2006 April 05
Dear EPP Alum,
We hope this finds you well.
As part of Engineering School's ongoing efforts to evaluate the quality of our
programs we hope you will be willing to take just a few minutes to anonymously evaluate
the education you received here. Thanks for your help.
We have enclosed a paper copy and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
However, if you prefer to download an MS word copy of the survey to complete
electronically, the download is http://andrew.cmu.edu/user/mk08/alum06.doc. Please
return electronic responses to Mark Kieler at mk08+@andrew.cmu.edu. Mark
coordinates our undergraduate program.
We'd love to receive any news of your activities. You can contact Mark Kieler at
the above address, or Granger Morgan at granger.morgan@andrew.cmu.edu.
Thanks…Granger and Mark
Part 1: General Information.
1.1. What was the year in which you received your BS from Carnegie Mellon?
1.2. What was the traditional field in which you majored?
 Chemical Engineering
 Civil Engineering
 Electrical and/or Computer Engineering
 Material Science and Engineering
 Mechanical Engineering
 Other:
1.3. What are your now doing?
 Engineering design
 Manufacturing/production
 Sales
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 Research and/or development
 Management
 Other:
2
Part 2: EPP Undergraduate Education. The following questions ask you to evaluate
specific aspects of your EPP undergraduate education, with the benefit of hindsight:
2.1. How well did your EPP undergraduate education prepare you to understand ideas
and analytical tools in economics, decision science and other social sciences?
Not at all ------------------------------ Very well
In your experience how did the skills you acquired in this area compare with those of
more traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as good ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
2.2. How well did your EPP undergraduate education do in providing you with a
knowledge of probability and statistics beyond that acquired by many
engineering single majors (who often only take one course or none at all).
Not at all ------------------------------ Very well
In your experience how did the skills you acquired in this area compare with those of
more traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as good ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
2.3. How well did your EPP undergraduate education prepare you to understand how
technical and social issues interact and affect each other?
Not at all ------------------------------ Very well
In your experience how did the skills you acquired in this area compare with those of
more traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as good ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
3
2.4. How well did your EPP undergraduate education do in providing you with an
appreciation of and ability to deal with ethical issues posed by technology and
technical systems?
Not at all ------------------------------ Very well
In your experience how did the skills you acquired in this area compare with those of
more traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as good ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
2.5. How well did your EPP undergraduate education do in providing you with hands-on
experience in integrating your technical and social analytical skills:
Not at all ------------------------------ Very well
In your experience how did the skills you acquired in this area compare with those of
more traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as good ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
2.6. How well did your EPP undergraduate education do in providing you with an
understanding of how decision-makers in governments and other institutions
can effectively use technical and scientific information when devising or
evaluating public policy.
Not at all ------------------------------ Very well
In your experience how did the skills you acquired in this area compare with those of
more traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as good ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
2.7. Please evaluate your experience with your EPP project courses (19-451/452) in
light of the skills and experience that they provided for your subsequent career.
Not useful ------------------------------ Most useful
courses I had
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Part 3: Putting EPP Skills to Use in Your Career. This section deals with specific
abilities that we believe EPP graduates possess as a result of the double major, and may
use to their advantage in their professional careers. We ask you to evaluate the extent to
which you have been able to achieve these objectives, if they are applicable to your
career. Also, as experienced practitioners, we ask you to evaluate the appropriateness of
these objectives for EPP graduates, and we provide a chance for you to suggest changes,
additions or alternatives
EPP Objective 1: Display an understanding that engineering is not practiced in isolation:
technical products and systems are shaped, conditioned and evaluated by society while
at the same time technology shapes the social world.
How relevant is this objective to work you have done in your professional career?
Not relevant ------------------------------ Very relevant
If you checked any box other than “Not relevant”, to what extent did the EPP double
major enable you to apply this objective in your career, compared to your more
traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as well ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
How appropriate is this objective as a skill that EPP double major graduates will exhibit
in their careers?
Not ------------------------------ Very
Appropriate
Appropriate
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EPP Objective 2: Recognize situations and know how to seek advanced assistance
where one’s work may have effects in areas beyond the traditional expertise of
engineers: These areas include health and safety; environmental and economic
regulation; and impacts of technological innovation.
How relevant is this objective to work you have done in your professional career?
Not relevant ------------------------------ Very relevant
If you checked any box other than “Not relevant”, to what extent did the EPP double
major enable you to apply this objective in your career, compared to your more
traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as well ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
How appropriate is this objective as a skill that EPP double major graduates will
exhibit in their careers?
Not ------------------------------ Very
Appropriate
Appropriate
EPP Objective 3: Display an appreciation of the difference between the effects and
attributes of engineering a single device or small system, versus engineering for mass
consumption or for large technological systems.
How relevant is this objective to work you have done in your professional career?
Not relevant ------------------------------ Very relevant.
If you checked any box other than “Not relevant”, to what extent did the EPP double
major enable you to apply this objective in your career, compared to your more
traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as well ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
How appropriate is this objective as a skill that EPP double major graduates will
exhibit in their careers?
Not ------------------------------ Very
Appropriate
Appropriate
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EPP Objective 4: Use, or seek help in using, tools and methods available to approach
complex decision problems that engineers often must face, including issues beyond the
design of products and processes.
How relevant is this objective to work you have done in your professional career?
Not relevant ------------------------------ Very relevant
If you checked any box other than “Not relevant”, to what extent did the EPP double
major enable you to apply this objective in your career, compared to your more
traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as well ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
How appropriate is this objective as a skill that EPP double major graduates will
exhibit in their careers?
Not ------------------------------ Very
Appropriate
Appropriate
EPP Objective 5: Consider career paths more diverse than those traditionally associated
with engineering or other technical careers.
How relevant is this objective to work you have done in your professional career?
Not relevant ------------------------------ Very relevant.
If you checked any box other than “Not relevant”, to what extent did the EPP double
major enable you to apply this objective in your career, compared to your more
traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as well ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
How appropriate is this objective as a skill that EPP double major graduates will
exhibit in their careers?
Not ------------------------------ Very
Appropriate
Appropriate
7
EPP Objective 6: Demonstrate and ability to integrate conventional technical
analysis with behavioral and other social issues, where the engineer is a participant in
teams composed of many disciplines.
How relevant is this objective to work you have done in your professional career?
Not relevant ------------------------------ Very relevant
If you checked any box other than “Not relevant”, to what extent did the EPP double
major enable you to apply this objective in your career, compared to your more
traditional engineering colleagues?
Not as well ------------------------------ Much Better
The same
How appropriate is this objective as a skill that EPP double major graduates will
exhibit in their careers?
Not ------------------------------ Very
Appropriate
Appropriate
Collection of EPP Objectives: Taken as a whole, do these six objectives sufficiently
encompass the ways in which the EPP double major enhances or augments career
skills and abilities, compared with a single traditional engineering major.
insufficient ------------------------------ comprehensive
You may use this space to comment on any or all of the above objectives, or to suggest
additions, changes, or alternatives. Use the back of the page for additional space:
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Part 4: Additional Comments.
Please add any comments you'd like to offer about your EPP undergraduate
educational experience and how it prepared your for your subsequent career and life:
Thanks very much for your time and help in completing this survey.
Please use the enclosed envelope to mail this back to:
Mark Kieler
EPP 129 Baker Hall
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh PA 15213
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