Chapter 8
Orientation to the
Engineering
Education System
Chapter Overview
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Organization of engineering education
Community college role in engineering education
The engineering education system
Academic advising
Academic regulations
Student conduct and ethics
Graduate study in engineering
Engineering study as preparation for other careers
Organization of
Engineering Education
 Engineering
education in the U.S.
 Organization
 Position
of the engineering unit
of engineering unit in the
university
Engineering Education in U.S.
2,533 four-year colleges and
universities in U.S.
 352 have ABET accredited
engineering programs
 1,495 accredited programs (average of
just over four programs per institution)
 Accreditation is critically important
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Organization of
Engineering Unit
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Engineering department headed up by
department chair or department head
Several departments form a school or college
headed up by the “dean”
Non-engineering departments (computer
science, engineering technology, etc may be
part of engineering unit
Position of Engineering Unit in
University
University Organization
President
or Chancellor
Provost/Vice President
for Academic Affairs
Dean of Engineering
Chair
Department of
Civil Engineering
Chair
Department of
Electrical Engineering
Chair
Department of
Mechanical Engineering
Community College Role in
Engineering Education
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1,683 community colleges in the U.S.
40 percent of engineering graduates attended
a community college at some time
Articulation and course selection
Advantages of starting at a community college
Applicability of Studying Engineering to
community college students
ABET
Engineering Criteria 2000
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Students
Program Educational Objectives
Program Outcomes and Assessment
Professional Component
Faculty
Facilities
Institutional Support and Financial Resources
Program Criteria
Program Assessment Process
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Establish educational objectives and outcomes
Measure whether objectives and outcomes are
being achieved
Identify program strengths and areas for
improvement
Develop plan of action and implement changes
to bring about improvements
Academic Advising
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Quality of advising can be a problem
Take personal responsibility for getting
proper advising
Sources of advising
Faculty
Staff
Other students
Publications (student handbook, catalog)
Academic Regulations
Academic Performance
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Grade point average
Credit/No credit
Incompletes
Repeat grade policy
Academic renewal
Credit by examination
Other
Recognition for Academic
Performance
Probation
 Disqualification
 Dean’s List
 Graduation Requirements
 Graduation with Honors
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Enrollment Policies
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Selecting your major
Changing your major
Double majors
Minors
Registration
Drop/add Policy
Leave of Absence/Withdrawal
Course Substitutions
Overload policy
Student Rights
(Examples)
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Right to receive advisement
Right to express your views, receive instruction, be
graded fairly
Right to form and participate in clubs and
organizations
Right to publish or broadcast our opinions or
concerns
Right to file petitions
Right to file grievances
Right to privacy of your records
Student Conduct and Ethics
(Examples)
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Cheating or plagiarism
Forgery, alternation, or misuse of campus documents,
records or identification
Obstruction or disruption of the campus educational
process
Physical abuse of any member of the campus
community
Theft of campus property
Sale or possession of dangerous drugs
And many more
Academic Dishonesty
 Cheating
 Fabrication
 Facilitating
 Plagiarism
academic dishonesty
Graduate Study in Engineering
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Benefits of graduate study in engineering
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M.S. degree in engineering
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Ph.D. degree in engineering
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Full-time or part-time
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How will you support yourself?
Engineering as Preparation for
Other Careers
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Master of Business Administration
(MBA)
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Law
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Medicine
Group Discussion
Ethical Dilemma
In your group, discuss the following situation:
A friend has been sick and asks to copy your
homework that is due in a few hours. What do
you do?
Appoint a leader to keep the discussion on topic
and a recorder to record and report what was
learned
Group Discussion on
Benefits of Graduate Education
Poll your group members to determine how many
plan to pursue formal education beyond the B.S.
degree in engineering. Then brainstorm a list of the
rewards, opportunities, and benefits that result from
pursuing a graduate degree in either engineering or
another discipline (e.g., MBA). Discuss each of the
benefits on your list. At the end of the exercise, poll
your group members again.
Appoint a leader to keep the discussion on topic and a
recorder to record and report what was learned