaling, proper views and proper dimensioning.
? Faculty will prepare a “Suggestion Sheet on How to Solve an Engineering Problem”. This will achieve consistency among faculty members teaching engineering courses and should achieve better and more consistent results from students.
? Faculty from the School of Sciences and Technology were invited, for the first time, to look at student work from engineering courses (direct assessment). This should result, in due time, in better integration of the math and sciences courses into the engineering curriculum.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 19
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (b) Conduct experiments…analyze and interpret data
? $90,000 investment in Computer-Data-Acquisition hardware and software (Labview) to purchase six stations.
? Instruction in Labview software to start in MEEN 418 Experimental Methods.
? $45,000 investment to add equipment to ENGI 406 Fluid Mechanics Laboratory.
? $20,000 investment to start introducing PLC’s in MEEN 427 M.E. Systems Laboratory.
? Two design-of-experiments projects (one in thermal systems and one in mechanical systems) to be added to MEEN 427 M.E. Systems Laboratory.
? (Note: Improvements effective by August 2004)
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 20
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (c) Design
? Succesful integration of design throughout the curriculum in past years has resulted in a very good level of satisfaction by students, faculty, and Capstone course engineers (direct assessment).
? Continue to strive to make industry partners better aware of the MEEN 475 Multidisciplinary Experience in Industry course requirements and increase the level of difficulty of the problems.
? Include more practical design experiences in MEEN 485 Thermal Systems Design such as air duct system design and sprinkler system design (fire prevention).
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 21
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (d) Teamwork
? All courses in which there is teamwork shall start using a guideline based on the one used in MEEN 475 Multidisciplinary Experience in Industry in an effort to familiarize students with these.
? Students will be required to submit a proposal that specifies sharing of responsibility, there will be self evaluations as well as peer evaluations, a group leader will be selected, minutes of meetings will be required, and non workers will be penalized.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 22
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (e) Identify, Formulate and Solve eng’ing. problems
? Faculty will prepare a “Suggestion Sheet on How to Solve an Engineering Problem”. This will achieve consistency among faculty members teaching engineering courses and should achieve better and more consistent results from students.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 23
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (f) Ethics
? Expand the current ethics seminar in the course MEEN 475 Multidisciplinary Experience in Industry so that a summary is included in the class notebook.
? All courses with design content shall address ethics in all projects. Students shall address the canons of ethics and comment on how they apply to their design. If they do not apply the student will say so.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 24
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (g) Communication
? Course content of the six language courses taken by engineering students (four English courses and two Spanish courses) will be investigated to determine if improvements can be made.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 25
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (h) Broad education
? No improvement strategy deemed necessary.
? Faculty from the School of Humane and Social Sciences were invited, for the first time, to look at student work from engineering courses (direct assessment). This should result, in due time, in better integration of the general education courses into the engineering curriculum.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 26
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (i) Life-long learning
? No improvement strategy deemed necessary.
? Continue assigning projects where students must carry out research that stimulates self-learning capability.
? Continue advising students in class on the attributes of membership in professional societies.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 27
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (j) Contemporary Issues
? No improvement deemed necessary. ? Continue assigning “Contemporary
Issues” essay assignments.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 28
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (k) Modern Tools
? $90,000 investment in Computer-Data-Acquisition hardware and software (Labview) to purchase six stations.
? Instruction in Labview software to start in MEEN 418 Experimental Methods.
? $45,000 investment to add equipment to ENGI 406 Fluid Mechanics Laboratory.
? $20,000 investment to start introducing PLC’s in MEEN 427 M.E. Systems Laboratory.
? Continue monitoring state of SOE Computer Center to identify additional improvements.
? (Note: Improvements effective by August 2004)
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 29
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (l) Familiarity with Statistics and Linear Algebra
? Familiarity assured by the existence of the required courses MATH 360 Probability and Statistics and MATH 350 Linear Algebra.
? Dr. Deliz will give a seminar to the faculty of the SOE on using MiniTab for basic statistical analysis.
? A significant portion of the first session of all laboratories will be devoted to a refresher on basic statistical analysis.
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 30
Summary of Assessment ResultsOutcome (m) Work professionally in thermal and mechanical systems
? Continue striving to make industry partner better aware of the MEEN 475 Multidisciplinary Experience in Industrycourse requirements and increase the level of difficulty of the assigned problems.
? Include more practical design experiences in MEEN 485 Thermal Systems Design such as air duct system design and sprinkler system design (fire prevention).
Presentation to Constituents AY 2003/2004 UT Mechanical Engineering 31
Comments
? Any comments or suggestions to improve further editions of this presentation are encouraged and appreciated.
? Please contact:Juan Carlos Morales, ChairpersonDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringUniversidad del Turabo
