University of South Alabama Alabama Epsilon

74 Pages·2014·3.76 MB·English

University of South Alabama
Alabama Epsilon

2013-2014
Exemplary Character
Academic Excellence
Since 1990
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 150 Jaguar Drive SH 2114
OFFICE OF THE DEAN MOBILE, ALABAMA 36688-0002
TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

June 25, 2014

Tau Beta Pi Awards Committee
C/o Mr. Curt Gomulinski
PO Box 2697
Knoxville, TN 37901

Dear Award Committee Members:

I am writing to support the selection of the Alabama Epsilon chapter of Tau Beta Pi for a chapter
award. We are extremely proud of our TBP chapter and its record of outstanding service and
achievements. The South Alabama TBP chapter has a significant impact on the College, the
University, the Profession, and the Community. I continue to be very impressed that the TPB
leadership has been able to get nearly all of the eligible students to join and, more importantly,
get the majority to be active in university and community service.

As Dean of Engineering, I can speak directly to the impact of their activities on the College and
University. When recruiting students I always talk about Tau Beta Pi members as a resource for
freshman and sophomores. Many of the members serve as “Supplemental Instructors” for lower
division engineering courses, holding weekly sessions to assist students to be successful, or as
Peer Leaders for the freshman engineering seminar. There is no doubt in my mind that these
programs really assist our at-risk students and have a positive effect on retention in the College
of Engineering. TBP also sponsors an excellent seminar program raising awareness of graduate
studies and helping our better students prepare for graduate school.

The college of engineering is actively engaged in improving STEM education in our K-12
schools. Tau Bates have mentored local students in a variety of outreach activities: Best
Robotics, MathCounts, and the Mobile Regional Science and Engineering Fair. This year, at my
request, a member was hired by the Mobile Area Education Foundation to work with the
Engaging Youth through Engineering Program. This student is responsible for implementing
system-wide education modules motivating middle school students in STEM subjects.

The Awards and Recognition Luncheon is a highlight of our academic year at the University of
South Alabama. It attracts students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters of the College and
provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding students, faculty, and the companies that
support our students. The TBP members serve a very special role by serving as hosts for the
incoming freshman students and their parents. They provide tours of the engineering facilities
before the luncheon and sit with the new students at the luncheon, making them feel welcome
and serving as great role models.
An excellent example of the impact that TBP has on our college is their calls to highly qualified
high school students who have been awarded scholarships, but have not accepted them at the
time that we host the awards luncheon mentioned in the previous paragraph. Since TBP
members called these students, they clearly have an important influence in encouraging excellent
students to enroll in engineering at USA.

The Chapter has successfully used scholarship funds we receive as a result of Chapter Project
Awards to recognize the outstanding sophomore. The Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Sophomore is a
highly coveted award.

We have at least a dozen other engineering student organizations, such as ASCE, IEEE, ASME,
AIChE, NSBE, SWE and others. While some of those are active in a social sense, participating
in meetings, tailgating at football games and similar events, it is TBP that sets the standard for
excellence in educational support, community involvement, and service to the college of
engineering. We simply would not be as successful as a college without our TBP chapter.

While I have concentrated on the great benefit of Alabama Epsilon to the college and university,
I should also note that these experiences have also had a huge benefit for the students. Recent
graduates who were active in TBP demonstrate excellent leadership, organizational and project
management skills that are directly attributable to their TBP experience.

The Alabama Epsilon Chapter is truly outstanding and one of the very best assets of the College
of Engineering at the University of South Alabama.

Sincerely,
John W. Steadman, PE, Ph.D.
Dean
AAllaabbaammaa EEppssiilloonn CChhaapptteerr PPrroojjeeccttss

College Projects Project Number
a. Welcome to the Jungle 1
b. Freshman Seminar Panels 2
c. Graduate School Seminar 3
d. Professional Development 4
e. Engineering Scholars Reception 5
f. Order of the Engineer 6
g. Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Review Books 7
h. High School Recruitment Calls 8
i. College of Engineering Awards Luncheon 9
j. Incoming Freshman Presentation and Tour 10

Pre-College Programs
a. BEST Robotics Workshops 11
b. Engaging Youth in Engineering Camps 12
c. Engaging Youth in Engineering Volunteers 13
d. Engaging Youth in Engineering Modules 14
e. Worlds of Opportunity 15
f. E-Week Engineering Open House 16
g. Math Counts 17
h. Science and Engineering Fair 18

Community Projects
a. Habitat for Humanity 19
b. Tailgating 20
c. SAE Car Show 21

Recognition
a. Professor of the Year Award 22
b. Outstanding Sophomore Scholarship 23
c. Initiate Letter from Dean 24
d. Initiation Publicity 25

Member Activities
a. Member T-shirts 26
b. National Convention 27
c. District Conference 28
d. Social Media 29
e. Bent Polishing 30
f. Graduation Stoles (Fall and Spring) 31

Member Participation Summary
The Tau Beta Pi Association Chapter: Alabama Epsilon
Project number: 1
Chapter Project Report
New Project Old Project

Project name: Welcome to the Jungle Date(s) of Project: 9/13/2013

Target Audience: Community/ University/ Profession/ Chapter/ Education:
Liberal Culture College Engineering Social Prof Development

Participants in project: Members: 6 Electees: 0

Hours spent on this project: Organizing: 10 Participating: 4

DESCRIPTION OR INDEX TO ATTACHED DESCRIPTION

I. General Description: Welcome to the Jungle was an engineering social event organized by
TBII and other societies in the College of Engineering to welcome students back to school.
Local restaurants provided food and each organization set up a welcome table and brought
a game for students to play.
TBΠ set up a Jenga game, made of life-sized 2x4 members. Rules for the game can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenga

II. Purpose & Relationship to Objectives of TBΠ: The purpose of Welcome to the Jungle
was to provide an opportunity for networking among students and faculty members.

