Civil Engineering Graduates complete the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam

Posted: June 12, 2023

In the fall of 2022, six University of Evansville (UE) Civil Engineering graduates completed the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Of those six, five passed with an 83 percent passing rate.

UE Civil Engineering graduates typically take the PE exam four years following graduation. The exam has five subject areas: structures, water resources, geotechnical, transportation, and construction. The weighted national PE exam passing rate for the five areas was 61 percent. Of the total 9,142 first-time PE exam takers, 60.2 percent were civil engineers. From 2018-2022, the UE PE exam pass rate has been 14 percent higher than the national average.

Congratulations to the Civil Engineering graduates who participated in the PE exam in the fall of 2022. The University and School of Engineering and Computer Science are incredibly proud of these professionals and their accomplishments.

Two Civil Engineering Seniors receive ASCE Indiana Section Award

Posted: April 19, 2023

UE's College of Business & Engineering Lecture Series to Highlight Positive Community Impacts

Posted: April 6, 2023

The University of Evansville's (UE) College of Business & Engineering is proud to continue its Lecture Series which will highlight how institutional research and class engagement are making a positive impact on society. The upcoming Lecture Series is set to take place on April 11.

Associate Professor of Accounting and Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in Business Dr. Rania Mousa will discuss what financial inclusion means in a post COVID-19 world during her presentation Reimagining Financial Inclusion in the Post COVID-19 World: The Case for Grameen America. Dr. Mousa identified and analyzed the key initiatives implemented by Grameen America in alleviating the financial hardships of its underserved female members, thereby contributing to the attainment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Her paper has been published in the International Journal of Ethics and Systems. Dr. Mousa is also a recipient of the UE 2022-2023 Global Scholar Award and has presented her research at the Sustainable and Socially Responsible Finance Conference held at the Yunus Social Business Center at the University of Bologna in Italy.

Following Dr. Mousa's presentation, Dr. Beverly Brockman, Schroeder Family Dean, College of Business & Engineering and Dr. Chris Brockman, Professor of Finance, and Director of the Institute for Banking & Finance will present on the unique barriers confronting entrepreneurs in low-income communities. Their presentation A Managerial Perspective on Underbanked Entrepreneurs: Barriers to Lending and Community Partnership Solutions will highlight how the process of acquiring debt capital in the United States remains challenging, especially for low-income entrepreneurs. The authors will identify barriers to financial lending and present community-based partnership solutions to improve access to capital for underbanked entrepreneurs. Their research was published in the Journal of Economics and Finance Education.

Dr. Chris Brockman will then follow up with his presentation on Loan Opportunities through the UE Microloan Program. The UE Microloan Program is an experiential student-run program administered by the Institute for Banking and Finance in UE's Schroeder School of Business. Advisors for the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center serve as executive mentors for microloan participants, with funding for the program provided by Old National Bank.

The School of Business' dedication to promoting continuous learning will be further reinforced through these presentations. The Speaker Series is provided to highlight essential and emerging issues in business and engineering. It serves as outreach to the community and alumni as a form of engagement. Previously in the 2022-2023 academic year, the College of Business and Engineering hosted three Speaker Series Events.

Both in person and zoom options will be provided. For additional information on the event and how to register, please click here.

UE, VU Offer Guaranteed Admission Agreement in Engineering

Posted: July 19, 2022

A direct admit transfer agreement is now in place guaranteeing Vincennes University (VU) graduates a spot in the University of Evansville’s School of Engineering and Computer Science with a scholarship worth at least $18,000. 

The agreement applies to the civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs at UE. VU students need to earn their associate's degree in one of these concentrations and maintain a 2.5 GPA. After graduating from VU, they can transfer to UE to earn a bachelor’s degree with an academic scholarship award of at least $18,000 per year. 

“We at VU look forward to expanding our relationship with UE. I also extend my gratitude to UE leadership and faculty for their exceptional work and for this partnership creating even more opportunities for the students we mutually serve,” says Curt Coffman, VU dean of science, engineering and mathematics. “With VU’s in-state tuition scholarship, the entire tri-state area could save thousands of dollars on a VU/UE engineering education,” Coffman added. 

Students will graduate from VU confident that they are well prepared to continue their academic journey and are sought after by top employers and top Universities. “We strive to ensure our students are set up for success. Direct admission agreements like this are one way VU offers our students pathways to high-quality educational experiences that aligns with their true goals and passion,” says Chuck Johnson, president of VU. “We expect to see many students taking advantage of the guaranteed admission to UE.” 

“We are thrilled to partner with VU and extend this opportunity to those pursuing a future in engineering,” says Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, President of UE. “Students who transfer to UE will receive a high-quality education in our School of Engineering and Computer Science from a talented and experienced faculty. The rigorous curriculum, senior design teams, and internships with local organizations will provide them with the skills and experience for a successful career many years after graduating.” 

VU’s affordable tuition rates allow students to save enough in their first two years to pay for a full year at a four-year college. The guaranteed transfer agreements and surefire scholarships make a VU degree highly attractive to those interested in engineering fields. 

“The students we have been getting from VU for our engineering programs are very well prepared and a perfect fit for our hands on, project-based curriculum.” says Suresh Immanuel, PhD, Associate Dean for the UE School of Engineering and Computer Science. “They are able to transition quickly and play an integral role in all our team-based projects. We look forward to having many more VU students through the guaranteed admission agreement.”  

