Kettering is #1 and #2

Kettering University has returned to its #1 ranking for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and continues to be ranked in the Top Twenty in the nation in the 2010 edition of "America's Best Colleges Guide," which is published by "U.S. News & World Report."

For the first time, Kettering’s Mechanical Engineering program is ranked #2 in the country.

"We are extremely pleased to be recognized as one of “America’s Best Colleges” and this time as #1 and #2,” said Kettering University President Stan Liberty.  “This is the first time we have achieved #1 and #2 in academic programs on campus.  This is remarkable news for Kettering, especially with the ongoing economic challenges in the state and in the manufacturing sector.”

Kettering Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Harris said the national recognitions represent "the renewed energy our faculty members are investing in their programs and their students. Each academic area is working hard to be current and relevant to today's students, who bring to Kettering a multitude of new ideas and ambitions.  I am very proud of the tremendous professionalism and advanced efforts that are ongoing in Academic Affairs," Harris explained.  " I know Kettering is stronger because of them.  My sincere congratulations to the faculty, staff and students who brought this honor to campus." 

Kettering's category is Undergraduate Engineering schools, whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's degree. 

Kettering’s four national rankings in the 2010 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” are:
# 1 - Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering,
# 2 - Mechanical Engineering,
#19 - Overall ranking for Kettering University, plus
Programs to Look For (Internships/Co-op) – one of only 18 institutions in the country to receive this recognition.

#1 for 10 of 11 years
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering has returned to its #1 ranking, after being listed #2 last year. Kettering has been “best in the country” in this category for 10 of the past 11 years.

IME’s 2010 rankings:
1. Kettering University (MI)
2. Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo (CA)
3. San Jose State University (CA)

Dr. Lucy S. King, interim department head for IME, said the news is very exciting for her entire department.  “Being recognized nationally speaks strongly about the program that we offer at Kettering University,” she said.  “It affirms that we have the right curriculum for industry. 

“It’s important to our students to have the confidence that they will graduate as a world-class Industrial Engineer,” she continued.  “Potential students will feel the same and are attracted to winning teams.  Some confirming data from payscale.com states that Kettering graduating engineers’ salary ranks #1 in Michigan, second in the Midwest and in the Top 20 in the nation, including MIT, Cal Tech and Georgia Tech.

“We are grateful to our faculty for their personal attention and dedication to the students, and we are very proud of our students for their performance.  We also give special kudos to our support staff,” she added.  “Ranking #1 stimulates us to continue to work hard on advancing our program in the traditional areas as well as emerging fields to stay on top.”

Kettering’s Mechanical Engineering department jumped to a #2 national ranking, up from #5 last year.

2010 rankings: Mechanical Engineering
1. Rose-Hulman (IN)
2. Kettering University (MI)
3. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (CA)
3. Cooper Union (NY)

“Achieving this ranking among our peers in academia reflects the high caliber of our students and alumni and the commitment to academic excellence of our faculty,” said Dr. Timothy Cameron, associate department head for Mechanical Engineering. “The Kettering University philosophy of combining a rigorous academic curriculum with relevant real world experiential learning gives our students the resources they need to be successful,” he added.

PROGRAMS TO LOOK FOR – INTERNSHIPS/CO-OP
Kettering is again among the “schools with outstanding examples of academic programs that are commonly linked to student success,” according to the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Only 18 institutions received this national distinction for 2010:
Alverno College (WI)

Berea College (KY)

Bradley University (IL)

Drexel University (PA)

Elon University (NC)

Georgia Institute of Technology*

Johnson and Wales University (RI)

Kettering University (MI)

Keuka College (NY)

New York University

Northeastern University (MA)

Ohio State University–Columbus*

Portland State University (OR)*

Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)*

Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY)

University of Cincinnati*

Univ. of Maryland–College Park*

Univ. of Southern California

Overall category – Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's, with * indicting public institutions.  Last year, Kettering was ranked #17.  Here are the 2010 rankings:
1. Harvey Mudd College (CA)

1. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN)

3. Cooper Union (NY)

4. United States Military Academy (NY)*

5. United States Naval Academy (MD)*

6. Calif. Polytech. St. U.–San Luis Obispo*

6. United States Air Force Acad. (CO)*

8. Bucknell University (PA)

8. Franklin W. Olin Col. of Eng. (MA)

10. Milwaukee School of Engineering

10. Villanova University (PA)

12. Baylor University (TX)

12. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. (FL)

12. Swarthmore College (PA)

15. Calif. State Poly. Univ.–Pomona*

15. Rowan University (NJ)*

15. Union College (NY)

15. United States Coast Guard Academy (CT)*

19. Kettering University (MI)

19. Lafayette College (PA)

19. San Jose State University (CA)*

19. Santa Clara University (CA)

19. Smith College (MA)

19. Trinity University (TX)

19. Virginia Military Institute*

26. The Citadel (SC)*

26. Gonzaga University (WA)

26. Loyola Marymount University (CA)

26. Miami University–Oxford (OH)*

26. U.S. Merchant Marine Acad. (NY)*

26. Univ. of Colo.–Colorado Springs*

26. University of San Diego

26. Valparaiso University (IN)

34. Bradley University (IL)

34. Embry-Riddle Aero. U.–Prescott (AZ)

34. University of Portland (OR)

34. Webb Institute (NY)

One more national mention: The University is also included in a story on Ashley Lowe of Tennessee, who was courted by many of the country’s finest schools and chose to attend Kettering.  See her profile on the U.S. News website at: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2009/08/19/profile-letting-the-college-come-to-you.html

"I know that Kettering’s unique model of co-op education is a contributing factor to the annual rankings,” Liberty said.  “I'd like to congratulate the entire Kettering community for their ongoing contributions that help us build and sustain the excellence of a Kettering University education.”

