DATE:
April 6, 1999
TO:
Provost’s Office
FROM:
Bruce Siebold, Dean
College of Technology, Engineering and Management
SUBJECT:
Program Review Response for the B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering Program
First, let me thank the PRC and especially Dr. Bob Peters and Ms. Jana Reeg Steidinger, the consultants,
for assisting us in this important process. Their input was very valuable. The report reflects the hard
work and dedication of several engineers including Danny Bee, who got initiated very quickly as a
program director. The fact that both ABET and the PRC were able to work together is encouraging. We
agree with all the issues and recommendations documented in the report.
The issues of concern and recommendations for the program director and dean were reviewed with
Howard Lee and Danny Bee. Of the nine issues of concern, Danny Bee, program director, the
Technology Department and the college have already begun to address eight.
Significant revisions in the Manufacturing Engineering program were recently passed at the last College
of Technology, Engineering and Management Council meeting on March 31, 1999. Elimination of
redundancy within the program, and clear descriptions of program goals and objectives were part of this
program revision. These revisions were also endorsed by the program advisory committee.
A new eight semester sequence has been developed which places the general education technology
requirement in the first semester. This new chart will be widely distributed during freshman and transfer
orientation.
With the appointment of Dr. Bob Meyer as Stout Technology Transfer Institute Director, closer
collaboration with the faculty and students is assured. One of Bob’s main goals is to increase this
collaboration.
The provost has already approved a salary adjustment for a number of faculty, including several
engineering faculty, which will bring them all into alignment. This should increase faculty stability and
morale.
A proposal submitted to the Provost concerning utilization of the Active Learning Fee for additional lab
technicians and support for maintenance of facilities and equipment in Fryklund Hall has already been
discussed and endorsed.
The Technology Department and our college are committed to support our faculty in obtaining terminal
degrees. Several engineering faculty have already applied to graduate programs and some plan to begin
this summer.
The remaining issue of concern, assessment in the major is being developed. Danny Bee is in the process
of reviewing direct measures, and is in communication with SME to determine how the SME
Certification Exam might fit in. He is planning to involve all of the engineering faculty in the process of
determining what is reasonable and might work. He has assured me that the plan will be in the Provost’s
Office by the end of December 1999.
Danny Bee will also conduct a faculty advisory training session during the fall Professional Development
Day on student advisement, general education technology requirement, program changes, organizational
matrix and new program plan sheet.