Recommendations of the AEM Advisory Board for 2005-2006

Recommendation: Complete development of strategic plan

• Action: Work on strategic plan postponed until appointment of new Department Head and Definition of new University Priorities (to be completed 2006-2007)

Recommendation: Need to more actively engage alumni

A. Could be used to address student concerns about getting Freshman involved earlier, by sponsoring 2-3 “Aerospace 101” seminars with the AIAA student/local section (industry and research speakers)
• Action: Development of Introduction to Engineering at IT level, participation by AEM Faculty.
• Development of Freshman Course at Dept. Level still under consideration.
B. Guest lecturers on specific topics (e.g., spacecraft design) / technical review (e.g., capstone course)
• Action: Alumni involved in CDR’s and Guest Lectures in Capstone Design Courses
C. Mentors for students / exit interviews
• Action: Alumni visitor to evaluate undergraduate program
D. Advocacy for department programs
• Action: Worked to get Aero. Representation on Dean’s Advisory Committee
E. Contributions (in-kind and $) – e.g., graduate fellowships
• Action: Event involving Lt. Col. (ret.) Duane Carey, Astronaut, and Student Nanosat Project
F. Department needs to establish a web-based “alumni network” database with up-to-date contact info, skills, etc.
• Action: We have a department database http://www.aem.umn.edu/alumni/alumni_network.shtml. We did add link to it on our main menu, “Alumni Registration”, after last meeting.

G. Board is willing to be more engaged (more than one meeting per year) to help on above topics
• Action: Engagement of Board in Developing Questionnaire on Educational Objectives

Recommendation: Review and give formal feedback to Undergrad Student Advisory Board

• Action: Done

Recommendation: Continue to look for opportunities to expose principles of systems engineering into existing coursework (as early as possible in the sequence)

• Action: In preliminary stages of developing a course to replace EE with Systems Course at junior level

Recommendation: Continue to support the growth of the Hypersonic Research Center

• Action: Significant new funding including funds from IT/Dept for Facilities Renovation

Recommendation: Report out on status of recommendations at each following meeting

• Action: Done