The 2010 "America's Best Colleges" magazine will be on newsstands Aug. 20.

U.S. News & World Report provides a significant amount of information on its rankings, its methodologies and other data.  For general information, visit www.usnews.com.  For rankings and methodologies, visit: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2009/08/19/about-the-rankings-and-methodology.html.

Written by Patricia Mroczek

810.762.9533

pmroczek@kettering.edu

When one thinks of Legos, they often envision small children constructing elaborate buildings and vehicles that defy engineering theories.

But at Kettering University in Flint, Mich., Legos are an important component in teaching high school students about the work of industrial engineers and in encouraging them to consider industrial engineering (IE) as a potential career path. Since many of these students are unfamiliar with the work of an engineer in general, Kettering’s IE Airplane Demonstration Workshop provides a quick understanding of this field through hands-on activities that ultimately show them how cool engineering is.

Dr. Lucy King, interim department head for Industrial Engineering, said that this workshop grew out of a concern expressed by Kettering students about the lack of enrollment in IE.

“They wanted to do something to help increase recruitment efforts, to get high school students thinking about IE as a possible college major and career,” King explained, adding that this effort “is one of the first recruitment/public awareness efforts by IE students.”

So the students worked with Associate Professor Terri Lynch-Caris of IE to develop the IE Airplane Road Show. The goal is to give high school students assembly criteria and a set of Legos to create a plane utilizing the following five-step process:

• assembly of front fuselage;
• assembly of wing structure;
• assembly of tail;
• assembly of accessories/peripherals, such as landing gear; and
• quality check.

High schools students participating in the project include a number from Oakland Schools Technical Campus (OSTC) Northwest in Clarkston. Kettering students split the high school students into teams of five or six. The teams then engaged in the five-step process and were timed to determine how swiftly they could construct their Lego planes. At the end of the timed process, Kettering students calculated the number of good assemblies.

Teams were then rated by the number of unfinished assemblies against the number of finished assemblies. After this, the teams had an opportunity to discuss the assembly issues, determine a course of action to rectify these issues and increase quality based on suggestions from the Kettering students. Then they could redo the round to try and increase their overall score.

According to King, the high school students made considerable improvements in each round and quickly learned several lessons on how IEs work to improve engineering and manufacturing processes.

“This really helped them see what industrial engineering is all about,” she said. “They seemed to enjoy the workshop and the interaction with the Kettering students,” she added.

Teachers from the Oakland Schools Technical Campus agree with King’s assessment.

“The students had a basic understanding of engineering and little understanding of the different engineering disciplines,” said Teacher Robert DuCharme. “The workshop was very important in aiding the students in understanding what an IE career entails,” he added.

DuCharme also said that when his students were told about the workshop, they were skeptical at first. However, by the end of the program, they were enjoying the experience and the hands-on approach, including the challenging workshops.

“The Kettering students were fun, engaging and professional throughout the entire event,” he said.

Teacher Don Peters also felt the workshop was productive.

“Our students had no previous knowledge regarding the work that an industrial engineer performs in their career,” he said. “The Kettering students did a great job interacting with OSTC students and we’re looking forward to engaging in another workshop in the near future.”

The IE Airplane Demonstration Workshop is comprised of several components. At the start of the program, Kettering students, along with King, explain to the high school students what industrial engineers typically do during their careers. The Kettering contingent then shows a video about these careers, which features engineers working at Disney World, UPS, automotive companies as well as for hospitals among other areas.

“We try to show them that any job or company that deals with developing and implementing a process needs industrial engineers, since these professionals often take responsibility for this kind of work,” King noted.

After this lecture and video presentation, the Kettering contingent discusses the workshop, issues of quality, the rules for the competition and the importance of providing feedback to King and the students regarding the experience. King and the students also discuss with the high school students subjects such as LEAN operation, logistics, scheduling and other aspects related to an industrial engineering job.

Perhaps one of the most important features of this workshop is the opportunity for current college students to go out and explain what an IE does to those who might consider this as a career field. Instead of hearing about the IE field from a professor or parent, high school students are able to relate more directly to the experiences of college students studying the discipline, which could potentially persuade younger students to consider IE as a career path.

King said that she expects to conduct this workshop again in the near future.

To learn more about this workshop or industrial engineering, contact Dr. Lucy King at (810) 762-7850, via email at lking@kettering.edu or visit Kettering’s Industrial Engineering Department website at http://www.kettering.edu/futurestudents/undergraduate/industrialengineering.jsp.

Written by Gary J. Erwin

810.762.9538

gerwin@kettering.edu

Michael M. Wood, who is originally from Flint and is the former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, will offer the Commencement address when Kettering University hosts graduation ceremonies at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13.  The event is open to the public in the Connie and Jim John Recreation Center.

Kettering will graduate 198 undergraduate and 97 master’s candidates during graduation services.  About 180 undergraduates and 55 graduate students are expected to march at the ceremonies.  University President Stan Liberty will preside and Dr. Henry Kowalski, professor of Mechanical Engineering, will be the grand marshal.  Undergraduate student speaker will be Tyler Finnegan of Elyria, Ohio, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in Management. 

