Academics: Where are We Now?

AEM Undergraduate Program

The BAEM program cleared 34 students for graduation during the 1996-97 school year. In Fall 1996, 27 new juniors were admitted to the upper division program. The job market continues to look strong in aerospace engineering and so we expect and hope enrollments will increase in the next few years. A student's academic progress continues to be monitored using the University generated Academic Progress Audit Report System (APARS). This report is in another trial period on the part of the Office of the Registrar whereby the student is given a copy of the report at the time of making application for graduation. The student is then held responsible for following up on any necessary course of action to insure his/her own graduation. The advisor, DUGS, and the 107 main office staff will be available to assist if the student needs any help or advice. Semester Conversion in Fall 1999, will call for some necessary preparation for students who will be here past Spring of 1998, because of some new courses which will be offered in the last year of the quarter system, and the change in amount of credits assigned to courses under semesters. Our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible.

AEM Graduate Program

Last fall, the Department welcomed 12 new students into the Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics graduate programs. Five of the students were from the U.S., and the others came from Greece, Iceland, India, Japan, China, Russia, and the Ukraine.

Over the past year, the Department awarded 13 Ph.D. degrees and 13 M.S. degrees. (9 Ph.D.'s in Aerospace Engineering, 4 Ph.D's in Mechanics, 9 M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, and 4 M.S. in Mechanics). The job market was extremely strong, and a number of graduates moved on to positions in industry (aerospace as well as other fields), government laboratories, and academia. Several master's graduates and at least one Ph.D. graduate moved on to additional studies in AEM, the UM Medical School, and elsewhere.

Wendy Grebner and Greg Weirs represented the Department on the UM Council of Graduate Students. In addition, Ali Naughton and Wendy Grebner were active in organizing professional development and social activities for AEM graduate students. A number of graduate students participated in service activities, including visits to elementary schools, as well as instructional tours and lab demonstrations for elementary school students visiting AEM.