<p>Didn’t much of Computer Engineering move to Phase 2 of the Shelby S and E Complex? I know Biology moved there, and Chemical and Biological Engineering moved there as well. I ask because because I recall that the building behind Houser was demolished in December of last year, several months after Phase 2 was completed. And Computer Engineering was housed largely in this old building behind House that was razed to make way for Phase 3. By the way, the latest I read about Phase 3 said that it would be available for classes by January of 2012.</p>
<p>Today I talked to the Engineering Dept and told them of my concern that the website didn’t provide enough info about what the COE has and how that compares to other schools. The person promised to pass my concerns on to Dr. Karr (I left my phone number and asked for return call.)</p>
<p>The person also took my address to send me some kind of COE magazine that was just published that is supposed to have a lot of this info. I asked if this publication was going to be put on the website, and the lady didn’t know, but she said she would add that comment to my note to Dr. Karr.</p>
<p>If I don’t hear anything within a couple of days, I’ll email him directly.</p>
<p>We would love to get that magazine as well. Who do we contact to get on that mailing list?</p>
<p>Call Greg Singleton at (205) 348-1447 or 1-800-369-3647 </p>
<p>I’m not sure what it’s called, but it’s something that got published this week.</p>
<p>Be sure to mention that it should be put on the website!!! Also try to mention how prospective students and parents would really like more info about the engineering facilities and pics of what Eng’g students are doing at Bama on the website. Encourage him to speak to Dr. Karr about that. :)</p>
<p>If you’re worried about recruitment from companies outside the South, the best way around that problem is to become involved with student professional organizations and attend the various conferences they hold. Often times there will be career fairs where you can network and potentially gain interviews with companies that normally would not recruit at UA.</p>
<p>I think choice of major is the best way to determine success in college. If you are majoring in something you truly enjoy or are interested in, then you will want to engage in the courses via studying, completing assignments, research, etc. Of course GPA and test scores play a significant role but I know many who were top scholarship recipients coming into school and are not…playing up to par. Regardless, long hours are a requirement of engineering and there is no way around that lol.</p>
<p>The flowchart really does help a lot of students. There are departments in other colleges that do not have flowcharts and those are the departments that have students looking clueless their senior year because they haven’t satisfied all the necessary requirements for graduation.</p>
<p>Few universities can say they have added/are adding four new science and engineering buildings within such a short time frame. If that is not a testimony to the success and potential of UA engineering then I don’t know what is. Furthermore, it also shows that we have the support of our state. The extra fees associated with the new buildings do suck though :-/</p>
<p>The next buildings are scheduled to be completed Fall 2011 but they won’t move in until Spr 2012.</p>
<p>Wow!! I fell down on the job due to SAT melt down in my house lol! I haven’t had a chance to follow up with the Eng. dept. but it sounds like some of you have!! I’m so glad. Sorry about that. My son sits for his first SAT on Saturday and is in melt-down mode. I had to pry the Big Blue Book from his hands and remind him it is one test on one day and he can take it again in October if he doesn’t get his precious 700/730 that he wants. He has asked to sit for the ACTs in June. ONLY if he doesn’t stress about it. Like every other Jr in the nation he has AP exams, SOLs, SAT2s, ACTs, and finals.</p>
<p>I would love to hear the the mech/aero buildings are going to be finished by fall 2011! I would also be interested to know how close to delivery the other buildings have been. Anyway, scores, then visits.</p>
<p>*remind him it is one test on one day and he can take it again in October if he doesn’t get his precious 700/730 that he wants. He has asked to sit for the ACTs in June. *</p>
<p>I would let him take it in June…pay the extra for the detailed score report. Then let him use that data to improve any weaknesses in the Fall.</p>
<p>Usually, the last SAT accepted for scholarships is in Nov and the last ACT is Oct.</p>
<p>Is he going to take the ACT, too? He should…the math is less tricky.</p>
<p>The package from Greg Singleton came today.</p>
<p>It included:</p>
<p>Capstone Engineer magazine Spring 2010 (that’s what just got published)
The cover features the Shelby Science and Engineering Expansion. After I’ve gone thru it, I’ll post what it says. :)</p>
<p>COE Recruitment folder - 3 DVDs, info about Co-ops, Fall 09 copy of Capstone E, etc</p>
<p>A “By the Numbers” booklet…</p>
<p>UA College of Engineering:</p>
<p>The COE is 170 years old
23:1 student to faculty ratio
25% of COE students receive merit scholarships
30% are in honors
100+ faculty
145,000 square feet of teaching and lab space (and growing)</p>
<p>Based on how many freshmen engineers were National scholars in 2007, it would be easy to estimate that there are over 100 National scholars in engineering.</p>
<p>I attended the meeting, and will try to share the highlights of what Dr. Karr discussed at last night’s meeting. But before I do, I have to say I was very impressed with Dr. Karr. He was energetic, articulate, friendly, and spoke with intelligence and humor. He seemed very confident about the state of and direction of UA and its College of Engineering. </p>
<p>Facilities</p>
<p>According to Dr. Karr, Phase 3 of the Shelby Science and Engineering Complex will be “online” by Fall of 2011. Phase 4 will be “online” about one year later. </p>