Here are the highlights of the upcoming ceremony:

Saturday, June 13, 2009, 11 a.m.
Connie and Jim John Recreation Center 
No tickets required to attend Commencement 
The event is free and open to the public
Allow 1 1/2 hours for the ceremony 
Presiding: Kettering University President Stan Liberty
Parking is free and available in all campus parking lots 
Information center will be located on the 1st floor of the CC (outside BJ's Lounge, behind the elevators) from 8:30 - 10:45 a.m.
There is no graduation rehearsal
Total graduates: 198 undergraduates, 97 master’s candidates 
Graduates expecting to march: 180 undergraduates, 55 graduate 
Expected number of guests: 1,600 
Faculty will host a light breakfast in the International Room, Fifth Floor of the Campus Center, 8:30-10 a.m. 
Recreation Center doors open at 9 a.m. for visitors to arrive and be seated 
Faculty and staff members assemble for the Processional between 10-10:55 a.m. in the Third Floor, Recreation Center 
Graduates assemble on the first floor of the Campus Center (just outside BJ's Lounge) between 10:30-10:55 a.m.  
Formal processional begins at 11 a.m.

HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT: 1
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Michael M. Wood
Former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden
Chair, Redwood Investments, LLC 

Michael M. Wood is a son of Flint.  He grew up in the area and attended Flint’s Whittier Middle School.  After graduating from Yale University, he helped found the leading media company for the housing and construction industry.  His national service included organizing a housing industry round table in 1984 for U.S. President Ronald Reagan and representing the United States during the presidential inauguration in Ecuador in 2003.  In 2006, Mr. Wood was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden.  

Ambassador Wood was very helpful in developing the international collaboration between Kettering, Linkoping University in Sweden and others that is currently creating a waste-to-energy bio-methane center at Flint's wastewater treatment facility. Mr. Wood was also instrumental in hosting the royal visit of His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, to campus on Sept. 26 last year.  Kettering will award Mr. Wood an honorary doctor of Humane Letters.  Read his bio (http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2882) and more about the “Crowning event” that brought a king to Kettering’s campus (http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2805). 

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SPEAKER: 1

Tyler Finnegan of Elyria, Ohio, is the undergraduate student speaker and will offer comments on “Resilience and Revolution” to his graduating class.  He will receive a bachelor’s degree in Management.  His co-op was at Delphi Corporation.  He is a 2005 graduate of Elyria Catholic High School in Ohio.     

A student leader and outspoken advocate for cooperative education, he has often represented Kettering in the media, including being interviewed by the New York Times for a national news story on the University.  At Kettering, Finnegan has been involved in Robot Leadership Honor Society, he was president of the Professional Leadership Honor Society, director of KSG Academic Council, a team leader for Student Ambassadors, an RA in Thompson Hall, an active employee at the Recreation Center, a regular contributor to the SuccessZone incoming student portal as the StickMan, College DECA, and a volunteer in the Flint community as part of Junior Achievement and Michigan High School DECA.  He also has served on numerous committees including the Friends of the Library and Archives, Commencement Committee and the WAG-GPA Task Force.   

He has accepted a full-time job at Guardian Industries and will join its leadership development program in Geneva, N.Y. 

OUTSTANDING THESIS AWARD: 1
The Outstanding Thesis Award winner for Spring 2009 goes to Brian L. Dorney of Holly, Mich. He is an Applied Physics major, whose co-op was at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Ill.  His thesis is "Hydrogen Storage by Adsorption in Polymer Materials.” His faculty adviser is Dr. Yuri Sikorski of Physics.  Dorney will be among those feted during the Commencement Honors Breakfast on June 13. 

PRESIDENT'S MEDAL WINNERS: 4
Willy Joseph, Freeport, Bahamas
Kelly Lynn Okapal, Sylvania, Ohio
Scott Michael Skelton, Belleville, Mich.
Abdrahamane Traore, Bamako, Mali, Africa

SOBEY SCHOLARS: 6
Willy Joseph, Freeport, Bahamas
Kelly Lynn Okapal, Sylvania, Ohio
Jarrad Pouncil, Flint, Mich.
Tracy Schmitz, Shelby Township, Mich.
Abdrahamane Traore, Bamako, Mali, Africa
Angela Tremble, Detroit, Mich. 

ACADEMIC HONORS:
Summa Cum Laude (97.0-100): 9
Magna Cum Laude (94.5-96.9):  18
Cum Laude (92-94.4): 28 

TOTAL GRADUATES, BY DEGREE:
Bachelor's Degrees
Applied Mathematics: 1
Applied Physics: 1
Biochemistry: 1
Business Administration: 4
Chemistry: 2
Computer Engineering:11
Computer Science: 2
Electrical Engineering: 31
Industrial Engineering: 20
Management: 4
Mechanical Engineering: 115
Dual Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics: 1
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics: 2
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering: 2
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: 1
BACHELOR'S TOTAL = 198

Master's Degrees
Engineering: 23
Engineering Management: 6
Information Technology: 5
Manufacturing Management: 8
Manufacturing Operations: 38
MBA: 9
Operations Management: 6
Dual Engineering Management and MBA: 1
Dual Operations Management and Manufacturing Management: 1
MASTER'S TOTAL = 97

FOR MORE ON COMMENCEMENT, visit:
http://www.kettering.edu/registrar/commencement_information.jsp  

HOTELS/RESTAURANTS: Contact the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: 1-800-24-FLINT or (810) 232-2211.

CAN WE HELP? 1-800-955-4464, ext. 9585, or 810-762-9585. 

Written by Patricia Mroczek
810.762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu

A Senior Design Project turned into just what the doctor ordered for four Industrial Engineering (IE) majors in Dr. Matthew Sanders’ fall capstone class at Kettering University.

