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Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering. Student-Faculty Conference California institute of technology February 14, 2013. Committee Members. Sabrina Sun Senior, Biomolecular Track Reuben Britto Senior, Materials Track Kevin Gu Senior, Process Track Alex Wang Senior, Biomolecular Track Connor Coley

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Chemical Engineering

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  1. Chemical Engineering Student-Faculty Conference California institute of technology February 14, 2013

  2. Committee Members • Sabrina Sun Senior, Biomolecular Track • Reuben Britto Senior, Materials Track • Kevin Gu Senior, Process Track • Alex Wang Senior, BiomolecularTrack • Connor Coley Junior, Materials Track • Richard Flagan Irma and Ross McCollum-William H. Corcoran Professor; Executive Officer • John Seinfeld Louis E. Nohl Professor • Michael Vicic Lecturer • Zhen-Gang Wang Professor

  3. Topics of Discussion • ChemE curriculum • Incorporation of new core • Numerical methods course • Career plans • Interest in industry • Life after Caltech • Miscellaneous issues • TA-to-student ratio • Senior thesis • Student-faculty interaction

  4. ChemE Curriculum Incorporation of new core Numerical methods course

  5. New Core Requirements and Course Changes • New core • Ma1abc (27) • Ph1abc (27) • Ch1ab (15) • Bi1, Bi1x, or Bi8 (9) • Menu (9) • Ch3a and other intro lab (12) • Scientific writing (3) • Hum/SS (108) • PE (9) • Changes to Ph2 series • Ph2a: Waves • Ph2b: Quantum • Ph2c: Stat mech / thermo

  6. New Core Requirements (Cont.) • Majority rated Ma2 and Ph2 as neutral or above in importance to the option • Ma2/Ph2 are prerequisites for required courses • Ma2 for ACM95 • Ma2/Ph2 for Ch21a

  7. Incorporation of New Core • Proposal: • Keep Ph2a • Preparation for Ch21a • Replace Ph2b with Ch21a • Quantum taught by Prof. Okumura • Replace Ph2c with Ch21c • Stat mech / thermo taught by Prof. Miller • Keep Ma2a • Preparation for ACM95 • Replace Ma2b with ChE statistical analysis course • Programming focus

  8. ChE Numerical Methods Course

  9. Numerical Methods Course (Cont.) • Issue: • Strong interest in computation class tailored to chemical engineers • Action: • Implement numerical methods class as option requirement • 9 unit course taught by Professor Flagan • Replaces Ma2b • Focuses on MATLAB and Mathematica • Possibly incorporate probability/statistics

  10. Sample Schedule

  11. Career Plans Interest in industry Life after caltech

  12. Familiarity with Industry • Students are not well informed about opportunities in industry

  13. Experience in Industry • Some have experience working in industry

  14. Interest in Industry • Despite overwhelming interest…

  15. Life After Caltech • Most students plan to go to graduate school

  16. Interest in Industrial Contacts • Strong interest in access to industry contacts

  17. AIChE Student-to-Industry Mentoring Program • Mixed opinions about AIChE’s mentoring program

  18. Careers in Industry • Issues: • Lack of familiarity with opportunities in industry • Very few chemical engineering companies at career fair • Lack of accessibility to industry contact information

  19. Careers in Industry (Cont.) • Actions: • Continue asking the career center to invite more chemical engineering companies • Develop online database of contact information • Refer students to Dr. Vicicfor advice/contacts • Work with AIChE to improve industry mentoring program

  20. Miscellaneous Issues Ta-to-student ratio Senior thesis Student-faculty interaction

  21. TA-to-Student Ratio • Objectives of improving ratio: • Graduate: shorter turnover period for grading • Undergraduate: more individual help during office hours

  22. TA-to-Student Ratio (Cont.) • Issue: • Strong interest in more TAs, especially graduate TAs • Action: • Survey former TAs of ChE courses • Graduate: • Hours spent weekly? • Undergraduate: • Comfort with grading sets?

  23. Senior Thesis • Issue: • Students do not know what is expected or how they will be evaluated for senior thesis • Action: • Post detailed instructions on CCE website • Prof. Flagan will hold organizational meeting at beginning of term to go over guidelines

  24. Student-Faculty Lunches I would be interested in student-faculty lunches with ChE professors How often would you like to have these lunches?

  25. Student-Faculty Lunches (Cont.) • Issue: • Student faculty lunches are desired for increased interaction between undergraduates and professors • Action: • Informal monthly lunches with faculty who regularly go to Chandler • Arrange on ad hoc basis for a group of 4-5 ChemE undergrads • Requires minimal effort to set up • Not ideal for students interested in particular faculty member

  26. Discussion Time! • Incorporation of new core • Numerical methods course • Careers in industry • TA-to-student ratio • Senior thesis • Student-faculty lunches • Other questions/concerns?

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