<p>Phase 3 will house labs and and classrooms that several Engineering Departments will share. From my memory, the Mechanical, Civil, and Aerospace departments will share this new building, which will facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between these different departments. </p>
<p>Phase 4 will mostly facilitate “Materials” research. Hopefully, someone who knows more about this can expand on what Dr. Karr was talking about. </p>
<p>Hardaway and Houser Halls will have interior renovations but will maintain their exteriors. </p>
<p>MIB will be razed, except for the front of the building, which Dr. Karr wants preserved to provide a connection to he history of UA Engineering. </p>
<p>As for the possibility of UA emulating Auburn and starting a “center” in Huntsville, Dr. Karr said that he would rather have UA be involved in other ways in Huntsville. This is the one part of his talk that could have used more clarity. I have a memory of him mentioning his desire to have a couple of UA Engineering professors do research in Huntsville. He seemed very excited about what is going on in Huntsville right now, so I do think he realizes the potential for UA if it can get more involved up there, but I really didn’t understand his response to my question. </p>
<p>Dr. Karr emphasized that UA students have the opportunity and are expected to conduct meaningful research before they graduate. From what he said, UA is a very different place than when I attended. He also spoke about how he pushes students to become well rounded. He had a lot of great stories of individual students who he pushed to achieve more than they every thought possible. He said that he spends a great amount of his time personally recruiting students away from top notch schools such as Northwestern, GA Tech, and Texas. </p>
<p>I would have liked to hear more from him about what UA is doing to recruit the high achieving students with the 27-29 ACTs who end up at Auburn or Clemson, etc. UA really seems to do a great job of convincing the really top scoring students to enroll, but perhaps more could be done to recruit the 27-29 ACT range student. A better website might help IMO. </p>
<p>Regardless, Dr. Karr painted a very rosy picture of the future of UA and its College of Engineering. He said that there are currently 2400 students in the College of Engineering, which is signficantly more than when he became Dean, and that the goal is to have 3000 students enrolled in the College. According to Karr, UA has received over 20,000 applications so far for this fall, and will most likely enroll a freshman class of around 5200, which would be the same as last fall. He and Dr. Witt believe that once again, this will be the most qualified freshman class in UA history. </p>
<p>He said that when he became Dean of the College of Engineering, there were 93 faculty members. Since then, he has hired 10 more professors, and will hire fifteen more in the near future. Karr said that due to the recession, and the fact that UA is one of the few schools hiring professors, it is a buyer’s market, and that UA is getting some of the top new professors in the country. </p>
<p>Hope this helps those with questions. If you get the chance to hear Dr. Karr speak, I encourage you to do it.</p>
<p>*According to Karr, UA has received over 20,000 applications so far for this fall, and will most likely enroll a freshman class of around 5200, which would be the same as last fall. He and Dr. Witt believe that once again, this will be the most qualified freshman class in UA history. *</p>
<p>It has to be. With a larger applicant pool than last year (18,500), Bama has the opportunity to seat a class with higher stats. </p>
<p>Bama continues to get NMF apps. One applied yesterday from Florida. I know of 5 that applied in the last few weeks. I’m guessing that Bama will have over 125 NMFs this next fall, in addition to the NA, NH, and Academic Elites. In Fall 2009, they had 107 NMFs. <— That number pushed Bama into the top 10 public with NMFs. </p>
<p>Bama doubled its NH and nearly tripled its NA freshmen this fall.</p>
<p>*As for the possibility of UA emulating Auburn and starting a “center” in Huntsville, Dr. Karr said that he would rather have UA be involved in other ways in Huntsville. This is the one part of his talk that could have used more clarity. I have a memory of him mentioning his desire to have a couple of UA Engineering professors do research in Huntsville. He seemed very excited about what is going on in Huntsville right now, so I do think he realizes the potential for UA if it can get more involved up there, but I really didn’t understand his response to my question. *</p>
<p>He’s being naive in this area and needs to hear from others why Bama needs a presence in Cummings Research Park (CRP). The state is blessed to have the 2nd largest research park in the nation, and he’s not seeing how neglecting to have a visible presence there will hurt the school in the long run. When those companies are doling out donations, etc, they’re going to be giving to the schools that they have a connection with. </p>
<p>The school would also be hurt by that fact that families here will perceive that other schools are the better choice for their kids. This area is RICH in future engineers. Engineering families breed engineering students. That’s a fact that he can’t overlook.</p>
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<p>What did he say about the teaching labs, such as the MTE foundry, that take up the back wings of MIB?</p>
<p>Is that the big heavy thing in the back? I’ve heard that it’s staying, too, and the new building will be build around it.</p>
<p>The three wings behind the main part of MIB all house teaching labs. Keeping them would contradict what atlanta68 is reporting.</p>
<p>He said MIB is going to be razed except for that front part. The front columns? Im not sure exactly how that would look. But it seemed clear to me that the back part of MIB is going down.</p>
<p>Mom, </p>
<p>Just wanted you to know that your PM box is full. It wouldnt let me send a message.</p>
<p>Thanks…will fix it!!! :)</p>