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Undergraduate Program
Graduate Program

Academics: Where are we now?

AEM Undergraduate Program

The 1999-2000 academic year was the first year of teaching under the semester system. A couple of courses for the new program were taught in the previous year and other changes were made for this year to ease the transition for students. It seems that we have managed to make the transition relatively easy for most students. Very few students have had problems completing their degree taking the courses we have offered. So far no changes from the original plan have been needed for next years course schedule. As part of the ABET accreditation process which now requires continual review of the program (see Chairman’s Corner on page 1) we will be identifying areas that need improvement with the help of our students and alumni. Once we have given the semester courses a few times there will no doubt be some changes made. But overall it seems that our original plan is working quite well.

There have been some changes in the space used for undergraduate laboratories in the past year. The teaching labs in the basement have been consolidated into room 25. This room now contains the mechanical testing machines, the water channel and the shaker used for vibrations experiments. There is a small blackboard area at one end of the room. This change, while freeing up space for other uses, also allows the educational equipment to be better maintained and organized in one place. In addition, we have added a card reader lock to the room, which allows students doing independent projects or experiments as part of the design class to have expanded access to this equipment. We are also in the process of adding a remote controlled video system and intercom between room 25 and the wind tunnels in room 330. This will allow handicapped students to participate in wind tunnel experiments and teaching assistants to keep track of simultaneous experiments.

Thomas Shield
Director, Undergraduate Studies

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AEM Graduate Program

Last year, the Department enrolled 17 new students into the Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics graduate program. Three of these students were from the United States, six were from India, and two were from Norway. The other students came from Korea, Serbia, Mexico, Turkey, China, and Russia. During the past year the Department awarded 16 Masters (13 in Aerospace Engineering and 3 in Mechanics) and 6 PhD degrees (four in Aerospace Engineering and 2 in Mechanics). Our graduates continue to secure lucrative and satisfying employment, some in industry and others teaching in higher education institutions. Several of our MS graduates last year continued on in the PhD program here in Minnesota and some went on for a PhD elsewhere.

A number of our graduate students participated in service activities with elementary schools along with conducting tours of our facilities and other activities with elementary school children during their visits to the Department.

Ellen Longmire
Director, Graduate Studies