Visit the School of Engineering and Computer Science to learn more and apply for any of the engineering or computer science programs.

UE Named a 2022-2023 College of Distinction

Posted: June 29, 2022

The University of Evansville has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow, and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a unique guide for college-bound students. UE has been named a 2022-2023 College of Distinction and an Indiana College of Distinction, and it also received recognition for a multitude of academic programs and campus departments. 

Colleges of Distinction uses a selection process not only of in-depth research but also detailed interviews with the schools, accepting only those that adhere to the “Four Distinctions.” This includes criteria of engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes. Combined, these principles ensure that students have a fulfilling and individualized college experience both inside and outside the classroom. 

“At our university, we are deeply committed to providing a well-rounded, transformative education that has a lasting impact on our students for years to come,” said Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, president of UE. “This recognition from Colleges of Distinction speaks to our mission and the individual experiences of each of our students.” 

Aside from overall undergraduate recognitions, Colleges of Distinction also awards recognition in individual areas. UE earned recognition in the academic areas of business, education, engineering, and nursing. Colleges of Distinction also recognized the University’s career development, equity and inclusion, and military support. 

“The success of our academic programs and campus departments speaks to the endless efforts of our staff, faculty, and administration,” said Michael Austin, PhD, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. “We are proud to deliver high-quality courses for our students while also providing academic quality, personal support, and career counseling  throughout their journey at this university.” 

About Colleges of Distinction 

Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to honoring schools throughout the U.S. for true excellence in higher education. The member schools within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Its website provides dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information, and to learn how to become a College of Distinction, visit CollegesofDistinction.com. 

Three Civil Engineering Alums, Student Awarded Scholarships by APAI

Posted: February 9, 2022

The Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana (APAI) has named Alex Marie Dodson '21, Seth Mendel '21, and Samantha Weldon as 2021 APAI Scholars. The Civil Engineering graduates and student were recognized as award winners during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Scholarship Awards Banquet, held in conjunction with the 2021 APAI Winter Conference and Expo on December 16th, 2021 at the Marriott East Hotel in Indianapolis.

Scholarships are awarded by the APAI Scholarship Committee to students studying construction management, civil engineering, and construction engineering and management at six nationally accredited Indiana universities, including the University of Evansville. Students must complete an in-person interview with members of the Scholarship Committee to receive an award. The total amount of scholarships awarded in 2021 by the association totaled $50,000 to deserving scholars, in anticipation that many recipients will remain in Indiana and seek employment opportunities with APAI's member contractors.

Alums Join Executive Leadership at NSWC Crane

Posted: January 31, 2022

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), a Navy federal laboratory located in the Southern Indiana, is pleased to announce the selection of new members of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). The ELT is a group of 10 senior-level executives responsible for directing departments and leading NSWC Crane’s strategic vision. Two University of Evansville (UE) alums are part of the four new members of the team.

Dr. Kyle Werner

Dr. Kyle Werner has been selected to serve as NSWC Crane’s Deputy Technical Director (DTD). Dr. Werner’s brings more than 23 years of diverse and extensive leadership experience to this unique role.

“Dr. Werner is well versed in the strategic direction of NSWC Crane and provides valuable executive leadership across the organization,” said Dr. Angie Lewis (SES), NSWC Crane Technical Director. “Kyle has served on our ELT for the past eight years and I am confident we will succeed with his leadership as Deputy Technical Director.”

Dr. Werner’s previous assignments on the ELT include having served as the Director of the Applied Science & Demand Management Department, Director of Innovation, Director of Engagement, and most recently acting Director of the Global Deterrence and Defense Department.

Dr. Werner received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Evansville. He received his master’s degree in Engineering Management from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. in Strategic Management from Sullivan University. Dr. Werner received a certificate in Public Management from Indiana University and a certificate in Executive Leadership & Management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.   

Mr. James R. (JR) Ross

Mr. James R (JR) Ross has been selected as the Director for the Global Deterrence and Defense Department. Mr. Ross has more than 23 years of experience at NSWC Crane, 11 of which have been in Nuclear Deterrence, Hypersonics, and Missile Defense.

“JR has a proven track record of providing executive leadership in support of Strategic Missions, including Nuclear Deterrence, Missile Defense Agency, and Office of Secretary of Defense to support Hypersonics and Microelectronics,” said Dr. Angie Lewis (SES), NSWC Crane Technical Director. “He has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and the ability to conceive, plan, and manage complex and innovative technical programs.”

He previously served as the Deputy Director for the Global Deterrence and Defense Department, Division Manager of the Platform and Launch Systems Division, Division Manager of Irregular Warfare Technologies Division, and Deputy Division Director/Chief Engineer of the Expeditionary Systems Engineering Division.

Mr. Ross received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Evansville. He received his master’s degree in Engineering Management from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and his Masters of Public Administration from Indiana University.

NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter.

Congratulations to Roslyn Lampkins and Peter Schmidt

Posted: April 29, 2020

Congratulations to Roslyn Lampkins, assistant professor of chemistry, and Peter Schmidt, associate professor of mechanical engineering, on receiving the Class of 1961 Faculty Fellowship Award.

The award was established in May 2010 with gifts and pledges from members of the Class of 1961. It was created to provide support for pre-tenured faculty research projects. Thank you for your contribution to the University through your research endeavors.

