CBE Senior Survey
Spring 2012
Purpose: The primary purpose of this survey is to solicit your feedback, now that you are nearing
completion of your ChE degree, to provide continuous improvement to the degree and program. We
critically evaluate all of the responses and use this as one tool in facilitating future program
improvements. This is a key component in our continuing national program accreditation by ABET.
Thank you for your help.
Program Educational Objectives
The Program Educational Objectives are three traits or skills you will possess and demonstrate within five
years after graduating from SDSM&T with your B.S. in Chemical Engineering. The objectives were
created based upon conversations with faculty, industry, and alumni to embody the traits and skills
required to become successful practicing chemical engineers. Furthermore, the program outcomes are a
key part of the programs continuous improvement and accreditation efforts.
Using the following table, please assess the degree to which you feel your education and experience in
Chemical Engineering at SDSM&T has prepared you to attain these objectives within 5 years of
graduating.
Program Objectives
1. Graduates possess and apply fundamental and
practical knowledge of unit operations,
thermodynamics, reaction engineering, process
control and design of chemical/biological
processes.
2. Graduates are successfully employed and
advancing in governmental and industrial
positions requiring chemical engineering
expertise. (employment progression, leadership,
management)
3. Graduates are prepared to succeed in graduate
and professional programs.
Please rate the
level at which you
are prepared to
meet the objective
(1 = low, 5 = high)
1 2 3 4 5
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
1/8
Comments
CBE Senior Survey
Spring 2012
Program Educational Outcomes
The Program Educational Outcomes are six defining characteristics of successful CBE graduates. The
outcomes were created based upon conversations with faculty, industry, and alumni to embody the traits
and skills required to become successful practicing chemical engineers. Furthermore, the program
outcomes are a key part of the programs continuous improvement and accreditation efforts.
Using the following table, please assess your ability to meet each of the program outcomes.
Program Outcomes
1a. Students will demonstrate their ability to solve
technical problems through the application of
engineering principles.
1b. Students will be able to experimentally verify
mathematical model predictions and theory in the
areas of process measurements and feedback
control loops; momentum, heat, and mass
transfer; and reaction kinetics.
Please rate the
level at which you
perform the
outcome
(1 = low, 5 = high)
1 2 3 4 5
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
2a. Students will be able to articulate the concept
of critical thinking and practice it at a beginner’s
level.
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
2b. Students will become proficient at applying
critical thinking to technical and non-technical
problems.
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
3a. Students will be able to write memoranda and
reports that effectively communicate technical
information to technical and non-technical
audiences.
3.b Students will be able to speak professionally
to technical and non-technical audiences.
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
2/8
Comments
CBE Senior Survey
Spring 2012
Please rate the
level at which you
perform the
outcome
(1 = low, 5 = high)
Program Outcomes
4a. Students will be able to work effectively with
others.
4b. Students will be able to function effectively as
team leaders.
1
2
3
4
5
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
5a. Students will be able to solve complex
problems by formulating and solving numerical
solutions
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
5b. Students will be able to apply fundamental
programming logic skills across a variety of
software program platforms.
CBE courses in which
this skill was developed
6a. Students will have positive experiences of
learning material on their own.
6b. Students will demonstrate awareness of
engineering ethics, global issues and
environmental impact.
Comments
CBE courses in which
these skills were
developed
CBE courses in which
these skills were
developed
The remaining questions solicit your opinion on how well the department has accomplished its
mission or how it can improve.
1.
What are three main strengths of the Chemical Engineering program at SDSM&T?
3/8
CBE Senior Survey
Spring 2012
2.
What are three weaknesses of the Chemical Engineering program at SDSM&T?
3.
Please give an example of a non-technical problem or conflict that you experienced and how
you were able to resolve it during the last 2-3 years?
4.
Do you feel your SDSMT ChE degree has prepared you for your next career step? In what
ways? How could we improve your level of preparation?
5.
If you were the Head of the Chemical and Biological Engineering department at SDSM&T,
what three things would you do to improve the department?
4/8
CBE Senior Survey
6.
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7.
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8.
Spring 2012
Please check specific area(s) you will/would like to work in the future (next 5 years; check
all that apply):
Aerospace
 Food processing
Bioprocessing
 Government regulatory agency
Chemicals
 Materials development
Control or instrumentation equipment
 Medical devices
Design firms
 Mineral processing
Electronics / semi conductor
 Oil and gas exploration or production
manufacturing
 Patent Law
Energy (nuclear, fuel cells, etc)
 Petroleum (refining, petrochemicals)
Entrepreneurial / startup company
 Pharmaceuticals
Environmental
 Polymers
Equipment manufacturer
 Pulp and paper
Ethanol manufacturing / design
 Other _________________________
Please check specific job functions you will/would like to work in the future (next 5 years;
check all that apply):
Process Engineering
 Technical Consulting
Process Development Engineer
 Environmental, Health and Safety
Product Development Engineer
 Engineering Management
Research and Development Engineer
 Production Management
Process Design Engineering
 Human Resource Management
Technical Sales and Marketing
 Community Liaison and Relations
Technical Service (3rd-party tool
 Non-technical Professional
expert)
 Other___________________________
If you could choose 2-3 courses to improve in the ChE curriculum, what would they be and
what would you suggest changing.
5/8
CBE Senior Survey
9.
Spring 2009
Please comment on your frequency of use of the following software programs in your
education at SDSM&T. Which did you find most useful and why?
How often do you use
this program?
(1 = never, 5 = very
frequent)
How useful was this program
to your education and you
skills as a chemical engineer?
(1 = not, 5 = extremely)
ASPENplus
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
EES
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Polymath
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Maple
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Loop-Pro
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Visual Basic
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Excel
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
PowerPoint
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
MathCad
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Matlab
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Visio
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Statistical
Analysis
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Statistical DOE
(design of
experiments)
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Program
6/8
Other comments and feedback?
CBE Senior Survey
10.
Spring 2009
Briefly comment on the style of instruction or content delivery you felt was most effective
for your learning style? (e.g. lecture, discussion, laboratory, homework, projects, other…)
(Pls Circle)
lecture:
discussion:
labs:
homework:
projects:
in class ex:
teams:
other:
Least
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Most effective
4 5
4 5
4 5
4 5
4 5
4 5
4 5
4 5
11.
Why did you select Chemical Engineering? Why did you choose SDSM&T?
12.
What do you know now about ChE and/or SDSMT that you wish you had known back
when you started (both positive and negative)? What advice would you give
freshman/sophomore ChEs?
7/8
CBE Senior Survey
Spring 2009
13.
Please comment on the recruitment tools/activities you would suggest as most effective for
creating interest in CBE and SDSMT. How could the department improve our recruitment
and retention efforts?
14.
Please feel free to make any additional comments.
THANK YOU for your help in making this a better program!!!
8/8