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A Prototype Research-PUI University Environmental Course to Expand Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

Aaron A. Jennings, Ph.D., P.E. Zuhdi Aljobeh, Ph.D., P.E. (aaj2@po.cwru.edu) (zuhdi.aljobeh@valpo.edu) Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering Case Western Reserve University Valparaiso University Cleveland, OH 44104-7201 Valparaiso, IN 46383

Abstract

Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is a research university in Cleveland, Ohio. Valparaiso University is a predominantly undergraduate institution (PUI) in Valparaiso, Indiana. These two universities are experimenting with a unique teaching/research partnership that represents a new model for how National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs can be designed. The program builds on the strengths of partner universities to expand the research opportunities for undergraduate students who might otherwise not be aware of these possibilities and extends research activities to predominantly undergraduate institutions. This manuscript describes the design of this program’s prototype Environmental Engineering course titled “Heavy Metal Contamination in the Urban Environment” (CE 490 B) that is being offered at Valparaiso University in the spring semester of 2004.

Introduction

The CWRU-Valparaiso teaching/research partnership is designed to experiment with a new model for involving undergraduate students in Civil Engineering research. The fundamental concept is to have faculty from CWRU and PUIs team-teach special topic research courses taken for academic credit at PUIs during the academic year. The goal of improving research exposure for PUI students was recently identified at an NSF workshop. Team-taught courses offered at PUIs that focus on the topics of ongoing NSF research projects at “research universities” appear to be excellent opportunities for accomplishing this. Furthermore, students of these courses will be given the opportunity to continue on into more advanced summer research residencies at CWRU. The program is similar to existing NSF REU programs, but adds several important innovations.

(1) This new model will focus on interactions with engineering schools that do not have graduate programs, or do not offer a Ph.D. in engineering. The students of these institutions, and especially the students at schools that do not have graduate programs,

“Proceeding of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education

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Aljobeh, Z., & Jennings, A. (2004, June), A Prototype Research Pui University Environmental Course To Expand Research Opportunities For Undergraduates Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--13803