IndianaComputes! Awarded a $600,000 State Contract

Posted: March 25, 2020

The University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville are excited to announce that IndianaComputes!, a collaboration of universities across the state of Indiana has been awarded a state contract of more than $600,000 to accelerate and deepen computer science capacity in Indiana.

The contract identifies IndianaComputes! as one of only five organizations approved by the Indiana Department of Education to deliver computer science teacher training, and one of only two organizations approved to train educators across the entire K-12 grade range. USI and UE are teaming up to assist educators in Southwest Indiana, which includes Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Warrick, and Vanderburgh counties.

The contract will fund services such as workshops, coursework, and resource development. To optimize teacher convenience, the services will be offered online as well as supported by more than a dozen collaborating universities and colleges located around the state. All services will be provided free of charge to Indiana educators. Training launches this coming summer and continues into next year. Three hours of graduate course credit through Indiana University is also available.

To find out more about the IndianaComputes! Program in southwest Indiana, please visit the webpage at www.indianacomputes.net.

For more information, contact:

Deborah Hwang, Director & Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Evansville: hwang@evansville.edu

Scott Anderson, Program Coordinator of Computer Science at the University of Southern Indiana: rsanderson@usi.edu

UE Electrical Engineering Students Participated in the Indiana Autonomous Day 2020

Posted: March 6, 2020

Women Stepping Up Features Dr. Jessica Lofton

Posted: March 5, 2020

Women Stepping Up features Dr. Jessica Lofton in its WEDnesday Woman article. Dr. Lofton is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Stepping Up is a non-partisan, non-profit effort that celebrates women in the Tri-State of every race, class and ethnic background who have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of the Evansville community.

http://steppingupevv.com/dr-jessica-lofton/

NATE and Tower Family Foundation Announce the 2020 Recipient of the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship

Posted: February 24, 2020

University of Evansville Civil Engineering Scholarship is Funded Annually by NATE; Honors Jones’ Legacy as a Structural Engineer, Industry Icon

(Raleigh, North Carolina) - NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and Tower Family Foundation today jointly announced that Elijah Sullivan, a junior civil engineering student from Evansville, Indiana has been named as the 2020 recipient of the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. The official announcement was made at the NATE Awards & Sponsor Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, February 19 during the annual NATE UNITE 2020 Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Elijah is at the top of his class academically but especially excels in his major courses related to construction and UE’s structural analysis and design sequences. In addition to his civil engineering major, Elijah is now pursuing minors in both Mathematics and Engineering Management with an anticipated graduation date of May 2021. Ever curious about the way things work, Elijah has participated in the University of Evansville’s steel bridge project, and has been involved with the Aces Concrete Canoe team since his sophomore year. Most recently, he interned with the Indiana Department of Transportation's (INDOT) bridge inspection unit in the summer of 2019. For the summer of 2020, Elijah is actively seeking to obtain a structural design internship.

“Elijah is a dedicated student who demonstrates an eagerness to learn as much as possible about structural design and construction,” stated Dr. James Allen, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Evansville. “In my structural analysis and design classes I can always count on Elijah to ask insightful questions that lead to an increased understanding by not only himself, but also his classmates. He has a unique ability to frame his questions in a way that leads to deeper discussions of practical design and construction issues. We think this diligence and continuous pursuit for deeper understanding of the behavior of his designs embodies the spirit of Ernie Jones as the recipient of his named memorial scholarship,” added Dr. Allen.

Ernie Jones was a structural engineer who worked in the broadcast tower industry for 30 years. During his career, Mr. Jones served as a Professional Engineer and President of Consolidated Engineering, Inc. and as Vice-President of Structural Engineering at Electronics Research, Inc. Ernie was also a participating member of the TR-14.7 Committee of the Telecommunications Industry Association and Electronics Industry Association since 1986 where he assisted with writing and approving the ANSI-TIA/EIA 222 Standard which is the American National Standard for Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures.

The Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship awards a $2,500 NATE-funded scholarship annually to a junior or senior level civil engineering student at the University of Evansville’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.

For more information on NATE, visit www.natehome.com. Visit www.towerfamilyfoundation.org to learn more about the Tower Family Foundation.

Annual Engineers Week Celebration and Awards

Posted: February 24, 2020

Two University of Evansville Civil Engineering Students Awarded Scholarships by the Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana

Posted: January 9, 2020

David Unger publishes open access paper on fracture mechanics

Posted: December 6, 2019

David Unger, professor of mechanical and civil engineering, published the article "Visualizing the Crack Driving Force through Fluid Analogy" in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials 2019; 28:89–94. A PDF of the article can be accessed online for free.

UE Offers Review Course for Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

Posted: September 27, 2019

The University of Evansville College of Engineering and Computer Science has announced 2019-20 dates for the annual review and preparation course for those planning to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.

All classes will be held Thursday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science on the UE campus. Classes are divided into relevance per discipline. Fees are adjusted accordingly.

• Candidates for civil engineering will attend from October 3 - January 23.
• Candidates for mechanical engineering and other disciplines will attend from October 3 - November 21.
• Electrical and computer engineering candidates will attend October 31-November 21.

Registration forms and payment must be returned by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2019. Contact Kimberly Higgins at kh209@evansville.edu or at 812-488-2651 for more information on registration. Early registration is encouraged as space as limited.

