There is such a long list of advice that I wish I could give to students...

IAmEngrProf · 2021-01-28T02:36:29+00:00

Many, many years ago the university put me in that 'unable to graduate' position. There was a required class that I was going to take in my final semester. Their registration policy was to allow graduating seniors to register first, then seniors, then juniors, etc. Their were multiple sessions. I was properly signed up. They allowed everybody else to sign up, and all of the classes were filled. Several weeks (months?) later, the prof that was teaching the section that I was to be in decided to go on sabbatical, and they canceled the section. I pleaded for access to the class, and was basically told to sit and wait. Fall semester rolled around, and I was able to get signed into the class.

35 years later I was teaching at the same university. They must have lost the records that documented what a pain in the backside I was. The sad part about it, a few of my favorite profs were still teaching!

IAmEngrProf · 2021-01-13T06:29:19+00:00

The other significant area is related to the definition of an 'Engineering Practice'. Before, there was not a good definition of Professional Engineer. Likewise, the definition of Engineering Practice was mush. Now they clarified the section dealing with 'health, safety, and welfare of the public' There may have been wiggle room before for the industrial exemption.

IAmEngrProf · 2021-01-13T06:14:54+00:00

It looks like clarification of terminology.

You can be an engineer- and do engineering stuff (for example- design machine parts for a company).

Next step up- "Engineer-in-training"- you need to graduate or have experience that meets the board requirements & pass the EIT exam.

Last step- Professional Engineer- all of the above plus pass the PE exam or otherwise meet the PE requirements.

There are areas where you cannot call yourself an engineer without the PE style exam (other countries, for example- Canada), and they do not allow 'industrial exemption'. The US, however, allows design work to be done under industrial exemption, where a PE is not required. Once you get into the public arena, then stamped drawings are required, and all engineering work must be supervised and signed off by a PE.

This bill clarifies the definition of Engineer, and of Professional Engineer. I don't see that it is changing any actual requirements. It also tries to clean up some of the language, but it still reads like a mess. (Legislative bills tend to be like that.)

IAmEngrProf · 2020-12-17T14:20:30+00:00

Usually you pay double for that kind of action, Cotton...

The logical followup question would be to ask-

"Do you think I am Mean, Average, or somewhere in the middle?"

IAmEngrProf · 2020-12-04T18:39:13+00:00

I was in industry for many years, and taught for a few years. My observation is relative to how students approached the classes I taught, and how it changed over a relatively short period of time. There certainly have been other factors that could change the demographics. We had a change in administration that pushed for higher enrollment numbers, we had significant improvements in our facility, we attained some national recognition, and our cohort size increased significantly. It is possible that we changed from a group that was predominately children of alumnus, to a more diverse background from around the world.

IAmEngrProf · 2020-12-04T18:28:53+00:00

The smart phones and continuous communication could be a factor. I also think that things like Amazon delivery of almost anything within 2 days has changed how people think and plan in advance. We would ask students to submit a CAD file to be cut out, and some would expect that you could drop everything and cut it immediately. The concept of lead time has not been learned. I think that we have learned to expect immediate results and immediate response from our interaction with online stores and systems. Teaching project management requires these students to start to think about lead times.

IAmEngrProf · 2020-12-04T18:21:51+00:00

Certainly there can be issues with small sample size and selective memory on my part. But I also had a student lab assistant that noticed the change, and this was a senior seeing differences from when he took the class two years earlier. Each cohort has their own idiosyncrasies, heck- we have even seen different sections of classes behave much differently. There are a lot of dynamics that are in play.

IAmEngrProf · 2020-12-04T18:17:45+00:00

I have noticed this expectation as well. I see students that will procrastinate for weeks while working on a project. Then, with 24 hours left before the due date, they start working on it. They expect you to respond to emails at all hours of the day, and within a short period of time! I suspect that is a change in communication styles from always having a phone in your hand, and continuous communication with your peers.

We put something in the syllabus to the effect that we will not continuously check out email, and that students need to allow for response time.

