From the Dean

image placeholderWelcome to the second College of Engineering e-newsletter. Once again, we’re pleased to share some pertinent announcements and newsworthy information about the College to keep you informed about upcoming events, initiatives and changes that merit attention.

The College recently published its second newsletter. The publication is a good forum to communicate to a wide audience about the accomplishments of our faculty members and students. In addition, it features a number of articles highlighting the outstanding careers of some of our alumni.

Soon, we will also be releasing an annual report booklet (2005-2006) that describes some of the remarkable research underway in all of the disciplines. The booklet will also contain data about research funds, enrollment trends and more, to give readers a comprehensive understanding of the College’s many facets.

“Getting Noticed,” is more than the College’s slogan — it’s a fact! And thank you all for helping to make it happen.


Antonio H. Costa, Ph.D.
Dean

College Trends

Spring 2007 Matriculations

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Overall enrollment in the College of Engineering for Spring 2007 has remained stable with a total of 1,056 matriculations. Approximately 25% of these were graduate students. Electrical engineering and "computing" majors account for over 48% of the students enrolled in the College. Mechanical engineering majors show an increase of 12% over the spring 2006 numbers. The detailed breakdown by department, major and level is available online.

The Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology (BMB) Ph.D. program started accepting students in fall 2003. Most of these students have been supported by grants from the National Textiles Center (NTC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). To date, five students have completed their M.S. degrees in BMB. The first Ph.D. degree in BMB is expected to be awarded next year.


Laboratory Renovations

Renovations to the IMPULSE classrooms (Group II, rooms 201 & 207) are now completed. Included in the project was the installation of  dual projection systems and new document cameras; the purchase of  25 computers for one room; and desks for room 207. New carpeting and alarm systems brought the overall renovations total to approximately $83,000.

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Computer and Information Science students are working in state-of-the art labs following completion of several renovation projects in the Dion Building. In Room 311, for example, a computer and information science lab and technology-enabled classroom now features 29 new computers, 35 chairs and 27 inch high, 72 x 24 computer tables. Similar upgrades were completed over winter break in rooms Dion 303 & 305. Those rooms each have 24 new computers plus an additional computer for the instructor. The “technology enabled” spaces also feature document cameras and projectors. The overall cost of this renovation project slightly exceeded $80,000.

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The Mechanical Engineering Department is in the process of upgrading some of its laboratory equipment and adding more stations by duplicating some of the existing setups. As a result, the department will be able to improve instructional efficiency in laboratory courses by increasing the number of students per section, according to Dr. Tesfay Meressi, department chairperson. The upgraded equipment will be used in undergraduate laboratory courses and additional equipment may be purchased in conjunction with the laboratory components of other courses. The overall cost for this project is around $150,000.

Web Updates

A new feature called “At a Glance” can be found by following the College of Engineering’s “About Us” link to “College” and then “At a Glance.” This section summarizes key information in pdf format using easy-to-follow graphs and pie charts. Included are enrollment and degree production trends over the past five years; a breakdown of the various faculty members by academic rank and department; and pertinent, updated lists of research funding in all disciplines. The site also contains a directory of College department chairpersons and programs directors as well as a list of Industrial Advisory Board members.


To update the contents of your personal web page, hit “Edit Profile,” which will ask you to log in using your UMass Dartmouth email login and password. To change information on a page, visit the appropriate section by clicking at the menu (Degree, Expertise, Biography, etc.). On the bottom of each page, there is an edit link that will take you to your desired page to make changes. When you are finished, click “Submit Form,” to confirm the changes. To see the updates immediately, click on the “Home” link at the top menu.

Research & Scholarship

image placeholderNew grant awards since July 1, 2006 total $2.4 million and approximately $12 million in grant proposals submitted within the same period remain pending.


The College's research emphasis continues to rise in fields such as bio-medical, marine, smart antennas, sensors and more. In 2005, a total of $1.96 in research funding was received. That amount increased to $4.9 million in the following year. A detailed list of all the grant applications submitted since July 1, 2006 in the College of Engineering is available online and can be viewed by clicking here.