UE to Offer UExplore Engineering Program

Posted: September 26, 2019

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Evansville is offering a UExplore Engineering Program for high school students. The program is designed to give participants a better understanding of the fields of civil, mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering and computer science through activities, hands-on projects, and tours of local industry.

The sessions in the program are October 14, November 4, November 25, January 20, February 10, March 2, March 30, and April 20.  All sessions will be from 6:00-7:15 p.m. in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science on UE’s campus.

James Allen, UE associate professor of mechanical and civil engineering, is the advisor for the program. A registered professional engineer in the states of Indiana and Ohio, Allen has extensive work experience in industry. Allen will be assisted with the program by UE engineering students.

The registration fee for the program is $50.

Register online or contact Kimberly Higgins for more information at 812-488-2661 or kh209@evansville.edu.

UE Signs Collaboration Agreements with Chinese Universities

Posted: September 5, 2019

Faculty Honored at Celebration of Teaching Excellence

Posted: May 8, 2019

The First Annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence was held on Monday, May 6, and honored faculty teaching accomplishments and activities in pedagogical development during the academic year. This was the first year that the Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence offered two certificates for faculty members who met requirements of engagement and participation in ECTE sponsored events.

Faculty members earning the 2018-2019 New Faculty Engagement Certificate were:
Alison Jones, Lecturer/Transition to Teaching Coordinator, School of Education
Julie Merkle, Assistant Professor of Biology, Department of Biology
Sara Petrosillo, Assistant Professor of English, Department of English

Faculty members earning the 2018-2019 Teaching Development Certificate were:
Heather Fenton, Assistant Professor of Management, Schroeder School of Business Administration
Lisa Marie Hale, Assistant Professor of Education, School of Education
Jessie Lofton, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Mary Lombardo-Graves, Assistant Professor of Special Education, School of Education
Diana Rodríguez Quevedo, Associate Professor of Spanish, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures

Finally, the inaugural Leadership in Teaching Excellence Award was presented to Diana Rodríguez Quevedo, Associate Professor of Spanish, for her commitment to her personal teaching development, supporting the growth of others, and strengthening teaching excellence across the campus community.

Congratulations and thank you to all of our faculty colleagues for their commitment to teaching excellence at the University of Evansville!

The Celebration of Teaching Excellence was hosted by the Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence and made possible with the generous support of Rita and Richard Eykamp.

Dean's Teaching Awards

Posted: May 6, 2019

The Academic Deans have awarded the Dean’s Teaching Awards for 2018-2019.

The faculty members being honored are:

• Kate Schwartzkopf-Phifer, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy from the College of Education and Health Sciences
• Jessica Lofton, Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Rania Mousa, Associate Professor of Accounting from the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration
• Derek Jones, Assistant Professor of Philosophy from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences
• Thomas Josenhans, Professor of Music from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences

Congratulations to our deserving faculty members!

UE Announces New Graduate Program in Engineering

Posted: April 5, 2019

The University of Evansville has announced plans to implement a new Masters of Engineering (M.Eng.) graduate program. Students will be able to enroll in the program beginning in the Fall of 2019. The professional degree program will offer three options: Master of Engineering - Electrical Engineering, Master of Engineering - Computer Engineering, and Master of Engineering - Computer Science. This 12-month graduate program is designed for those with a bachelor's degree in engineering who wish to gain advanced knowledge and experience in their field.

The program's one-year time frame is especially beneficial for undergraduate engineering students as they can extend their studies by one more year and obtain both a bachelor's and a M.Eng. degree.

"Earning a Master of Engineering degree enables students to begin their career at an advanced level," explained Ying Shang, UE dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. "Most engineers only have a bachelor's degree, so those who have a M.Eng. stand out in the job market and in their work place. In fact, the salary for an engineer with a M.Eng. degree is typically $20,000 higher than for an engineer who just has a bachelor's degree."

The curriculum of all three degree options in the program follow a similar format but differ in specific course requirements and content. Students take advanced courses in their engineering area option and in related fields.

Admission into the Master of Engineering degree program requires an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science. The cost of the program is $525 per hour.

For more information, please contact Professor Dick Blandford at db64@evansville.edu.

UE Engineers Week Features Student Inductions and Awards

Posted: February 26, 2019

The University of Evansville’s College of Engineering and Computer Science recently held its annual celebration for Engineers Week. Several engineering students were announced as new inductees in the Tau Delta Kappa engineering honor society by Jared Fulcher, UE assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Other engineering students were recognized by the college and the Office of Development.

UE civil engineering student Marcus Gahagen received the Paul “PR” Brown Spirit Award. This award is presented annually to an engineering major who has been nominated by the faculty and has completed at least four semesters in good academic standing, who is an encouragement and help to his/her fellow students, and who demonstrates leadership in fostering cooperation and camaraderie among the engineering students.

UE computer science student Justin Banks received the James M. Hall, Jr. Memorial Award. This award is presented annually to a student of the junior engineering class who is considered by the faculty to be the most outstanding based on scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, character, responsibility, attitude, and potential for professional growth.

The Engineers Week Reception was hosted by the UE student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. It was sponsored in part by the Evansville-Owensboro Section of IEEE, the College Career Center Consortium, and the UE Center for Career Development.

