Perspectives on Incorporating Service Learning in a College of Engineering John M. Ting Dean of Engineering University of Massachusetts Lowell Workshop on Integrating Appropriate Sustainable Technology and Service Learning in Engineering Education University of Colorado, Sept , 2004

Who are we? What are we proposing to do? How are going to do it? Why are we doing this? Who are the stakeholders? What are the implications for the stakeholders? Engineering

One of 5 campuses of University of Massachusetts One of 3 campuses of UMass with Engineering Formerly University of Lowell, Lowell Technological Institute Engineering: Civil/Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical/Computer & Plastics Engineering BS, MS, DEng & PhD programs Enrollments in Engineering ~900 undergrads (~230 incoming freshman) ~700 grads ~65 FT faculty UMass Lowell

UMass Lowell Campus Mission “to provide an affordable education of high quality and to focus its scholarship and public service on assisting sustainable regional economic and social development” Education is central to campus mission Engineering is central to the campus Connection of university to region is real

Engineering Research Total grants in force ~$10M (~$3-4M/yr expend.) NSF grants: Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center Numerous CAREER & traditional Civil, Composites, Plastics/polymers/materials grants Engineering Education grants: ISET Scholars (mentoring) K-12 outreach (DesignCamp) Dynamics (Mechanical) Assistive Technology (Electrical) Dept. Level Reform (Service Learning - planning)

Assistive Technology Program Unique program for assisting the handicapped Senior Design projects for Electrical Engineering % of ECE students work on Assistive Technology projects Enormous personal gratification in helping others Funding from NSF, foundations and private donations & UMass Lowell (D. Clark, A. Rux) Recent projects include: Step-sensing feedback device Sensory stimulating toys for intensive special needs students And many others … Program expanded to K-12 through HS Design Fair (past 2 years with D. Prime)

Sustainable Infrastructure for Developing Nations Opportunity to dramatically affect the quality of life in the world Current activities include: Capstone design projects in Mechanical Engineering (with students from Nursing, Civil) Ongoing service-learning project in Peru (J. Duffy) Graduate Certificate in Civil & Environmental Engineering (W. Moeller, D. Pottle) Currently expanding projects in collaboration with MesoAmerican Development Institute (R. Raulades) Water purification in Peru Solar power in Peru

What are we proposing to do? Expose every student in every Engineering Department to Service Learning in various, meaningful ways Expand existing Capstone design projects in sustainable infrastructure and assistive technology to other Departments including non-engineering departments Integrate S-L principles throughout the undergraduate curriculum, starting with freshman year Expand the spectrum of service projects to include community-identified projects for all engineering disciplines NSF Department Level Reform planning grant: “Service Learning Integrated in a College of Engineering” (SLICE)

Sustainable Infrastructure For Developing Nations - Civil, Mech [nursing, education] Assistive Technology Elect, Mech, Plastics [nursing, physical therapy, management] Community-identified activities -all Engineering depts [other non-engineering depts] Service Learning Project Umbrella Engineering Nursing Physical Therapy Education Management Computer Science

How are we proposing to do this? Senior Capstone course Initiate college-wide capstone which can be used instead of Dept. capstone Expand foreign & domestic project offerings Ensure full multidisciplinary teams, including non- engineering students (nursing, PT, OT, management) Freshman Intro to Engineering Design course Integrate S-L principles in several modules Sophomore & Junior courses Integrate S-L examples throughout the undergraduate curriculum, starting with freshman year Allow for project-specific S-L modules in sophomore & junior years

Hurdles and stumbling blocks Coordination within the College of Engineering Nothing is ever trivial Differing Capstone credits, timing, organization Differing ABET program expectations for Capstone Scaling up from 65 Capstone projects to 200 team-based projects 200+ Freshman exercises TA support, supplies, staff Expansion to community Coordination of project needs Maintaining academic integrity and quality control Provide for continuity of projects Coordination of foreign service projects

Perspectives Potential Stakeholders Students Faculty College of Engineering University Industrial & institutional partners Community partners/recipients “what’s in it for me?” Everyone stands to gain something!

Educational Concerns For Colleges of Engineering Recruiting of students Women & minorities Quality of students Retention of students Need to keep students motivated and engaged Retention of technical content ABET accreditation Multidisciplinary teams (d) Identify, formulate & solve engineering problems (e) Professional & ethical responsibilities (f) Presentation skills (g) Understand global & societal need (h)

Why am I doing this? Concerns as Civil Engineering Department Head: What’s the future of Civil Engineering? All the same concerns as for College of Engineering Boston Opera House restoration Village-based Water supply project in Ecuador For Civil Engineering, sustainable infrastructure in developing countries is the future Worked with W. Moeller on proposal to start a Center for Sustainable Infrastructure for Developing Nations at UMass Lowell Service Learning based projects/activities address almost every Engineering educational concern

Educational Concerns Recruiting of students - Women & minorities Recruiting of quality students Retention of students – keeping students motivated Retention of technical content ABET accreditation Multidisciplinary teams (d) Identify, formulate & solve engineering problems (e) Professional & ethical responsibilities (f) Presentation skills (g) Understand global & societal need (h) Why aren’t we all doing this?