For the third year, the Research Seed Initiative Fund is providing support of College of Engineering faculty members who have research ideas that require further investigation before applying for externally funded research grants. The funds are used to develop at least one project proposal and also cover research related expenses such as travel to scientific/engineering meetings. Successful RSIF proposals normally amount to $20,000 each. Applicants are required to demonstrate a contribution of an additional $10,000, either in cash or in-kind services. The detailed eligibility and review criteria, application requirements and pertinent reporting timelines and deadlines, can be viewed by clicking here. A listing of all grant recipients and their projects since 2005 can be found online by clicking here.


Thirty-three framed book covers, representing the published works of present and retired College of Engineering faculty members, will soon be on display on the wall outside of the dean's office in Dion 326. The display pays tribute to the accomplishments of these authors.

Feature Story

Kevin Thibault ’85 has top-level transportation post in Florida

image placeholderKevin J. Thibault believes that his willingness to learn and accept new responsibilities helped propel him to the position of assistant secretary of transportation for the Florida Department of Transportation.

Thibault, who earned his degree in civil engineering in 1985, has been chief operating officer for the agency since 2004, overseeing all engineering and operational aspects of the department. His responsibilities embrace seven geographic districts, the Florida Turnpike, and the Office of Motor Carrier Compliance, the agency’s law enforcement arm. In addition, Thibault was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush as Florida’s Governor Highway Safety Representative.

“Someone told me that my management style is 'GBR,’ that is, a gracious but ruthless leader,” Thibault said. “I believe in being nice, but the principles, policies, and ethics of an agency must be followed. If a person veers from those, I’ll let him/her know quickly.

“I also rely on the team around me. It’s important to have that trust.”

Read More...

Student News

Civil engineering major Mark Costa wins regional contest

Mark Costa, a UMass Dartmouth senior civil engineering major from Reading, is the first place winner of the regional Daniel W. Mead Student Contest sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter.

Costa earned the $200 cash prize for his paper and presentation on "Eminent Domain and the Engineer's Ethical Responsibilities," topping competitors from 13 other universities including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and runners up Universite Laval and University of Connecticut.

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Planning for a student chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers on campus

Emmanuel Lyte, an  electrical engineering major, is hoping to establish a chapter of the NSBE on the UMass Dartmouth campus. Lyte, along with students Olawale Owoyemi (mechanical engineering), Willems Leveille (START with intent to pursue civil engineering),  Jeffrey Fleurantin (START with intent to pursue mechanical engineering) and Carl Bernard (computer engineering) attended the NSBE National Convention in Columbus, Ohio from March 28-April 1. The College of Engineering, START Program and individual major departments for these students funded the registration costs, airfare and lodging for the trip.  In addition, Lyte is visiting Northeastern University to gain insight about how to initiate this new group chapter. He noted that meetings about the topic had attracted 19 attendees.

Program News

Software Engineering option expands Computer and Information Science offerings

Responding to industry needs within the region, UMass Dartmouth's College of Engineering will add a software engineering option this fall to the programs offered in the Computer and Information Science Department.

Computer science majors will be able to concentrate on either the more mainstream computer science option, or the new option, which will provide in-depth study in large software systems design, software quality assurance, and software process and management. The software engineering option involves students in software development projects during their senior year.

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UMass Dartmouth, Bristol Community College accelerate transition for engineering students

UMass Dartmouth and Bristol Community College have signed agreements that will accelerate the transfer of BCC engineering associate's degree graduates into five UMass College of Engineering programs.

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START program helps prepare students for university studies

Students considering a technical major who need a stronger background in math and science are encouraged to enroll in START (Steps Toward Abstract Reasoning and Thinking) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

The one-year program includes a mathematics course that covers algebra and calculus; a science course that helps students understand and solve problems in chemistry and physics; a problem-solving class that teaches effective reasoning skills; and counseling and tutorial aid to help participants adjust to university life.

Upon successful completion of the course, students can continue to pursue a bachelor's degree in any of the College of Engineering majors, mathematics, chemistry or any other field, usually over an additional four years.

Read More...

Faculty News

Alumni News

Thompson Consultants Inc. of Marion has generously donated $100,000 worth of Autodesk software to the College. The package includes Architectural Desktop, Full AutoCad 2007, Building Systems 2007 and Revit 2007. The software will be used by the civil engineering department beginning with the fall 2007 semester. This gift was made possible through the efforts of Mr. Scott F. Guinen, a 1993 alum from the College and a partner at TCI.

Seminars, Events and More