The four were asked to study and improve the efficiency of services to Rheumatic disease patients at the office of Dr. John Tower and Dr. Mahpara Syed, in Rochester Hills, Mich., associated with Beaumont Hospital.

Dr. Tower said he became aware of the capstone class through the IT Department at Beaumont Hospital. “Through my administrative position at William Beaumont Hospital-Troy as the Medical Director of Quality and Patient Safety, I have had significant exposure to the engineering profession working in the medical field in a number of areas,” said Tower.  “I was quite confident at the onset of the project that we would learn valuable information.”

“Our assignment was to look at streamlining processes and improve operations without sacrificing quality of patient care,” said John LaRose, an IE major from Birch Run, Mich.

Their goals were to increase patient value added time with the doctors; increase patient throughput by reducing delays and waiting time for patients; improve access and efficiency of clinical office operations.

To address the issue of increasing patient value added time, the group followed patient flow through the office, with times associated with every movement of the patient recorded, creating a time study. This gave the group a visual representation of when the physician was and was not adding value to the patient visit. The students considered waiting to be non-value added time, whether in the waiting room or in the examination room.

To increase patient throughput by reducing delays and waiting time for patients LaRose and his team, including Nick Latiano, of Niles, Ohio, Nick Maschino, of Davison, Mich., and Cidney McGee, of Detroit, utilized time study data to analyze how long the individual medical assistants and doctors spent with each patient in the exam room.

Tower said that the standard research methodology employed by the students was good.  “It was rather transparent to the office and non-interrupting,” he added. 

Through their research, the students found there was a scheduling bottleneck in the process caused by usage of four examination rooms. They recommended that instead of scheduling patients at certain times, the office should schedule patients to a specific exam room.

Their theory is that scheduling by exam room allows the exam room bottleneck to be optimized to see the most patients in a reduced amount of time. Moreover, it decreases the opportunity for a patient to be waiting in an exam room for the physician to finish with another patient.

“When we performed our time study analysis there were only two physicians in the department,” said LaRose, “now there are three. Our plan was designed to help ease the congestion when scheduling exam rooms, now I don’t know if there will be enough rooms to accommodate three doctors,” he said.

Analyzing the access and efficiency of clinical office operations, the students also determined the space allocated for office operations was not efficient. Recommendations were made to eliminate paper files in favor of electronic files opening up additional physical space, and categorically grouping operations such as phone calls, patient greeting and sign-in, scheduling, billing, and patient check-out for better division of labor.

The students also recommended rearranging the front desk area and a sign in the waiting room alerting patients to check-in procedures.

“The recommendations served to validate our hypothesis, or presumptions about office flow and opportunities for efficiency,” said Tower. “We have implemented some of the recommendations but not 100 percent.”

Tower said his office continues to work on ongoing adjustments in their schedule and office flow, calling it a “work in progress. Overall the experience was very positive, and I would recommend it to my colleagues,” he added. 

Comparing their experience to more traditional Industrial Engineering enterprises, the students found the medical industry could have higher rate of variability than manufacturing and that industrial methods and processes can be used to improve the medical industry. And finally, that it is much more interesting to time study a human being than a machine.

“We all came from an automotive background,” said LaRose, “yet we were able to use everything we learned to help a hospital achieve greater efficiencies. Who would have thought it possible?”

Written by Dawn Hibbard

810.762.9865

dhibbard@kettering.edu

Bexar County, Texas, sits at the crossroads of trade.  The U.S. national freeway system Xs at San Antonio, logistically connecting the community from the Pacific to the Atlantic and from Mexico to Canada. The Texas railway network is robust, which is also part of why one of every six jobs created in the U.S. last year was created in Texas.  Texas has been the #1 exporting state in the nation for seven consecutive years.

Bexar County (pronounced “bear”) is big.  It’s the size of a small U.S. state and it’s very old (founded by Spain in the 1600s).  Yet, the average age of Texans (33) is younger than the U.S. national average (36 years old).

Bexar County’s manufacturing and business sectors have economic momentum, but the region needs more engineers and expert technical talent – lots of them, in fact, said David Marquez, executive director of Bexar County's Economic Development Department.

Paraphrasing former Texas demographer, Dr. Steve Murdoch, Marquez said, “the Texas of today is the U.S. tomorrow. Bexar County has a strong tax base and Texas and Northern Mexico are growth areas,” he explained.  “We have active manufacturing here and 200 OEM Tier 1 supplies in a nascent automotive manufacturing corridor that includes those Mexican states that border Texas.

"This Texas-Mexico Automotive SuperCluster has final assembly facilities from GM, Toyota, Chrysler, BAE Systems, Freightliner, Peterbilt and more.  Texas added 153,700 jobs in December 2007 to 2008.  And the Texas economy has out performed the national economy since 2005.”

But, Marquez said, San Antonio employers report a need for talent in five critical areas:

• Mechanical Engineers,
• Industrial Engineers,
• Manufacturing Engineers,
• Management specialists and
• Electro Mechanical experts.

“It’s stable here, with a bright future,” Marquez added.  “We can offer strength amid the recession, but we need to stop poaching trained workers from each other.  We need a larger educated workforce who will consider Texas home.”

San Antonio’s needs and opportunities have been keeping Kettering’s Bob Nichols busy for months.  Nichols, who is Kettering’s director of external affairs, has been meeting with Marquez, Kyle Burns, president and CEO of the Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio, and others to see how the region’s workforce needs can align with what Kettering has to offer.

