Information for advocates of the IPFW School of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science

Vol.1,No.2
Spring 1997

ETCS Mission Statement

The Engineering And Technology Building lobby was transformed into an information center for National Engineers Week in February.

We used this celebratory and educational week to highlight the programs and the people that make up the School of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science. Events included a career day for high school students, a lunch program for continuing students, a meeting of the dean's Advocates Committee, an open house, and a fundraising phonathon.

During Career Day, 150 local high school students visited the IPFW campus. Mitchell L. Springer, Ph.D., director of corporate training and employee development for Hughes Defense Communication, was the keynote speaker. The students met with professors from each department to discuss career options.

The "Have Lunch with Us" program was a new event this year. The lobby of the Engineering and Technology Building was transformed into an information center with faculty and members of student professional organizations available to answer questions from continuing students. Student professional organizations sold pizza and popcorn. Representatives from Cooperative Education, Career Services, Multicultural Services, Center for Women and Returning Adults, and Transitional Studies set up displays and talked with students over the lunch hours.

At the Advocates Committee meeting, department chairs Harold L. Broberg (ECET), Bruce A. Franke (CAET), G. Allen Pugh (MFT), Muhammad H. Rashid (ENGR), and James L. Silver (CS) gave informative presentations on their department's faculty, students, and general news. Springer and Mike Fritsch of the dean's steering committee shared news from their group as well. Chancellor Michael A. Wartell and Vice Chancellor Fenwick W. English also addressed the group.

On Saturday, the School of ETCS co-hosted the annual bridge-building contest and model electric vehicle contest with the Northeastern Indiana Engineers Week Committee. We had a record number of entries for the bridge-building contest with 140 students entering 73 bridges in the contest. The new bridge tester worked perfectly (see the article below). There were 13 contestants in the model electric vehicle contest. We hosted an IPFW alumni reception and Jennifer R. Bosk, alumni director, welcomed guests with Fritsch, an EET graduate, and Bob Sanderson, a CAET graduate.

Faculty members staffed the phones for three nights of fundraising during the annual ETCS phonathon. The campaign ended with $8,960 in pledges and another $3,880 in matching-gift claims. Totals for the departments were as follows: CAET ($1,035 plus another $355 for interior design), CS ($1,520), ENGR ($1,340), ECET ($3,390), and MFT ($1,320). Last year pledge totals came in at $7,900 with $7,195 in collections.

Needless to say, we are all exhausted, yet very proud of the way it all turned out.

Industries Support MFT Senior Design Project

Matthew Kubik, AIA

Our very own Matthew Kubik, associate professor of architectural engineering technology, is the director of the IPFW Honors Program. "The Honors Program serves the special needs of IPFW's highest academic achievers, many of whom are ETCS students," Kubik said. The program features courses with limited enrollment and exceptional faculty. "I am working hard to expand the Honors Program to make it accessible to all IPFW students including those in health sciences, business, and of course engineering, technology, and computer science."

Service Learning

Students in Kubik's courses are often involved in real-life projects involving local community organizations. Last spring Kubik's students constructed an observation deck for McMillan Girl Scout Camp, and during the fall they measured and developed drawings of historic buildings for ARCH historic preservation organization. "Besides the satisfaction of doing something for the community, students really get a chance to see how the skills learned in the classroom are used in the real world," Kubik said.

Improving Neighborhoods

As president of the Fort Wayne chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Kubik organized the Broadway Corridor improvement project, Oct. 17-18. Fort Wayne architects, along with students from IPFW, Ball State University, and South Side High School met with community leaders to brainstorm ideas. The resulting drawings, sketches, and designs sparked great interest among business people who are planning several renovation projects along the street.

Involved in the Broadway Corridor development project were (from left) Mary Frank, IPFW architectural engineering technology major; Matthew Kubik, associate professor of architectural engineering technology; Tony Costello, Ball State University architecture department; and Dusting Warner, South Side High School student. Kubik is president of the Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

BCA Trade Show

On March 5 and 6, you might have seen Kubik at the 20th Building Contractors Association Trade Show at Memorial Coliseum Exposition Center. Kubik, who designed a booth for the School of ETCS, said that more than 1,000 people stopped at the display. "It was great to see ETCS alumni, friends, and high school students interested in careers in technology or engineering," he said.

Rome Study Tour

This year marks the sixth year for the ETCS-sponsored Rome Study Tour, a two- week study of the architecture, art, and urban design of Rome, Italy. Kubik, who created the Continuing Education course, leads the tour and is joined by faculty in fine arts from IPFW and landscape architecture from Purdue West Lafayette. "Participants range in age from 16 to 60," Kubik said. "ETCS alumni are always welcome." The 1997 trip is full, but reservations are being taken for the July 1998 trip. For more information, call Kubik at 219-481-6581.

Congratulations and thank you Professor Hwang!

Gift Corner

The School of ETCS has a home page on the World Wide Web. It is located at http://www.engr.ipfw.edu/. You'll see a listing of our degree programs, scholarship information, faculty information, and this newsletter. Check us out!

Do you need some research done or are you looking for more efficiency in the workplace? Our faculty are your greatest resource. They are available as consultants or researchers and are looking for school-year or summer opportunities.

Our students are in need of cooperative education experiences and internships. Real world experiences strengthen their skills and help to bridge the gap between school and work. For more information, call:

Scholarships: Mary Jane Casiano 219-481-6839

Industry Contact: Bob Barrett 219-481-6179

• training
• faculty expertise
• equipment donations

Cooperative Education: Diana Hergatt 219-481-6593

• internships
• co-op