Tony Richardson receives UE Exemplary Teacher Award

Posted: December 13, 2018

Tony Richardson, associate professor and director of the electrical engineering program at the University of Evansville, received the University’s Exemplary Teacher Award during UE’s winter commencement exercise on Thursday, December 13.

The Exemplary Teacher Award is given by the University to an exceptional member of the faculty in acknowledgment of his or her teaching excellence.

Richardson became a member of UE’s faculty in 2000. His specialty areas are digital signal processing and electronic communication. Richardson has developed courses in his discipline that are required by all of UE’s electrical engineering and computer engineering majors. He is highly sought after as a senior project advisor, and he understands the curriculum so well that he advises students with the most challenging schedules. Richardson is extremely popular among students and consistently scores near the top of his department in teaching evaluations.

Richardson earned his PhD in electrical engineering from Duke University, his MS in electrical engineering from Syracuse University, and his BS in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky.

Senior Computer Engineering Students Present at MIT Conference

Posted: October 9, 2018

University of Evansville computer engineering students Braden Elliot and Kunal Mukherjee recently presented lightning talks about their senior projects at the The 2018 IEEE MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference (URTC) held October 5-7, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA.

Elliot presented "Player 1 Human, Player 2 Machine", a project about training a recurrent neural network through reinforced learning to optimize the output of a positional derivative controller.  The network observes nonlinearity in the system which the controller is unable to account for, resulting in a smoother output.

Mukherjee's project "Location Dependent Cryptography" is an investigation into connecting the location of a receiver as part of a packet encryption method by computing a transmission specific key using the time difference of the intended packet reception time.  The goal is to provide greater protection and security of intellectual property.

URTC brings together undergraduates around the world to present, discuss, and develop solutions to advance technology for humanity.  Elliot and Mukherjee "had the opportunity to interact with undergraduate students and learn about the cutting edge as well as innovative research."

UE Ranked Number 7 Best College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report

Posted: September 10, 2018

The University of Evansville has been named seventh best college in the Midwest in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges rankings. UE has risen two spots in this year’s overall ranking, and was again named as one of the top 10 value colleges in the Midwest.

The University was also recognized as one of the Most Innovative Schools in the Midwest for the first time. Top college officials from across the country made nominations for this list, selecting institutions known for making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, campus life, technology, or facilities.

In May 2018, UE was designated as a Changemaker Campus by Ashoka U for its role as a leader in social innovation and changemaking in higher education. UE is the first Changemaker Campus in Indiana.

The University was listed on several other U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges lists this year. UE’s Schroeder School of Business was named the number three best undergraduate business school in the nation among small private colleges, with its accounting and finance programs coming in at number one and number two respectively.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science was named the number 25 best undergraduate engineering school in the nation among small private colleges with no doctorate.  

The University was also recognized as the number six Best College for Veterans in the Midwest and a Top Midwest School for International Students and remains a Top 10 Best Value college.

“To be recognized nationally on so many levels speaks volumes about the great programs, great people, and great qualities of this University,” said Shane Davidson, vice president for enrollment and marketing at UE. “We are especially proud of making the most innovative list—innovation and changemaking are at the heart of the UE experience.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are designed to help prospective students and their families evaluate college choices. The Best Colleges rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/colleges and will be published in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2019 guidebook, on newsstands later this month.

UE Offers Review Course for Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

Posted: August 29, 2018

The University of Evansville College of Engineering and Computer Science has announced dates for the annual review and preparation course for those planning to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.

All classes will be held Thursday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science on the UE campus. Classes are divided into relevance per discipline. Fees are adjusted accordingly.

Candidates for civil engineering will attend from September 27-January 24. 
Candidates for mechanical engineering and other disciplines will attend from September 27-November 15. 
Electrical and computer engineering candidates will attend October 25-November 15.

Registration forms and payment must be returned by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26. Contact Kimberly Higgins at kh209@evansville.edu or at 812-488-2651 for more information on registration. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. 

Trockman receives top undergraduate prize in student research competition

Posted: August 28, 2018

Asher Trockman, an undergraduate in computer science at the University of Evansville, received this year’s top undergraduate prize in the Student Research Competition at the International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE) in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Trockman is a 2017 member of Carnegie Mellon's Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Software Engineering (REUSE) program, 

The award, part of the ACM Student Research Competition (SRC) sponsored by Microsoft Research, affords undergraduate and graduate students a unique opportunity to present their original research before a panel of judges and experts. Winners of the competition are invited to participate in the ACM Student Research Competition Grand Finals.

The research was conducted while Trockman was a student in the REUSE program during the summer of 2017, along with Shurui Zhou, Christian Kästner, and Bogdan Vasilescu at the Institute for Software Research and the Socio-Technical Research Using Data Excavation Lab (STRUDEL). The resulting paper, "Adding Sparkle to Social Coding: An Empirical Study of Repository Badges in the npm Ecosystem", was published in the technical track at ICSE and was also presented as part of the ICSE Student Research Competition.

The research examined the reliability of GitHub repository badges for inferring various qualities of open source projects.

David Unger publishes journal article

Posted: August 3, 2018

David J. Unger, University of Evansville professor of mechanical and civil engineering, recently published the technical article “Free Streamline Hydrodynamic Analogy for a Linear Elastic Antiplane Slot Problem with Perfectly Plastic Ligaments at its Ends,” in the Journal of Elasticity, Volume 132, pages 261-270 (2018).