Nichols started in Texas with focus group research conducted by Galloway Research Service of San Antonio.  “Pat Galloway completed a market research study among San Antonio’s key business and industry executives and found some very positive conclusions, worthy of further study,” Nichols explained.  Briefly:

• San Antonio has developed a large manufacturing base and has a notable number of large employers that are global leaders in their respective industries.
• The concentration of military bases in San Antonio has historically attracted various government contractors, with needs for a technically trained workforce in science, engineering and managerial positions. 
• The need for R &D in medical and manufacturing sectors has been growing and diversifying at a rapid pace in the region.  The need for highly educated science, technical and engineering personnel far exceeds the community’s ability to supply them locally.

Employers in the research study said that the need for technically educated personnel will continue to grow over the next five to 10 years, and that an annual growth rate of 300 to 400 new jobs was conservative, Nichols reported.  Job growth in “hot sectors,” such as bio-technology and aerospace, will be much more rapid.  “Employers in our research study were unanimous in stating that they would prefer to recruit local personnel in the undergraduate fields they need,” Nichols added.

That’s why on March 16 the presidents of San Antonio College and Kettering, along with the vice chancellor of the Alamo Community Colleges in Texas, signed a fully articulated academic agreement to develop and build a stronger pool of technical talent for the San Antonio region
 
San Antonio College President Robert E. Zeigler joined Kettering President Stanley R. Liberty and Alamo Community Colleges Vice Chancellor for Economic & Workforce Development Federico Zaragoza in forming a unique academic partnership. 

The alliance is intended to ensure a smooth transition for San Antonio students, who will begin their college studies and co-op experiences locally and then transfer into the country’s most advanced professional co-operative education program.  Students will spend their first two years at San Antonio College and their final 2 ½ years in Kettering’s unique baccalaureate program.

"This partnership creates a collaborative model for a new concept in engineering education," said Zeigler.  "The joint efforts of community colleges and four-year institutions will produce adaptable 'industry-ready' engineers for the unpredictable 21st century economy."

Liberty said, "An alliance between San Antonio College and Kettering University will provide a unique educational opportunity for local students and an opportunity for San Antonio businesses to establish an early connection with local talent.  Kettering is very pleased to join with San Antonio College in this endeavor and looks forward to helping the region address its future technical workforce needs."

At Kettering, students will spend three months in academic classrooms and then return to Texas for three months to work in professional co-op jobs at a variety of San Antonio businesses.  Students are paid during their co-op terms.  At the end of the three months, students will return to Michigan to begin the three-month academic cycle again.

As the largest single-campus community college in Texas with more than 21,000 students, San Antonio College (SAC) is approved and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, SAC is also one of the Alamo Community Colleges. 

The 2005 book "Enhancing the Community College Pathway to Engineering Careers" from the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council considers San Antonio College an exemplary institution and recognizes the college's engineering program.  In fact, with direction from Coordinator Dan G. Dimitriu, Ph.D., PE, SAC's Engineering program has more than doubled its enrollments in the last eight years from 230 students in fall 1999 to 489 students in fall 2007.  

Dimitriu also coordinates a summer bridge program for high school students interested in Engineering, and partners with industry and other universities to help students continue their education and ultimately embark on Engineering careers.  
 
Kettering University, founded in 1919, has long been a leader in the preparation of technical and managerial leaders for industry and society and is a national leader in professional co-operative education.  It is the only co-op school in the country that sends its entire student body into professional co-op jobs.  Income from the co-op term is a significant resource to help pay college expenses.  

For more on San Antonio College, visit www.accd.edu/sac/

Written by Patricia Mroczek

810.762.9533

pmroczek@kettering.edu

“Enhancing our online offering capacity is a great value moving forward," said Dr. Michael Harris, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. "This new office has already added inspiration and support for our faculty members. I am appreciative of everyone involved in this collaborative effort.  It will help us strengthen our ability to better prepare Kettering students for the knowledge economy and the jobs of tomorrow.” 

Rodgerson and Wicks have been working with about 10 faculty members to develop a mixture of hybrid and online courses.  One group, led by Dr. Terri Lynch-Caris, associate professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, created a fully online version of IME-540, Environmentally Conscious Design and Manufacturing, which was offered to students during winter term.  

Representatives of diverse academic disciplines got the project rolling.  Dr. Jackie El-Sayed and Dr. Craig Hoff, from Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Jennifer Aurandt from Chemistry, and Dr. Andy Borchers from Business worked together to develop course content.  “Working with Tracey and Donna made the online delivery of our materials better than if we had created it ourselves,” Lynch-Caris explained, “plus having the technical expertise helped to ease my anxiety about creating such a unique course using the newest version of Blackboard.  We ended up believing that this interaction made the course better than if it had been developed singularly,” Lynch-Caris added. 

Aurandt concurs.  “Teaching with the hands-on, student-centered pedagogy has made taking the bricks and mortar class on-line a natural transition,” she noted. 

Kyle McLeod, a senior Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace major from Linden, Mich., thinks students will appreciate the flexibility associated with online courses.  “Personally, I’m for expanding Kettering's online curriculum because it provides more freedom in course selection.  Offering a greater number of online courses will provide students more academic flexibility. 

“Students won’t have to miss out on an elective they want, because it conflicts with a required course they need,” McLeod continued.  “Any initiative that strives to provide students more opportunities to take a course they desire should be seriously considered, although I believe that in order to maintain Kettering's reputation for academic excellence, a number of courses need to remain in the classroom." 