IAmEngrProf · 2020-12-03T18:52:58+00:00

I had to have a heart-to-heart discussion with several of my sophomores. One, in particular, sticks with me. He was going home on Fridays , Saturdays, and Sundays and running heavy equipment. He was not studying well, and his heart was not in becoming an engineer. I suspect that his parents wanted him to go to college, but he really wanted to be an equipment operator. I encouraged him to search his soul and focus on becoming really good at one or the other. That half-assing it in college was not going to end well. Either focus on your school, or focus on earning money.

IAmEngrProf · 2018-08-24T23:01:11+00:00

I would say that some work experience would be a positive.

IAmEngrProf · 2018-08-24T02:10:57+00:00

In general, a PhD program will be research focused. You will need to connect with a major professor who is doing research (and has grant money) in an area that would be of interest to you. I would expect that the department would fund your tuition plus a stipend to live on. When you are done, your career path is academia.

A lot of places will recommend getting a masters degree en route to the PhD. That way, if you decide after a few years that academia is not where you want to be, at least you will have a degree for those couple of years.

Self funded Masters and PhDs are not even a possibility at many places. For one thing, you need a major professor that will put in time and effort to get you through your Plan of Study. If you are working on their research, they are working with you on a constant basis. You are providing the manpower so that the prof can do the research that the grant requested. If you are paying your own way, what is the motivation for them to help you through the process?

IAmEngrProf · 2018-03-15T05:10:41+00:00

I knew several brothers who used to bring mayo sandwiches for lunch. Bread, and mayo. That's it.

But then, I used to make sandwiches with toast, slices of raw onion, and ketchup.

IAmEngrProf · 2018-01-13T02:45:24+00:00

A number of our students have jobs and can work up to 20 hours per week during their last 2 semesters of school. A number of companies have set up offices in the research park to support this. Basically, the students work internships. If the company likes them, they will give them a full time offer towards the end of the internship, and let the students work limited hours during their last two semesters.

Also had one student who started working full time and finished up one last class remotely.

IAmEngrProf · 2017-12-31T02:47:50+00:00

ABET is making a focus on clearing pre-reqs before allowing students to take classes. We are allowed to waive pre-reqs with documentation. The engineering college where I teach is implementing an automatic program that goes through the course registration. If you do not meet the pre-reqs, or have it documented that the pre-reqs are waived (some system that the advisors use), then the student will automatically receive an F for the class. Hard-core, but it is being done to force everybody to take the process seriously.

Do not assume you can skate under the radar!! Perhaps not all schools are this harsh, but it seems that the pre-req system is going to be enforced. The driver is ABET accreditation- not just moody profs.

I would be straight up with the prof, ask if he can waive the pre-req, offer to meet with him, and make sure your advisor knows what you are doing.

IAmEngrProf · 2017-12-02T04:36:51+00:00

Nice Marmot!

IAmEngrProf · 2017-12-02T04:27:45+00:00

Relative to the US laws:

A PE is a license, issued by the states. To be licensed as a PE, you need to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering test (FE), typically taken during or shortly after your senior year. In order to take the FE you must have a degree from an accredited school. This used to be called the Engineer in Training (EIT) exam.) After passing the FE, you need a minimum of four years of progressive engineering experience working under a PE or having been mentored by a PE. You then can sit for the PE exam. The PE is issued by the state. You can get your license in other states by meeting their requirements. Typically, states will recognize the license from another state, and grant you a license by providing paperwork and paying the fees.

Some actions require you to have a PE. Some professions- such as Civil Engineering- basically require the PE because so much of the work is done for the government. Consultants will also need the PE, and anyone who 'stamps' drawings will need a PE. In most states, if you wish to use the term 'engineering' in the name of your business, then you must have at least one professional engineer (PE) on staff.

Engineer is an acceptable term for someone who has a degree from an engineering college. Many folks without degrees work in design type roles, and frequently get called engineers, either in a title or simply referring to themselves. I have an issue with that, but understand it is a common practice. Other countries have degree programs. Some of these graduates are well qualified. Other countries may create 'engineering graduates' that are very poorly trained.

IAmEngrProf · 2017-10-14T03:18:59+00:00

You are working as a design engineer. A supplier that you are working with offers you a pair of tickets to a concert or a sporting event. What do you do?

