<p>My point wasn’t that she shouldn’t advertise it. My point was that she’s naive if she thinks that’s the only problem…the lack of knowing about it. The real problem is that the cost is too much for OOS kids…which are the kids that they want. So, the current situation encourages OOS engineering students to avoid the ChemE major like the plague. That’s why she’s out of it. If she thinks the summer semester is so needed, then she should be working over-time encouraging the school to charge a reduced rate for that summer class and a reduced housing rate…since it’s REQUIRED.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, and at the same time, the course is one the most expensive in the entire university.</p>
<p>I suppose this course worked when most chemical engineering at UA were people from Alabama and were actually training to be process engineers, not doctors, lawyers, or financiers.</p>
<p>It’ll be a shame when it’s gone, but I suppose it’s inevitable. The skills learned in the course are invaluable. Not just how to operate a distillation column, but how to work with a group of people who may not be your friends and how to complete tasks that are absolutely and unequivocally required - where an extension or leniency or blowing it off and making up the lost credit elsewhere are NOT options. </p>
<p>I think maybe the college could look to institute a internship requirement for all students.</p>
<p>She’s not the only one who is pushing for it. All the professors want it, or at least the ones I’ve spoken with (probably b/c they get paid extra money).</p>
<p>Well, then they should be pushing for a way for it to be more affordable if they all think it’s so worthwhile. Having a req’t that is too expensive for OOS students (and is expensive to instate students, too - since the per credit rate is always increasing) only discourages prospective students from doing ChemE. </p>
<p>My own son may change to a different eng’g emphasis if the req’t were to stay. He’s a pre-med major so he doesn’t need this req’t for anything that he’ll be doing in life. There are other alternatives that the school could offer in the spring semester for Chem E students that need to do all day experiments.</p>
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<p>lol 
I’m no professor, but I saw for myself how hard the professors had to work in summer lab. There are much more lucrative things they could be doing with their time, if money was what they were after.</p>
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<p>That’s not necessarily true. As I said, there’s more to summer operations lab than learning how to operate a distillation column. It teaches valuable life skills, such as working with a group of people with whom you are not necessarily friends with. Unlike the smaller projects you may encounter in lower-level classes, it is impossible to prepare a 40-50 page prelab, unless everybody works together as a team. These aren’t fake projects either. They are realistic simulations of the types of projects that engineers do day in and day out - this is not something you can replicate just on Tuesday and Thursdays.</p>
<p>Every graduate I have kept up with that works in the real world has told that the most valuable course they took at UA was summer lab.</p>
<p>As for pre-meds not needing summer lab, I think you should get in contact with Dr. Mark Cooper, a member of our alumni advisory board, former chief of staff (or chief of surgery, I can’t remember which) at Centennial Hospital in Nashville, AND one of our biggest summer lab supporters.</p>
<p>I do think with such smart chemical engineers in our department that certainly an alternative course could be created. In the real world we’d be getting paid, so there’s an extra incentive. Not only is the class expensive but students with part time jobs can’t work - so that’s an entire month’s pay lost.</p>
<p>I would like someone to help compile a list of people who should be contacted about this issue.</p>
<p>I would like to include several ideas that could be considered. The school needs to be encouraged to “think outside the box”…even if it means that second semester (spring) junior year the class is offered on T, Th, (and maybe S) - or something like that. </p>
<p>Perhaps another alternative would be to offer some 300 level CHE classes during the spring semester that only meet on M and Tu …and then this Lab class could meet W, Th, Fri. I doubt the class HAS to meet 5 days a week in order to fulfill the req’t. </p>
<p>A class that meets for 2 (or 3) full days (8-5) over an entire semester could be worth 6 credits…right?</p>
<p>Or, the school could drop the rate for all Chem E students and charge a flat $100/credit and give reduced cost housing - since the students are req’d to take the class.</p>
<p>Find a large company who is willing to underwrite or give a large annual grant to fund the program and the students will do actual meaningful research during this time.</p>
<p>Anyway…my point is that if we put our heads together and come up with several possible scenarios, then perhaps those in charge will either choose one OR they will become inspired to come up with their own better solution… </p>
<p>Who are all the people involved?</p>
<p>That company “sponsorship” sounds like a idea worth investigating. The dean of the college told me that the chemical engineering faculty/department is responsible for the courses. So contacting them would probably be the first route to take. </p>
<p>As far as perhaps offering reduced rates, UA administration would probably be over that such as Dr. Bonner. I spoke with Dr. Kathleen Cramer back in the fall and she seemed really supportive when I explain the summer lab and the inconvenience/opportunity cost it creates for students.</p>
<p>Bama also has the advantage of being in a good-sized city…about 100,000 people. So, more off-campus stuff…stores, restaurants, etc</p>
<p>I think the kids that pick Auburn over Alabama prefer the smaller size and seem to all have just as good of a time as all of the Alabama kids- we visited yesterday and loved the feel of the AU campus- like a small campus even though it has 24,000 students- perfect for many kids!!</p>
<p>Sounds like your D has made her choice. Good luck!</p>
<p>swagg,</p>
<p>Be sure to consider the honors college requirements. I believe UA’s program is far more appealing in terms of the variety and scope of classes offered.</p>