And online classrooms are a great environment if designed and conducted properly, said Kaleen Caneveri, a senior Mechanical Engineering/Bioengineering major from Woodland, Calif.  “They can be great options for students who are on-the-go with busy schedules,” she said.  “I would absolutely love to take more online classes through Kettering, especially over work term.  It would create a more flexible schedule for me.  An option might be to have online lectures and face-to-face labs,” she added. 

The new online resource office is located on the fourth floor of Kettering’s Academic Building. 

Written by Pat Mroczek
810) 762-9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu

Anyone over 30 who has watched kids tumble around the living room floor knows that children are more flexible than adults. However, until recently, measurements for car safety restraints, physical therapy and various consumer products were based on the cervical spine range of motion reference values for adults.

Subsequently, there is a large body of data related to adult flexibility and range of motion, but virtually none for children 10 and under. Enter Dr. Janet Brelin-Fornari and Dr. Terri Lynch-Caris, of Kettering University. They, in collaboration with Dr. Karl D. Majeske, of Oakland University, and Dr. Shrishail Nashi, of Michigan State University’s College of Medicine, have established reference values for cervical spine range of motion in pre-pubescent children.

The study is a collaboration between Kettering University Mechanical and Industrial Engineering departments and McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint.

What this means is that products ranging from seat belts to helmets to services like rehabilitative physical therapy for children will be more appropriate for their body’s flexibility, based on the findings of their field research.

“If we use the values given by the American Medical Association (AMA) we know that they do not correctly reflect children’s range of motion,” said Lynch-Caris, associate professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. Range of Motion (ROM) of the human head involves flexion, extension, lateral bending (side to side) and axial rotation (turning right and left).

“Most previous research takes adult measurements and extrapolates them backward to children’s sizes, assuming that they will be representative of children’s range of motion. There is a small data set of actual data gathered on children,” Lynch-Caris added.

“We saw a larger range in the children we tested versus the average given in the AMA guidelines,” said Brelin-Fornari, “and we actually saw a lot of variability within the child population we worked with.” AMA guidelines don’t include variability, even for adult populations, according to Brelin-Fornari, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and Crash Safety Center director.

“Range of motion in children is different than that of adults,” said Lynch-Caris, “it is no surprise our data proved what people already knew. That children are more flexible,” added Brelin-Fornari.

The Kettering study, begun in 2005, utilized the cervical range of motion device, referenced with respect to the Frankfort Plane, to measure the active cervical spine range of motion in all three cardinal planes of the human body, for 106 subjects whose ages ranged from 8 to 10 years. The active range of motion for flexion, extension, lateral extension, and rotation was calculated. Children measured for the study were third and fourth grade students at Hill Elementary in Davison, Mich., and Tomek East Elementary in Fenton, Mich.

Testing consisted of several non-invasive measurements using a Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device to evaluate the flexion, extension, lateral extension, and rotation of the cervical spine of each subject. Subjects were also measured for standing height, seated height, shoulder height, head and neck circumference, and weight.

The CROM device is a goniometric device (to measure angles) using fluid-damped inclinometers (to show relationship to the horizontal plane) and magnets for fast, accurate readings without much oscillation. Made of a lightweight frame, it attaches to a subject's head with Velcro straps. Three inclinometers measure rotation about the different planes of cervical motion and data is recorded by investigators.

The observed data significantly differed from the published AMA guidelines for adults, but fell within the range of the reference value for 10 year olds.

“Previously there was only one value for kids at age 11 that had been included in a study,” said Lynch-Caris, “that value fell within the range of our study. With this study  we were able to establish reference values that never existed before. Now we have real data that can be used to develop real-life models like crash dummies,” she said.

Motivation for the Kettering-based study was directly related to testing done in the Crash Safety Center on child vehicle safety restraints (child car seats). Currently, one of the issues facing researchers is the six year old crash test dummy whose neck does not dynamically represent a six year old living child. Data from the study will help support development of a more accurate six year old dummy,” said Brelin-Fornari.

The study data will also help in the development of toy-related products such as bike helmets, chiropractors might be able to use the data for patients, as well as physical therapists working with children after injury or surgery. “This data will help medical professionals know when the therapy has helped the child reach a “normal” range of motion for a child that age,” said Brelin-Fornari.

“The most important thing is that this is a starting ground, the numbers have never been out there before and now we have them and can use them,” Brelin-Fornari concluded.

The study has been published in the August 2008 edition of the Journal of Biomechanics published by Elsevier, www.elsevier.com.

For more information about the study, contact Dr, Janet Brelin-Fornari at jfornari@kettering.edu or Dr. Terri Lynch-Caris at tlynch@kettering.edu.

Written by Dawn Hibbard

810.762.9865

dhibbard@kettering.edu

Olympic athletes are not stupid. Obsessed with their craft, perhaps. Addicted to training, of course. But oblivious to the environment in which they are to perform, no.

Given the lack of scientific evidence regarding pollution and its impact on athletes, one sniff of the Beijing air suggested to many of these well-trained contenders all they needed to know about the environment: dangerous. Heck, in January of this year—more than seven months before the games—researchers from the Human Performance Laboratory at Marywood University in Scranton, Penn., studied the impact of athletic performance in low and high pollution scenarios, which prompted one of the study’s key authors, Kenneth Rundell, to conclude, “It might be best to show up the minute you’re going to start running.”