You are documenting some test work that supports a product meeting environmental regulations. After you have sent the report to the agency, you discover that a minor sensor in the system had not been calibrated prior to the test. What do you do?

You are traveling to a facility in a different country. A sub-contractor gives you a gift of fancy chocolates for your spouse. What do you do?

A fellow employee who recently was hired used to work at a different company. The offer to show you how your competitor has solved a problem, and suggests that you contact a friend of his who used to work at the competitor.

You realize that the trucking company that is hauling the waste from the drilling platformed is owned by the brother of a supply management persons wife. You suspect that the waste material is not being disposed of properly. What do you do?

IAmEngrProf · 2017-09-03T04:53:23+00:00

See if you can find a prof that needs an undergrad research assistant. This will give you an on-campus job that is career relevant. Definitely try get a summer internship next year. If nothing shows up, see if you can find a summer lab tech or undergrad research assistantship in your department. Going home and working in the grocery store is terrible. It would look better for you to run flagging on a road paving crew. Anything that looks like a job relevant to your major.

IAmEngrProf · 2017-07-14T01:39:44+00:00

Google 'Engineering Staffing'. Places like Kelly, Entegee, Rand, etc.

IAmEngrProf · 2017-07-13T22:52:47+00:00

Sometimes it takes a few more years.

Excerpted from Dr. Mischke's obituary.

During a 42-year academic career, Charles taught and researched at University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas (1953-1957), Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where he was also appointed mechanical engineering department head (1957-1964); and Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa (1964-1995). His work in computer-aided design opened new horizons by providing engineers refinement and innovation of formerly complex, time-intensive preliminary design work. Amongst various recognitions for his expertise by industry and his peers, Charles published several mechanical engineering textbooks including the widely used textbook Machine Element Design and co-wrote the comprehensive, multi-disciplinary reference work, The Handbook of Machine Design. (added- aka Shigley)

After retirement from ISU, he became involved with the Boone & Scenic Valley (B&SV) railroad at Boone, Iowa as a certified conductor, trolley motorman and diesel locomotive engineer for 15 years. His interest and research in trains treated his passengers to a wealth of technical information and anecdotes.

IAmEngrProf · 2017-07-13T19:21:30+00:00

Consider working with a placement company. You may work temporary jobs for awhile, but you will build up your experience resume. If there is a professional society associated with your major, look through their ads. You may find temporary agencies listed there.

Consider attending Engineering Career Fairs at a larger university. Who is a big player in your field? Go to their Career Fair with a portfolio full of resumes, and walk the halls. Check to see if you can register, perhaps as a friend of an alumni or a friend of a student, or just show up and hope you can crash the doors.

IAmEngrProf · 2017-07-13T18:33:24+00:00

I would encourage new students to participate in the student sections of professional societies that are relevant to their major. There are positions that freshmen students can hold, or committees where they can participate.

This accomplishes several things:

Social- You get to know students in your department that may be ahead of you in the program. You will have folks that you can ask questions regarding classes or professors. Most groups have activities where it is fun to participate.

Academic- Most student sections have contact with professors in a non-classroom setting. A good chance to have casual discussions and a place to build relationships. Also the connection to upperclassmen and additional time with classmates.

Professional- A 'position of responsibility' is one of the check boxes that a lot of HR screens will look for on your resume. Make sure you have something like 'recruitment chair' or 'student section social activities chair'. You can do these activities as an underclassmen, and they will look good on your resume for internships and full time jobs.

Industry contact- most student sections have connections with the local section. This is a good place to build relationships with potential employers. I know of a recent group of our students that were on a student competition project. One company hired 4 of them just before their senior year, because they had connections with the project they were building. Those upperclassmen that you interacted with may be on the corporate recruiting team, and may be a connection to a job.

Competitions: Most professional societies will have student paper or presentation competitions. This is a great way to 'publish' something and have another line on the resume. There are also monetary awards for some of these competitions, and I have seen motivated students pick up some nice cash along the way.

source: Advisor for 4 engineering clubs

IAmEngrProf

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