ME Freshman Day • Welcome • Learning community and ME outreach • ME

ME Freshman Day Welcome Learning community and ME outreach ME undergraduate curriculum Advising process Extracurricular activities – ASME, SAE Q/A session Lab tour & open house

Some Advices Tougher work ahead – Build solid math & physics foundation – Learn how to manage time and organize Plenty of help available (mentor/tutor program) – Ask for, demand for, and take advantage of Enjoy the ride – Maximize your experience – Learn how to learn

Learning Community Definition: a collaborative system where students and faculty work together to foster a communal partnership in the learning process. Implement various programs to foster a collaborative culture of learning in the classroom and encourage involvement in structured professional and educational outreach activities

Learn How to Learn Life-long learning: a learning process throughout one’s lifetime with the aim of improving knowledge, professional skills, and promoting personal fulfillment. It could be both formal and informal types of learning, and should continue throughout adult life beyond regular school education period Learning Through Teaching (LTT): Empowers students with self-learning capability by involving them in the structured classroom and/or laboratory teaching process.

LTT Concept “Tell me and I may forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand.” “Ask me to teach and I learn” Teaching is the ultimate learning activity since it requires the utilization of higher order learning skills such as analysis, synthesis, self-evaluation as well as effective communication

ME Outreach Program Outreach: A systematic attempt to provide services beyond conventional limits to particular segments of the community. In the present case, we define the outreach as services beyond routine classroom and

Why Outreach? Learn how to become an engineering professional. – Technical competency, serve community – Ethical and professional responsibilities; understand global and societal relevancy; life-long learning Outreach program maximizes this effort through experiential learning by requiring students to step outside their classrooms to collaborate with their peers within the school and to interact with engineering professionals outside the school

What is the requirement? All students are required to accomplish a pre-determined amount of professional and/or educational outreach activities before graduation An outreach point system has been used to quantify the level of achievement (see point table) A total of 6 points is needed for graduation (over a period of 3-4 years)

Proposed Professional Outreach Activities Professional Activities Outreach Point Professional society: ASME, SAE, AIAA, TBP, NSBE, SWE President (addl.) 2/year VP, secretary and other qualifying officers (addl.) 1/year Regular membership 1/year Professional activities ASME town hall meeting and other regional meetings 0.5 Professional conferences (local, regional and national) 2 – organizer, 1 presenter 0.5 - participant Professional design competition (SAE, ASME, etc.) 1.5 - team leader, 1 participant Industry Day design competition 0.5 Take FE exam 2 Passed FE exam (additional) 2 Other activities promoting professionalism To be approved by the

Educational Outreach Activities Educational Activities Outreach Point Departmental educational activities Be a Junior/Senior advisement mentor for 5 Freshmen and/or Sophomores 1/year Be an evening tutor (a total of 40 hours) 1/semester Be an in-class TA (3 lab sessions) 1/semester Participate in the Freshman Day activities 0.5 – organizer, 0.25 - tour guide Member of Student-Faculty Council 1/year Senior design project open house and presentation 0.5 - organizer Activities outside department H.S. design competition judge or organizer 0.5 Challenger Learning Center volunteer program 0.5 Other activities such as local science fair, community service program, etc. To be approved by the curriculum committee

An example of how a typical ME student can earn the required outreach point (6) before he/she can graduate: Timeline Activities Outreach point Sophomore ASME member (or any other society member) 1 Junior ASME member 1 In-class TA (one semester) 1 Industry Day design competition 0.5 ASME member 1 Senior advisement mentor 1 Organize senior design open house 0.5 Senior Total outreach point 6

When this will be enforced? As a pilot test program starting Fall 2003 Everyone will be invited to participate in the outreach point system it can be retroactive to include all outreach activities done before, special recognition will be given to top performers within senior group next year Expect to be a graduation requirement for all Freshmen who will enter the

Mentor Program A relationship about building a partnership between mentor and mentee (protégé) to enhance the selfworth of both and to foster growth, goal achievement, and support. Voluntary basis, counting as outreach point Yearly meeting will be arranged

Mentor Guidelines Provide monitoring of freshmen to prevent them from becoming overwhelmed; be supportive. Counseling on study and organization skills and other survival tactics. Give information on how to access resources, both in academic support and lifemanagement, available for students. Provide professional advices such as tutoring, professional society membership, job search tips, etc. Provide mentorship in a non-threatening and non-judgmental manner to both parties.

Mentor Program 14 seniors and 22 juniors A departmental mentor site will be arranged for everyone to be involved For now, pair freshmen to mentors through email (email must be provided) Comment on program effectiveness for future improvements

Tutor Program Is there a need? What subject areas should be included? – Calculus, Physics, basic sciences, others When will be the best time for tutor program? Temporary arrangement – – 5-7:30 PM Monday to Thursday Room A226 across from ME main office

Questions and Comments

What can I contribute now? Be a Freshman mentor – Participate in Freshman day activity as a lab tour guide (Sept. 16 & 18, 3:30 and 5:00 pm) – Serve as a mentor to 5 freshmen (whole year) Be a tutor – 40 hours during evening (after 5 pm) – Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, all subjects in basic sciences, basic-level Pro-E and MathCAD, and others