And what about paper and industrial waste in such a vast, over-populated country? Although specific data is currently unavailable, the years preceding these games saw Beijing work incredibly hard to create additional recycling plants to manage paper and industrial waste. For example, in 2006, the city composted 270,000 tons of waste and recycled more than 1.43 million tons in new facilities. These figures represent a 30.6 percent increase in resource re-utilization, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP, “Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: An Environmental Review,” http://unep.org)

Unfortunately, Beijing skies still appear bleary and product waste continues to accumulate, which causes many Olympic viewers to ask a rhetorical question: is it possible to completely eliminate waste? 

The short answer is no. Elimination requires a complete end to the use of current products, which is difficult, if not impossible, for industrialized nations to achieve. But for Kettering University faculty and students involved in the Kettering Industrial Ecology Team (KIET), there is a chance to limit the future impact of common products in the waste stream through careful upfront design practices.  

KIET is a multidisciplinary group of researchers and industry professionals who study environmental issues in product design and manufacturing. Dr. Terri Lynch-Caris, an associate professor of Industrial Engineering, serves as the principal investigator for the group. In 2005, KIET won a three-year, $100,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSAF, grant no. 0511322) to establish an organization and course that educates students about environmental awareness during the product development process.

The course—IME-540: Environmentally Conscious Design and Manufacturing—emulates Ford Motor Company’s Partnership for Advanced Studies (PAS) Program titled “Closing the Environmental Loop”—assists students in learning how industry is changing in response to increased environmental problems. This effort has spurred an increasing amount of interest among students and faculty about how to better engineer products that consider the environment, and has generated movements to recycle on campus.

Caris explained that the unique lesson students learn in IME-540 is that products can undergo redesign to “reduce their overall impact on the environment.” In Beijing, this idea is best represented by the use of plastic-wood composite materials from recycled wood and plastic waste for such things as park benches, building facades and window shutters in the Olympic village. Most importantly, this composite material is a good substitute for wood and reduces timber usage, according to the UNEP.

To further stress the needs of green engineering in product development, faculty members of KIET have presented papers at many conferences on their work since 2005, the most recent of which took place June 22 at the American Society for Engineering Education in Pittsburgh. More than 15 scholars and educators attended the workshop and received a CD of course materials to help in developing similar programs at other institutions. This CD is part of KIET’s attempt to disseminate the group’s work to a larger audience.

As part of the workshop, KIET member Dr. Craig Hoff, professor of Mechanical Engineering, used unique pedagogy to conduct a lifecycle analysis of a flashlight. His analysis focused on the raw materials used to make the flashlight, methods employed to extract the raw materials, the stages of manufacturing required to complete the flashlight assembly and the end of life disposition of the item. What they found is that the battery presents the most challenging environmental concern.

According to Caris, students enjoyed this workshop based on the learning assessment and formative review conducted after it was over. Many attendees were also impressed by the workshop and CD course materials, and intend to use some of these materials in their classes at other universities.

For the past two summers, KIET also engaged in Kettering’s Lives Improve Through Engineering (LITE) program, which brings high school-aged girls to campus during the summer for a two-week college experience of classes, laboratory experiments and other activities. This year, KIET provided a condensed program of the six modules used in IME 540 and allowed students to choose a common product for redesign. The goal was to demonstrate that engineering design decisions play a role in a sustainable society.

In 2008, the group achieved a number of other successes. For example, the student-run Green Engineering Organization (GEO)—an organization developed out of this grant and overseen by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jennifer Aurandt—helps increase student participation and awareness in green issues. Recently, the group expanded its recycling program on campus by increasing the number of student and faculty volunteers, and by providing more recycling bins in classes.

Currently, all faculty office suites and academic departments may choose to participate in this initiative. “The students work continuously on ways to help make campus and the surrounding area more environmentally friendly through activities and guest speakers,” Caris said, adding that GEO members tend to be the leaders from across campus.

GEO also won a 2008 grant from Coca-Cola and the National Recycling Coalition to institute a pop can bin recycling program. This experience also spurred Aurandt’s interest in green chemistry and she, along with Dr. Rabago-Smith of Kettering’s Chemistry Dept., received a grant from the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ, http://www.michigan.gov/deq) to develop and teach Industrial Green Organic Chemistry this coming winter and spring 2009.

Kettering University Provost Michael Harris emphasized that the effort put forth by KIET and GEO is “a valuable lesson on how to mobilize a multidisciplinary approach, a theoretical foundation and the needs of industry to bring about an innovative approach that addresses environmental sustainability concerns and industrial productivity, effectiveness and efficiency.” 

As the final year of funding ends in September, KIET members plan on submitting another proposal to the NSF for funding that would cover 2009-2012. The group also expects to offer IME 540 online, which would increase the number of students who can take the course. In August, Caris, along with fellow KIET member Jennifer Aurandt, presented results of the three-year effort to the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Attendees commented that the Kettering group was able to achieve significant results in a short amount of time and under a tight budget. Furthermore, the poster session titled “Developing a Course in Environmentally Conscious Design and Manufacturing (http://green.kettering.edu)” earned applause and prompted opportunities to collaborate with other universities.

But perhaps the most noteworthy attribute of this project to Caris is the opportunity to collaborate with faculty from many different disciplines on a project that ultimately could help scores of future engineers strongly consider the impact of their engineering work on the environment.

“This collaboration really shows that it takes a multi-discipline approach to convey the importance of environmentally conscious design. Environmental solutions do not exist within just one department; the solutions come from the collaboration of ideas between different disciplines,” she said.   

To learn more about KIET, contact Dr. Terri Lynch-Caris at (810) 762-9859, by email at tlynch@kettering.edu or visit http://green.kettering.edu/.

