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Utilizing an Existing College Manufacturing Facility in the Creation of a New Engineering Technology Degree Program

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Conference

2023 ASEE North Central Section Conference

Location

Morgantown, West Virginia

Publication Date

March 24, 2023

Start Date

March 24, 2023

End Date

March 25, 2023

Page Count

7

DOI

10.18260/1-2--44927

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/44927

Download Count

109

Paper Authors

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Emily Spayde West Virginia University

biography

Robin A.M. Hensel West Virginia University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0003-1858-6452

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Robin A. M. Hensel, Ed.D., is a Teaching Professor in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University and an ASEE Fellow Member. As a mathematician and computer systems analyst, she collaborated in engineering teams to support energy research before entering higher education where she taught mathematics, statistics, computer science, and engineering courses, secured over $5.5M to support STEM education research, led program development efforts, and served in several administrative roles. She has been recognized for her teaching, advising, service, and research and as an Exemplary Faculty Member for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

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Dustin Spayde

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Abstract

Engineering technologists can help bridge a gap between engineers and technicians/operators in industry. To prepare for careers, engineering technologists benefit from having extensive hands-on experience with common industry standard manufacturing equipment. Recently, a mid-Atlantic R1 institution developed an engineering technology program within the college of engineering to utilize existing related student support services (ex: advising, tutoring, and career exploration) and to provide an opportunity for engineering students and engineering technology students to collaborate outside the classroom. For students to have significant hands-on experience, this new degree program will utilize an existing manufacturing facility housed within the college. This facility combines a manufacturing service center with a student focused maker space. The facility’s service center is staffed with full-time manufacturing and fabrication professionals dedicated to producing the designs of students, faculty, and staff from across the institution at cost. The existing maker space provides all students in the institution with access to training and use of equipment available for course, research, and private projects. All equipment, maintenance, and training expenses for the maker space are paid by the college. Additionally, both service center and maker space staff provide design consultation to students and researchers throughout the institution. The facility is currently used to enhance a number of existing courses, clubs, and outreach events within the college. This paper presents how the existing maker space is integrated into the new engineering technology program curriculum; specifically, how engineering technology classes engage students in using common industry standard manufacturing equipment provided by the maker space and what maker space changes were driven by the engineering technology curriculum.

Spayde, E., & Hensel, R. A., & Spayde, D. (2023, March), Utilizing an Existing College Manufacturing Facility in the Creation of a New Engineering Technology Degree Program Paper presented at 2023 ASEE North Central Section Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia. 10.18260/1-2--44927

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