Engineering Physics at a Small Liberal Arts College: Accomplishments and Challenges

James T. McLeskey; Deonna Woolard

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Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: Interdisciplinary Integration at the Program Level
Tagged Division: Liberal Education/Engineering & Society Division (LEES)
Page Count: 11
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--43341
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/43341
Download Count: 119

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Paper Authors

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James T. McLeskey Jr. Randolph-Macon College

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James T. McLeskey, Jr. is Professor and Head of the Engineering Programs at Randolph-Macon College where he teaches courses across the Engineering and Physics curricula. His research has been focused in the areas of renewable energy and clean water. His lab was the first to report the fabrication of polymer photovoltaics using a water-soluble polythiophine polymer known as PTEBS. Subsequent work focused on novel device structures for increasing the efficiencies of polymer solar cells. In addition, students in his lab have developed computer simulations of various energy systems including solar thermal energy storage and optimization of geothermal power plants. More recently, he has been working on novel membranes for direct contact membrane desalination systems with the goal of reducing the amount of energy required to produce clean water. His background includes six years in industry working on the design and repair of large turbo-generator rotors. He was awarded the 2006 Outstanding Faculty Award from State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) as the Rising Star Designee. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia (Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (M.S. Mechanical Engineering) and the College of William and Mary (B.S. Physics).

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Deonna Woolard

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Dr. Deonna Woolard received her BS in Physics from Bethany College (WV, USA) and her MS and PhD in Physics from The College of William and Mary (VA, USA). As an applied physicist, she has been engaged with the field of Nondestructive Testing examining metallic and composite structures for such things as cracks, delaminations, and stress concentrations. Dr. Woolard has been on the faculty at Randolph-Macon College since 1999 and has been department chair for the past 13 years.

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Abstract

The College is a small liberal-arts college in City, State, USA. The College dates to 1830 and currently has 1500 students. In 2012, the faculty approved a new Engineering Physics Major. In this paper, the authors present the back story that lead to the creation of the new major, the articulation with the liberal arts, the design of the curriculum, the difficulties faced in implementation, the student outcomes and benefits to the College, and the goals and plans for the future.

The articulation of engineering with the liberal arts was considered from two perspectives. The first is the obvious benefit of a liberal arts education to the engineering student. While advances in knowledge and technology are creating excitement in science and engineering education, tomorrow’s engineer must also be able to write and communicate well; consider ethics and social responsibilities; understand business; and live and work in teams as a global citizen. They must be able to think critically and problem-solve.

Perhaps more interesting is how Engineering as a discipline can contribute to and be a part of the liberal arts. Modern Engineering is the application of scientific knowledge to creatively design new devices and processes that benefit society. Engineering is, in fact, one-part science, one-part art, and one-part creative design. In other words, Engineers must create while understanding the fundamental science that constrains their creations. Those engineers who merely tinker and fabricate and try to build something often fail because they do not recognize the need for both fundamental science and imagination in their designs. Helping the faculty of the College see Engineering from these perspectives made the new major more palatable.

The major could more properly deemed Engineering Mechanics with its focus on the core courses found in Mechanical and Civil Engineering programs (Statics, Dynamics, Solids, and Fluids). Since 2015, thirty-six students have graduated. Roughly one third have gone directly to graduate school while the remainder have gone directly to work in technical fields. One third have been women and fifty percent have been student athletes. Going forward, The College plans to grow the major while maintaining a strong commitment to the liberal arts.

Citation
Format

McLeskey, J. T., & Woolard, D. (2023, June), Engineering Physics at a Small Liberal Arts College: Accomplishments and Challenges Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43341

TY - CPAPER
AB - The College is a small liberal-arts college in City, State, USA. The College dates to 1830 and currently has 1500 students. In 2012, the faculty approved a new Engineering Physics Major. In this paper, the authors present the back story that lead to the creation of the new major, the articulation with the liberal arts, the design of the curriculum, the difficulties faced in implementation, the student outcomes and benefits to the College, and the goals and plans for the future.

The articulation of engineering with the liberal arts was considered from two perspectives. The first is the obvious benefit of a liberal arts education to the engineering student. While advances in knowledge and technology are creating excitement in science and engineering education, tomorrow’s engineer must also be able to write and communicate well; consider ethics and social responsibilities; understand business; and live and work in teams as a global citizen. They must be able to think critically and problem-solve.

Perhaps more interesting is how Engineering as a discipline can contribute to and be a part of the liberal arts. Modern Engineering is the application of scientific knowledge to creatively design new devices and processes that benefit society. Engineering is, in fact, one-part science, one-part art, and one-part creative design. In other words, Engineers must create while understanding the fundamental science that constrains their creations. Those engineers who merely tinker and fabricate and try to build something often fail because they do not recognize the need for both fundamental science and imagination in their designs. Helping the faculty of the College see Engineering from these perspectives made the new major more palatable.

The major could more properly deemed Engineering Mechanics with its focus on the core courses found in Mechanical and Civil Engineering programs (Statics, Dynamics, Solids, and Fluids). Since 2015, thirty-six students have graduated. Roughly one third have gone directly to graduate school while the remainder have gone directly to work in technical fields. One third have been women and fifty percent have been student athletes.
Going forward, The College plans to grow the major while maintaining a strong commitment to the liberal arts.

AU - James T. McLeskey Jr.
AU - Deonna Woolard
CY - Baltimore , Maryland
DA - 2023/06/25
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Engineering Physics at a Small Liberal Arts College: Accomplishments and Challenges
UR - https://strategy.asee.org/43341
DO - 10.18260/1-2--43341
ER -