Written by Gary J. Erwin

810.762.9538

gerwin@kettering.edu

Kettering University honored seven faculty members for outstanding teaching, research and citizenship during the institution’s University Conference for employees in September. Provost Dr. Michael Harris congratulated the recipients and thanked members of the committee that made the recommendations to him. He indicated this is the first time that faculty recognitions have been based on recommendations submitted by a faculty committee. “Recognizing faculty for outstanding teaching, research and citizenship is a reflection of the entire faculty's commitment to academic excellence," said Harris.

The seven honorees were:

Dr. Ilya Kudish, professor of Mathematics, who received the 2008 Rodes Professorship, for his project entitled, “Design of stable numerical methods for elastohydrodynamic lubrication.”  The Rodes Professorship honors Kettering faculty for breadth and depth of knowledge, commitment to diligence in terms of academic research, and leadership in developing and applying an area of knowledge, among other attributes.

The award includes a grant of $5,000 to provide the recipient with opportunity for continued professional development and a chance to disseminate the results of their research to Kettering students, alumni, University clubs, industrial groups and other colleges and universities.

Dr. Petros Gheresus, professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, who received the 2008 Faculty Distinguished Citizenship Award. This award is conferred upon a faculty member who serves the University through sustained engagement in activities such as leadership in departmental or university committees, participation in activities that contribute to the strategic mission of the university, activities that contribute to the recruitment, retention, and satisfaction of Kettering students, and performance in leadership positions in local, regional, state, national, and/or international professional organizations.

Three faculty won the 2008 Outstanding Teaching Awards:

Dr. Yuri Sikorski, assistant professor of Physics;

Dr. Stacy Seeley, interim head of Chemistry/Biochemistry and Pre-Med coordinator; and

Dr. Bassem Ramadan, professor of Mechanical Engineering.

The Outstanding Teaching Award honors faculty who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and support for students.

Dr. Peter Stanchev, professor of Computer Science, received the 2008 Outstanding Researcher Award for his substantial contributions to the area of medical imaging and multimedia systems recognized throughout the world.

Dr. Gianfranco DiGuiseppe, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, received the 2008 Outstanding New Researcher Award for his work in fuel cell research.

Dr. Ilya Kudish was also honored with the 2008 Distinguished Researcher Award for his contributions to the science of tribology and contact mechanics that are recognized worldwide.

Here’s an overview of the 2009 rankings:

PROGRAMS TO LOOK FOR – INTERNSHIPS/CO-OP
Kettering is again among the “schools with outstanding examples of academic programs that are commonly linked to student success,” according to the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Only 14 institutions received this national distinction for 2009.  The 14 institutions are:
Alverno College (WI)
Berea College (KY)
Drexel University (PA)
Elon University (NC)
Georgia Institute of Technology
Kettering University (MI)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
New York University
Northeastern University (MA)
Portland State University (OR)
Purdue University – West Lafayette (IN)
Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY)
University of Cincinnati (OH)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA)

Other rankings in the 2009 “America’s Best Colleges” guide:

Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering
Kettering is in the Top Five in the United States:
1. Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo
2. Kettering University
3. Bradley University (IL)
3. Rose-Hulman (IN)
3. San Jose State University (CA)

Mechanical Engineering
Kettering is in the Top Five in the United States:
1. Rose-Hulman (IN)
2. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
3. Cooper Union (NY)
4. Harvey Mudd (CA)
5. Kettering University

Overall ranking – Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s)
Kettering is the Top Twenty in the United States:
1. Rose-Hulman (IN)
2. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
3. Cooper Union (NY)
4. Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo
5. United States Military Academy (NY)
6. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (MA)
6. U.S. Naval Academy (MD)
8. Bucknell University (PA)
8. U.S. Air Force Academy (CO)
10. Villanova University (PA)
11. Milwaukee School of Engineering (WI)
12. Calif. State Poly University – Pomona
12. Embry Riddle Aeronautical U (FL)
12. Rowan University (NJ)
12. San Jose State University (CA)
12. Swarthmore College (PA)
17. Kettering University
17. Lafayette College (PA)
17. Smith College (MA)
17. Union College (NY)2
21. Baylor University (TX)
21. Gonzaga University (WA)
21. Santa Clara University (CA)
21. U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CT)
21. University of San Diego (CA)
21. Virginia Military Institute (VA)

Dr. Michael Harris, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said Kettering’s excellence in preparing future leaders for a global society is being enhanced by several new academic majors and minors.  “Our new degree programs in Chemical Engineering and the new Pre-Med Course of Study, plus our new specialty program in Aerospace, will deepen the depth and breadth of our offerings in the sciences,” he explained.  “Our students know how to apply their education to innovate and design solutions for real-world problems.”

Harris noted that being one of the best undergraduate engineering programs in the country does have its challenges.  “When you are a leader, you always have to work hard to sustain your position and be current and relevant. Kettering’s reputation in industry and business is superb, and we will continue to strengthen our standing among our educational peers in the coming year.  While peer review is valuable,” he added, “Kettering is tops in its core competencies, as represented by the number of alumni who are captains of business and industry.”

METHODOLOGY
For more information on how U.S. News calculates the rankings, visit: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2008/08/21/how-we-calculate-the-rankings.html 

To view all the rankings, visit: usnews.com. Highlights of the college rankings will be published in the Sept. 1 issue of U.S. News & World Report, available for newsstand purchase on Monday, Aug. 25.  The 2009 "America's Best Colleges" guidebook will be available on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Written by Patricia Mroczek
810. 762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu