The Electrical Engineering Program at Suffolk University

1. The Electrical Engineering Program at Suffolk University

2. America needs engineers • “If we’re not training engineers to make sure that they are equipped here in this country, then companies won’t come here. Those investments are what’s going to help to make sure that we continue to lead this world economy.” President Obama, debate with Mitt Romney, 10/17/12 • “A chronic shortage of engineering students threatens America’s role as the world’s leading innovator and continues to impede our nation’s fragile economic recovery….American universities are simply not producing enough engineers. A McKinsey Global Institute survey released in June found that nearly two-thirds of U.S. employers reported that engineering and science-related jobs were the hardest jobs to fill.” Paul Otellini, chief executive of Intel Corp; member of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness

3. ABET Accredited Program* • ABET-Accreditation means • International recognition of its quality • “Best practices" in education • Students have access to enhanced opportunities in employment; licensure, registration and certification; graduate education and global mobility • Graduates capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public (http://abet.org/why-accreditation-matters/) * Since 2006

4. Student Centered Education in EE Program • Faculty meet about eight times during each semester to discuss students and problems that come up so that these can be addressed • Faculty participate in early alert program to help struggling students in the middle of the semester • At the end of each semester, the faculty review each student’s performance and letters to students are sent—either congratulatory on high achievement or warnings that advise students to take reduced loads or retake certain classes

5. EE program is successful with students with less strong math skills • Most engineering programs across the US require a minimum of 550 on the math SAT • The EE program at Suffolk is typically successful with students whose math SAT scores are a minimum of 470. How? • Small class sizes • Study groups with every EE course • Good advising on what courses to take • Having students repeat courses • Offering remedial courses • Nurturing faculty

6. Summer 2012 email from an alumna (Math SAT score of 470 and a HS GPA of 2.7)) • I work as a Quality Engineer at SensitechInc in Beverly, MA and all this credit goes to SU and its Engineering dept. My education at Suffolk helped me get to this point in my life. I really appreciate all the encouragement and support I got from all my professors at Suffolk….

7. Another summer 2012 email from an alumnus(an honor student) I have just finished my MEng Degree at Cornell few weeks ago and I am currently down in Houston, TX. I am starting my work assignment as a REMS Engineer at Schlumberger Limited - the top oilfield services company in the world. I am very pleased to say that I had a wonderful one-year experience at Cornell and I would say that my education from Suffolk University was a great plus for that. My experience in analog circuitry was highly valuable. Believe it or not Cornell undergraduate students have a very minimal exposure to lab work the way we do…

8. Students’ comments from Spring 2012 program survey about what they like about the EE program • I like the teacher always available for student questions. • Personal and close knit community, professors seem approachable and treat you as an individual. • It is small and close knit. • Small class size, availability of professors. • The teachers are great, they really care if you do well; the class size is really nice because your teachers really get to know you; we cover a lot of material 2009 Alumni Survey Results for level of academic support • 70% of alumni respondents gave the EE program a 5 (highest) • 30% gave it a 4 (second highest)

9. Student Centered Education • Personal emails from ABET team after their 2010 visit: • It is obvious that you are putting the well-being and the interest of the student at the top of your priorities. You are doing an excellent job at that-an EE chairman at a well-known HBCU.                              • You and your faculty and staff colleagues are clearly committed to your students and dedicated to providing them the very best program possible- a dean emeritus at a large engineering school. • …it's obvious that you have built a department of competent, team-oriented, enthusiastic, caring people: a senior engineer at a large defense company.

10. Partnerships with the power industry • EE program partners with the following power engineering companies which provide internships and jobs to graduates as well as other support: • Phoenix Electric Corp. • Three C Corp • Electroswitch Corp • Omicron

11. IEEE Power and Energy Society • Partner to encourage students to go into power engineering • In October 2012, awarded two students scholarships which come with internships • Power industry has huge need for electrical engineers since more than 60% of its workforce will be retiring in the next decade Center for Energy Work Force Development

12. Companies of other members of Industrial Advisory Board • MIT Lincoln Laboratory • Draper Laboratory • I Robot • AMD Corp • Bose Corp • Canon Design • BBN (Raytheon)

13. New Partnership • The American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts: AMCE/MA, located in Beacon Hill • AMCE/MA is in desperate need of electrical engineers to specialize in designing electrical systems for buildings • Has scholarship opportunities for students

14. Graduate of 2011