Dean’s Message

On behalf of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, I am honored to welcome you to our first electronic edition of Dimensions. As a graduate, student or other friend of the School, you know our mission well - to be one of the best urban university leaders in the disciplines of engineering and technology. Students will face vast transformation and opportunity as they pursue technical careers in industry. It is the goal of the School to provide students an education that will give them the leverage to be leaders in their communities, industry and society.

We’ve had a few changes at the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI. Bill Conrad, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, assumed the responsibilities of Interim Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs after Ken Rennels, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology, recent resignation. The internal search for this position will begin in October. The Biomedical Engineering Technology degree program (BS) was approved by the Indiana Commission on Higher Education on May 12, 2006.

Finally, we are experiencing slight decreases in enrollment. Headcount decreased by 2.6% as compared to fall 2005 semester, and decreased 6.82% in credit hours. IUPUI headcount also decreased by 0.57%, while the student credit hours increased by 0.59%. We are addressing this through a number of strategies to increase enrollment and headcount.

Since August, 2005 the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, awarded 704 degrees and certificates as follows:

• Associate of Science - 193
• Bachelor of Science - 377
• Master of Science - 43
• Certificates - 91

Most recently the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, began the fall semester with many new and returning students. It is hard to believe that fall is here and summer is over!

H. Öner Yurtseven, Dean



Welcome New Students!

On August 26 incoming freshmen to the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, gathered at the home of Paula Jenkins to meet classmates, faculty and staff for the annual Freshmen Welcome BBQ. This annual event is sponsored by the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology Alumni Association.

Thomas J. Linnemeier Guidant Foundation Chair in Biomedical Engineering

The Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, welcomes its first endowed chair in Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Ghassan Kassab. This faculty appointment was made possible through a philanthropic gift from the Guidant Foundation. After an extensive search, Dr. Kassab was hired and relocated here summer from California. His research areas include Experimental and Computational Vascular Engineering, Coronary Circulation in Health and Disease, Vascular Tissue Remodeling, Tissue Engineering, and Simulation of Complex Biological Systems.

Emily DeRocco, Assistant Secretary of Labor

On September 15, Emily DeRocco, Assistant Secretary of Labor, spoke at the 8th Annual Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, Joint Board of Advisors Meeting held at the Rolls-Royce Training Center. Ms. DeRocco’s presentation, Wired and the Global Economy – Maintaining America’s Competitiveness Through Talent Development in Regional Economies was well received, and provided a terrific update on the American Competitiveness Institute.

Lower Level Construction Project

Remember when UITS was in the lower level of the ET building? After they relocated to the new Informatics and Communications Technology Complex, the space vacated was reallocated to the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI. The School spent most of 2006 gutting the lower level and completely renovating the space which now holds the Computer Networking Center, open student spaces, and computing labs. This beautiful renovation will help alleviate some space issue that the campus and the School are currently experiencing.

Motorsports

If you love racing, IUPUI is the place to be! On October 6 the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, held its annual Motorsports Day at IUPUI in front of University College. The event included displays from IRL, Champ Car, Panther Racing, Indy Pro Series, Ganassi Racing, USAC midgets, and the IUPUI race car built by students. Throughout the day special sessions were held by Katherine Legge, Champ Car Drive, Jeff Horton, Indy Racing League and more!

IUPUI's new racecar, designed and built entirely by Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) student projects, made a successful debut on Sunday, August 27. The car, which is ultimately intended to compete in wheel-to-wheel competition in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Club Racing, is still undergoing development. Interested in learning more about this or the Motorsports Engineering Technology Certificate Program? Contact Pete Hylton at phylton@iupui.edu.

Faculty News

The faculty at the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, place great importance on research and as a result these faculty members recently received grants to continue the great work they are doing:

• John Schild, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, received a $330,668 grant from NIH-NHLBI.
• Chul Kim, Assistant Professor of Construction Technology, received a $6,451 grant from Achievement Focused.
• Eliza Du, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received a $22,667 grant from Purdue University.
• Jie Chen, Professor of Mechanical Engineering received a $52,727 grant from Oscar, Inc.
• Pat Fox received a $3,933 grant from German Academic Exchange Services.
• Jie Chen, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Rodrigo Viecilli submitted invention disclosures to the IU Office of Technology Transfer.
• Razi Nalim, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Pezhman Akbari, Research Assistant, submitted invention disclosures to the IU Office of Transfer Technology.
• Maher Rizkalla, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, submitted invention disclosures to the IU Office of Technology Transfer.
• Paul Salama, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, submitted invention disclosures to the IU Office of Technology Transfer.
• Russ Eberhart, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Xiaohui Hu, Jonathan W. Mills, and Bryce Himebaugh submitted invention disclosures to the IU Office of Technology Transfer.
• Rongrong Chen, Research Associate and Andrew Hsu, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, submitted invention disclosures to the IU Office of Technology Transfer.
• Eugenia Fernandez, Associate Professor of Computer and Information Technology, was appointed Faculty Fellow of the Center on Integrating Learning (COIL) and received a $5,000 grant with this appointment.
• Barbara Christe, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, received a $5,000 University College Faculty Fellowship (First Year Seminar Pedagogy-Sharing Best Practices).
  

Student Spotlight

Undergraduate Student – Crystal Oyler
Department: Mechanical Engineering Technology
Program: Computer Graphics Technology
Anticipated Graduation: December 2006
Hometown: Indianapolis

What you’ve enjoyed most about E&T and IUPUI:
I’ve had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Poland with my department. I greatly enjoyed teaching computer graphics to the Polish students because it is my passion. The students taught me so much in return about their culture, language and history.

I’m so thankful for the faculty and staff at the School. They helped me get to Poland, which was a significant goal I had for myself while at IUPUI. I couldn't have gone with out their help and support.

Favorite CGT Course:
My favorite course would have to be CGT 117. I love technical illustration as it really opened my eyes to how much I enjoy graphic arts.

Future Plans:
I am applying to graduate school at Purdue University. I plan to become a graphics professor and hope to be stationed in Poland as a graphics professor.

E&T Alumni Association

Board of Directors

The Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI, Alumni Association Board of Directors met in July for a half day retreat to goal set for the coming year. The board made slight changes to the mission statement of the association which now reads:

Provide comprehensive program opportunities (i.e. social, educational, professional, and service) for alumni, students, and faculty, of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, which foster a stronger relationship between these groups, School, and community.

2006-2007 Officers

Paul Makinson, President
AS CPT ’90, BS CPT ‘93

Erik Munevar, Vice President
BSEE ‘99

Christopher Sowers, Secretary
BSME ‘01

Tony Kaelin, Treasurer
AAS EET ’82, BS EET ‘83

Reginald McGregor, Immediate Past President
BSME ‘02

Golf Outing

The annual Purdue School of Engineering and Technology Student Scholarship Golf Classic sponsored by the E&T Alumni Association took place on September 22 at Saddlebrook Golf Course. This annual event raises money for student scholarships. This year’s event raised over $6,000! Congratulations to the Rockwell Automation team – they took first place!

Campus News

The IUPUI campus continues to move forward with several construction projects. One of the most impressive is the new Campus Center. This facility is located on the corner of University Blvd and Michigan Street and will be an excellent addition to the campus, enhancing student life. To see the progress being made to go http://www.life.iupui.edu/campcntr/.

Class Notes

What are you doing? We want to know! Please send your updates to Paula Jenkins, Assistant Dean for Development and External Relations at pj@iupui.edu.

This is a publication of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI.
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