Assessment

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

With the recent transition from outcomes ABET a-k to ABET 1-7, program faculty have adopted a decentralized process for outcomes assessment: 1) Every required course taught by program faculty participates in outcomes assessment, and 2) Every participating course has a primary ABET outcome (1-7) that it shares responsibility for.  The faculty member(s) who teach the participating courses are in charge of the ABET assessment for that learning outcome (collecting data / evaluating data / validating assessment rubrics / making changes / closing the loop, summarizing the results for the accreditation reports).  Our assessment process is centered on direct assessment of student work, and the target is that 75% of students in each specific assessment activity should meet or exceed the marginally acceptable performance level. Generally, focus groups bring together relevant assessments of student work from each of the associated courses related to the outcome of interest, review student performance, and make recommendations as a group for future action items/revisions to improve student learning and assessment within the focus of the outcome. 

Bachelor of Science in Energy Engineering

With the recent transition from outcomes ABET a-k to ABET 1-7, program faculty have adopted a decentralized process for outcomes assessment: 1) Every required course taught by program faculty participates in outcomes assessment, and 2) Every participating course has a primary ABET outcome (1-7) that it shares responsibility for.  The faculty member(s) who teach the participating courses are in charge of the ABET assessment for that learning outcome (collecting data / evaluating data / validating assessment rubrics / making changes / closing the loop, summarizing the results for the accreditation reports).  Our assessment process is centered on direct assessment of student work, and the target is that 75% of students in each specific assessment activity should meet or exceed the marginally acceptable performance level. Generally, focus groups bring together relevant assessments of student work from each of the associated courses related to the outcome of interest, review student performance, and make recommendations as a group for future action items/revisions to improve student learning and assessment within the focus of the outcome. 

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

1. Before the proposal stage – each student's selection of elective coursework pertaining to an area of technical specialization is reviewed by their research advisor and thesis committee. Additionally, the program's graduate chair reviews and approves the choice of elective coursework.
2. At the proposal stage - each student's graduate committee reviews the proposed research plan for his or her thesis work in written form and in an oral presentation defense. All thesis proposals must contain an approved set of research objectives, a properly cited literature review to demonstrate technical expertise in the chosen area of study, and a comprehensive plan of work to meet the research objectives, including demonstration of knowledge of the engineering tools to be used, the scope of the data to be collected, the methods of data analysis, and the methods used to ensure integrity of the conclusions drawn from the analysis of the data.
3. At the thesis defense stage - each student's graduate committee reviews and assesses the student's execution of his or her research plan. Assessment is done on both the written thesis document and in an oral defense presentation to evaluate the level of professional development of the student in attaining expertise in their selected technical area, their ability to collect and analyze data in a robust and repeatable manner, and in their ability to communicate the results to an educated, professional body.
4. Students must maintain a B-or-better average in core coursework. Only courses with grades of C or above count towards graduation.

Doctorate of Mechanical and Systems Engineering

Each student’s advisor reviews the student’s selection of coursework and a plan of study is prepared. The program’s graduate chair reviews the plan of study to make sure that degree requirements are met. The program’s graduate chair also goes through the graduation checklist before the degree is awarded.

• Each student has a graduate committee that consists of members from within the college and outside the college
• Each student must pass a comprehensive exam. The student prepares a written document and then makes an oral presentation to his/her graduate committee. The graduate committee evaluates the work assesses understanding of the material
• Each student must prepare a thorough research proposal - the student's graduate committee reviews the proposed research plan in written form and through an oral presentation. All proposals must contain an approved set of research objectives, a properly cited literature review to demonstrate technical expertise in the chosen area of study, and a comprehensive plan of work to meet the research objectives, including demonstration of knowledge of the engineering tools to be used, the scope of the data to be collected, the methods of data analysis, and the methods used to ensure integrity of the conclusions drawn from the analysis of the data
• Each student must prepare a detailed scholarly dissertation document explaining the research and must defend the research conducted. The student's graduate committee reviews and assesses the student's execution of his or her research plan. Assessment is done on both the written document and in an oral defense presentation to evaluate the level of professional development of the student in attaining expertise in their selected technical area, their ability to collect and analyze data in a robust and repeatable manner, and in their ability to communicate the results to an educated, professional body