Mary Dial Kerstein receives ACEC 2018 Young Engineer of the Year Award

Posted: July 10, 2018

UE alumna Mary (Dial) Kerstein recently received the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Indiana 2018 Young Engineer of the Year Award.

 ACEC Indiana annually recognizes several individuals for their contributions to the consulting engineering professions. Kerstein received the award for her well-rounded involvement that parallels ACEC Indiana’s mission and objectives.

Kerstein is an active member of Women’s Transportation Seminar of Greater Indianapolis for four years and currently serves as vice president. Her passion for encouraging young women to go into STEM related fields is why she is a very active member of a number of young professional/education committees in professional and industry organizations, including the Young Professionals Committee for Aviation Indiana and the Education Committees of ACEC Indiana.

Fire Fighting Robot Team wins 1st and 3rd at international competition

Posted: April 11, 2018

The University of Evansville competed this past weekend, April 6-9, in the Firefighting Robot International Robot competition at Trinity College in Harford, CT.

Seventy teams from around the world including China, Israel, Indonesia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (to name a few) competed and were challenged to program a robot to navigate a model home in search of a fire, represented by a burning candle, and then extinguish the fire. The robot was required to watch out for walls, furniture, animals, and other obstacles.

Team Isaiah Frey and Jacob Stratman (both electrical engineering students) placed third with their robot “Spit Fire."

Frey and Stratman competed in the Versa Valve Challenge while at the competition. This challenge required a unique robot to complete two successful runs while using a Versa Valve. They placed first in their division.

UE professor and student have paper accepted for publication

Posted: April 9, 2018

UE associate professor/mechanical and civil engineering Peter L. Schmidt, PE, and his co-author Philip Lax, a UE student, have had their paper accepted for presentation at the 125th annual conference of the American Society for Engineering Education.

The paper is titled:  "Use of computer coding to teach design in a mechanics course, resulting in an implementation of a kinematic mechanism design tool using PYTHON."

The conference will be held in Salt Lake City in June of this year. The paper documents the implementation of a new assignment structure in a mechanics’ course, highlighting an exemplary submission by the co-author. The peer reviewed paper will also be published in the conference proceedings.

Selvaraj selected as an ASCE 2017 Outstanding Reviewer

Posted: March 27, 2018

The Journal of Transportation Engineering, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), recently selected Immanuel Selvaraj, associate professor of civil engineering, as an ASCE 2017 Outstanding Reviewer.

The journal contains technical and professional articles on the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of air, highway, rail, and urban transportation, as well as pipeline facilities for water, oil, and gas.

Public Invited to UE Engineering Excellence Day

Posted: March 21, 2018

The University of Evansville’s annual Engineering Excellence Day is set for Saturday, March 24, from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on the first floor of the Ridgway University Center This event is free and open to the public.

Projects designed and built by teams of UE engineering student will be on display outside Ridgway University Center. The students will be on hand to explain how their projects were designed and created.

The students will also be presenting “Real Talk” from 1:30-2:00 p.m. in Vectren Lecture Hall, Room 100, in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science. During this activity, prospective students, parents, and anyone with an interest in engineering can find out what it is like to be an engineering student at UE.

For more information, contact UE’s College of Engineering and Science at 812-488-2651 or kh209@evansville.edu.

David Unger publishes fracture mechanics paper

Posted: February 20, 2018

David J. Unger, professor of mechanical and civil engineering, recently published a journal article titled, "A theoretical resistance-curve based on nonproportional plastic strain," in the International Journal of Fracture, Volume 210, pp. 207-211, (2018).

Registration for UE Engineering Summer Camps Now Open

Posted: January 17, 2018

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Evansville announces open registration for its annual engineering summer camps.

The Engineering OPTIONS for Middle School Boys summer career exploration program is a week-long day camp opportunity for middle school boys currently in grades 6, 7, or 8 and elementary school boys currently in grade 5. It will be held daily at UE from Monday, June 18-Friday, June 22. Registration deadline is April 1.

The Engineering OPTIONS for Middle School Girls summer career exploration program is a 3 ½ day residential opportunity at UE for middle school girls currently in grades 6, 7, or 8. The program begins on Sunday, June 10 and concludes Wednesday, June 13.  Registration deadline is April 1.

The Engineering OPTIONS for High School Girls Harlaxton Experience 2018 will be a 10-day program in London and nearby Harlaxton College, UE’s living learning center in Grantham, England. The program is for high school girls currently in grades 9, 10, or 11 who have completed geometry. The program begins Thursday, June 28, and concludes on Saturday, July 7. Registration deadline is February 12.

Participants in UE’s Engineering OPTIONS programs will have a better understanding of what types of opportunities are available in fields most closely related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

Learn more and register on the UE Engineering OPTIONS webpage. 

Austin Kraus receives Williston Award at international conference

Posted: December 20, 2017

Honors Program Undergraduate Research Grant Awarded

Posted: December 12, 2017

Philip Lax, mechanical engineering senior, has received the Fall 2017 Honors Program Undergraduate Research Grant. As a recipient of this award, Lax will receive funding support from the Honors Program to complete his honors project, entitled “Effects on Collector Efficiency of a Thermosiphon-Powered Solar Water Heater from Variations in Reservoir Tank Shape.”

Lax will present the results of his project, along with other Honors Program graduates, in April during the Honors Program Project Presentations.