III. Organization & Administration: In conjunction with another group? Yes No

IV. Cost & Personnel Requirements: $50

V. Special Problems: None

VI. Overall Evaluation/Results: More than 300 students showed up to enjoy food and games
at the Welcome to the Jungle event.
VII. Index of Exhibits: Photo, List of Participants
Welcome to the Jungle
List of Participants
Members
1. Racheal Cooley
2. Ahmad Omar
3. Blake Corey
4. Clarissa Hernandez
5. Jennifer Youngpeter
6. Timothy Battle
The Tau Beta Pi Association Chapter:Alabama Epsilon
Project number: 2
Chapter Project Report
New Project Old Project

Project name: Freshman Seminar (EG101) Peer Panel Date(s) of Project: Sept 10 – 16, 2013

Target Audience: Community/ University/ Profession/ Chapter/ Education:
Liberal Culture College Engineering Social Prof Development

Participants in project: See attached list Members: 8 Electees: 7 Others: 5

Hours spent on this project: Organizing: 3 Participating: 1

DESCRIPTION OR INDEX TO ATTACHED DESCRIPTION

I. General Description:
The EG101 class (Orientation to Engineering Study) introduces first-year engineering students
to resources on campus and issues they need to be aware of to succeed at the University of
South Alabama. In addition to identifying campus resources, EG101 informs students about
how to get internships, on the ethical codes of engineering, and the various components of teams
and design engineering. The Peer Panel, a lecture given by three to five upper-class engineering
students, presents insights and experiences of successful students to each one of the EG101
classes. The panelists present their own experiences and answer general questions posed by the
class.

II. Purpose & Relationship to Objectives of TBΠ:
The purpose of the peer panel is to increase the scholarship and involvement of first-year
engineering students by providing role models (panelists). First-year students get excited about
the possible directions of their undergraduate career and learn how to obtain their goals. The
panels also encourage participation in engineering societies for the advancement of the
individual and the college.

III. Organization & Administration: In conjunction with another group? Yes No
This project was done in conjunction with the EG101 class sections. Dr. Sally Steadman,
advisor, organized the panels.

IV. Cost & Personnel Requirements: Three to five panelists were required for each class period.
The total number of panelists requested was 35; however, some panelists sat on multiple panels
and the peer assistant for each section filled in where there were empty seats on a panel.

V. Special Problems:
None.

VI. Overall Evaluation/Results:
The EG101 Faculty feel that the Peer Panel is one of the most effective methods of making first-
year students aware of the problems, challenges, and exciting aspects of undergraduate
engineering studies, as well as providing them with valuable insights on work experience and
life outside the engineering curriculum. The panels ran smoothly and successfully.

VII. Index of Exhibits:
List of Participants
Example Panel Questions
Freshman Seminar (EG101) Peer Panel
List of Participants

Tau Beta Pi members Non Tau Beta Pi
1. Celene Aguila 1. Claudia Bjork
2. Timothy Battle 2. Greg Elmore
3. Racheal Cooley 3. Kendall Holloway
4. Nicholas Hoffman 4. Jason Mann
5. Jacqueline Parks 5. Auraya Smelser
6. Cody Poynor
7. Rachel Sweat
8. Jennifer Youngpeter

Tau Beta Pi initiates
1. Blake Corey
2. Jeff Mizell
3. Nilkumar Patel
4. Brandon Rittlemeyer
5. Johanna Scheinitz
6. Vince Sellers
7. John Stacey
Freshman Seminar
Example Panel Questions

• Academics
Did you have a declared major your freshman year?
o
Did you change your major?
o
Do you have a double major or a minor?
o
 How much extra time does it entail?
Have you changed your advisor?
o
Have you ever dropped/withdrawn from a class?
o
Do you have a study group?
o
How do you prepare for an exam?
o
If you are a senior, what is your senior design project?
o
When is your expected graduation date and how long have you been here?
o
What do you like most about the College of Engineering?
o

• Time Management
Do you have and use a planner? What type of planner do you use?
o
How many hours per week do you study?
o
Have you ever missed an exam/final?
o
Have you needed a University excuse?
o
Have you missed school because you were sick and how did you deal with that?
o

• College Life
Have you lived in the dorms? How was it?
o
How do you feel about off campus living?
o
Eating and exercise habits?
o
Do you belong to a student society?
o
What activities outside of school do you participate in?
o
What is there to do in Mobile?
o

• Miscellaneous
How are you funding your education (money management)? Do you have
o
scholarships? Do you work during school, if so, how many hours?
Have you had an internship or co-op
o
 How did you find out about the opportunity?
Did you experience any big surprises at college, anything you didn’t expect?
o
Do you have a resume?
o
Have you interviewed for a job?
o

• What one piece of advice do you have for freshmen?