 The Mechanical Engineering Advisory Committee held its first meeting of the year September 25 in the Faculty Center on campus. The purpose of this group, which is composed of distinguished professionals from both business and government, is to review the department and its academic programs and to provide advice to the chairman on future directions. Fifteen members of the committee attended the meeting.
Professor Ashley F. Emery, department chairman, opened the meeting by welcoming the guests. He discussed the goals of the Advisory Committee, then presented a review of the department and its academic programs. Professor Michael G. Jenkins, chairman of the department's Research and Resources Committee, followed with a discussion of items of concern to his committee and how they impact departmental operations. He was followed by Professor Jens E. Jorgensen, who described the Manufacturing Engineering Education Partnership (MEEP) and how this cooperative program is working to increase the hands-on experience students gain in design and manufacturing.
The committee then broke into small discussion groups to review the information they had been provided on the department and its environment and to identify items for further discussion.
Following lunch, the committee presented their ideas and made some valuable suggestions on future directions for the department. These ideas and suggestions will be presented to the faculty at upcoming faculty meetings where they will be discussed and action taken by appropriate committees.
The Advisory Committee will meet again in 1996 to review action on the input offered at this meeting and to offer additional suggestions and guidance to the department.
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