Mechanical engineering alum noted in mechanical engineering magazine

Posted: October 26, 2017

UE Professor to Make Official Attempt at Breaking World Record for Highest Stack of Tortillas at UE ChangeFest, September 15

Posted: September 13, 2017

On Friday, September 15, the University of Evansville will hold its first ever “ChangeFest” to support programs that are bringing positive change to the world—Mission Guatemala, Cuba Skate, the upcoming Habitat for Humanity build in Guatemala, and more.

Several events will happen simultaneously on UE’s East Terrace Lawn (listed below). The main attraction will be an official attempt to break the Guinness world record for the highest stack of tortillas. All 430+ tortillas used in the attempt were donated by Abraham Brown, owner of the popular and local La Campirana. Professor Mark Valenzuela will use a homemade smokeless stove (similar to the ones UE students will build and install in Guatemalan homes later this year) to fry tortillas before adding them to the stack. The final purple tortilla will be delivered by UE President Tom Kazee in an “epic” fashion. It is estimated to take approximately 30 minutes and 300 tortillas to break the record. 

A full list of UE ChangeFest Interactive Stations are as follows:

• World-Recording Breaking Tortilla Stacking: Begins at approximately 4:30, see description above

All following events begin at 4:00 p.m.

• Make Your Own an Adobe Brick: Create an adobe brick like the ones that will be used to build smokeless stoves for families in Guatemala later this year
• Paper Making: Make your own paper from scratch
• Race to Hammer a Nail: Who can hammer a nail into a board the fastest in preparation for the Habitat for Humanity build in Guatemala?
• Skateboard Making Demonstration: A representative from Killer Skate Park will demonstrate skateboard making as a preview to the project that will happen in Cuba later this year.
• Disc Golf—with tortillas! Throw tortillas into disc golf goals and see who can score the most!
• Salsa Dancing: Learn salsa dancing from UE’s Erin Lewis, owner of Evansville Dancesport Academy.
• Making Good Go Viral: This activity will be run by Scott Sherman, an expert on environmental regeneration and the most effective ways to create social progress and innovation. Scott will also be the featured speaker at Saturday’s session, Unleashing Creative Potential. This session is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, but seating is limited, so RSVP to creativity@evansville.edu to guarantee your seat! More info here: https://www.evansville.edu/globalenterprise/creativity.cfm.
• Changemaker Photo Booth: Students will submit stories about the positive changes they’ve made on campus and/or in the world as well as the changes they’d like to see happen. 

UE Ranked Third Best Midwest Value University by U.S. News & World Report, Among Other Honors

Posted: September 12, 2017

Peter Schmidt has research paper accepted for publication

Posted: September 7, 2017

University of Evansville associate professor of mechanical engineering Peter Schmidt has had - along with his research group - an original research article accepted to the International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology.

The work, entitled "Noncontact measurements of acoustic emissions from the single-point turning process," is an investigation of the ultrasonic emission characteristics of metals undergoing a common manufacturing process. This work was conducted in support of non-proliferation efforts at DOE Y-12 National Security Complex.

Mechanical Engineering Students Win Rookie of the Year at NASA Student Launch Competition

Posted: May 15, 2017

Mechanical Engineering Major Austin Kraus wins ASME Arthur L. Williston Medal

Posted: May 9, 2017

Mechanical engineering senior Austin Kraus was selected as the most recent winner of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Arthur L. Williston Medal national writing competition.

ASME presents the award “annually to the student engineer or recent graduate who authors the best paper in the area of civic service.” Austin’s paper was titled “Safe Growth of Autonomous Systems through International Regulations.” 

In the past 16 years, 9 UE mechanical engineering students have placed: 5 winners, 3 placed second, and 1 placed third. Austin will receive a bronze medal in November at the 2017 ASME Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in Tampa, FL along with a certificate and a $1000 honorarium.

Schmidt elected to American Society for Engineering Education board of directors

Posted: April 19, 2017

Peter Schmidt, University of Evansville associate professor of mechanical engineering, has been elected chair of professional interest council II and member of the American Society for Engineering Education board of directors.

Schmidt will serve in this capacity for two years.

The membership elected seven officers to its board of directors in April. The board members will begin their terms at the society’s annual conference in June in Columbus, Ohio.

UE’s Project Ace Team of Engineering Students Successfully Complete Rocket Test Flights

Posted: March 3, 2017

The University of Evansville's Project Ace team of engineering students successfully completed three test flights of their high-powered rocket recently in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The team will compete nationally this April, in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of NASA's University Student Launch Initiative.

The rocket is designed to reach an altitude of exactly one mile and return safely to the ground while protecting a fragile material. Project Ace's test flight data show the rocket reaching within 15 feet of the targeted 5,280 foot altitude. The team also successfully carried an egg on board, bringing it back to ground safely.

Seven seniors in mechanical engineering are leading the team, which also includes freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Videos of the launch will be available soon on the UE mechanical engineering rocket team web page.

UE professor accepts birdhouse construction challenge

Posted: February 9, 2017

The Office of Study Abroad at the University of Evansville has issued a unique construction challenge to UE civil engineering professor Mark Valenzuela. Build a birdhouse in one hour with no plans and no materials – except for whatever wood, instructions, and tools can be “won” for him by participants in a trivia contest

Both the challenge and the trivia contest are part of an event planned for Thursday, February 23, noon-1:00 p.m., in the North Lobby of the Koch Center for Engineering and Science.

The activities are designed to bring awareness to a study abroad program that will enable students to travel to Nicaragua to work with Habitat for Humanity on building a home for a family in need. 

The public is invited to attend this free event and help Valenzuela build the birdhouse by answering trivia questions. For each question answered correctly, he will receive a crucial tool or piece of information to finish the birdhouse. Attendees will also be encouraged to bet on how long it will take Valenzuela to complete construction, and the person with the closest time will receive the birdhouse.

UE Mourns the Passing of Dean of Engineering and Computer Science, Philip Gerhart, PhD, PE.

Posted: January 30, 2017

University of Evansville to Launch Software Engineering Program in Fall 2017

Posted: October 31, 2016

The University of Evansville will launch a new software engineering program in Fall 2017. Software systems are at the core of the future economy, and software engineers are needed to build these systems.

Software engineers may develop many types of programs including operating systems, computer games, middleware, business applications, network control systems, and more.

“This is a cutting-edge degree, and software engineers are in high demand,” says Don Roberts, associate professor of computer science at UE. “You may immediately think of software engineers as designing apps—like Angry Birds—but they do much more, and the curriculum we’ve designed will prepare students for a wide range of career options.”

Software engineering is a branch of computer science that deals with the design, implementation, and maintenance of complex computer systems (very large programs that cannot be written by one person alone). Software engineering teaches students to work in teams and emphasizes design for reliability and maintenance.

Early, hands-on learning opportunities make the University of Evansville stand apart in many of its programs.

“Students will begin designing and building applications in their first semester,” says Roberts. “Students at other universities might not get the opportunity to work on real projects until their junior or senior years.”

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at UE was just named the number 22 best undergraduate engineering program among small private colleges by U.S News & World Report. The college also recently received a $1 million gift to purchase new equipment for engineering programs.

To learn more about software engineering at the University of Evansville, please contact the office of admission at 812-488-2468.

David Unger Publishes Paper on Fracture Mechanics

Posted: September 19, 2016

David J. Unger, professor of mechanical and civil engineering, has published an article titled "Path-dependent J-integral evaluations around an elliptical hole for large deformation theory in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials," vol. 25, 77-81 (2016).

UE College of Engineering and Computer Science Receives Gift of $1 Million

Posted: September 15, 2016

The University of Evansville’s College of Engineering and Computer Science will soon purchase some new equipment thanks to a recent gift of $1 million. The generous donation comes from Paul and Patricia Jones, longtime supporters of UE.  

The Joneses have a strong connection to the University of Evansville, and as a couple have contributed immensely to the institution’s success.

They met as students at the University and later married in the school’s Neu Chapel. Patricia pursued a major in medical technology, while Paul earned his degree in engineering. Paul is currently a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, and is the retired chair and CEO of A.O. Smith Corporation.

“We truly appreciate the Jones’s generosity to our engineering programs,” said UE president Thomas A. Kazee. “Their support has been instrumental in transforming much of campus. This particular gift represents the perfect marriage of our shared vision for how state-of-the art engineering education – grounded on the solid foundation of the liberal arts and sciences - can help the region build the workforce of the future.” 

Items that will be bought with the Jones’s gift have long been on the wish lists of UE’s engineering programs. Equipment to be purchased includes a 3D scanner, multiple 3D printers, thermal imaging scanner, a 5-axis milling machine, and a project realization laboratory.

Philip Gerhart, dean of UE’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, noted that “equipment and facilities obtained with Paul and Pat Jones’s magnificent gift will play a key role in continuing the University’s commitment to excellence through both rigorous academics and hands-on experiences.”

UE’s engineering programs are designed to meet local, national and global needs. Students have the opportunity to study civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science. UE also offers a biomedical option in both electrical and mechanical engineering and a certificate program in energy engineering that prepares current students and graduate engineers for opportunities in alternative and traditional energy technologies; an area believed to be key to developing the economy of the region.

UE Recognized a Best Regional University by U.S. News & World Report

Posted: September 13, 2016

Peter Schmidt has article published in Materials Science and Technology

Posted: September 5, 2016

University of Evansville associate professor of mechanical engineering Peter Schmidt has an article titled "Residual surface stress: comparing traditional and modulated tool path machining processes" in the journal Materials Science and Technology.

The article documents a study of the effect of modulated tool path machining on residual stresses found in metal parts fabricated using single point turning.

Unger presents paper at international symposium on mechanics

Posted: August 26, 2016

On August 23, David Unger, professor of mechanical and civil engineering, presented a technical paper at the XXIV International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in Montreal, Canada. This symposium is the premier conference in his field and is held only once every four years in a different country around the world. His talk was on stress concentrations due to the presence of a slot cut in a structural plate.

UE Professor Mark Valenzuela Receives Eykamp Prize

Posted: August 18, 2016

University of Evansville associate professor of civil engineering Mark Valenzuela has been awarded the University’s Eykamp Prize. This is the first year for the award, which was presented during UE’s Fall Conference on Tuesday, August 16.

The Eykamp Prize was established by Richard and Rita Eykamp to recognize extraordinary contributions made by UE faculty to the University. The Eykamps are long-time supporters of UE with a strong connection to the institution. Rita Eykamp is a graduate of UE and a life trustee of the University.

Valenzuela earned his bachelor of engineering degree in civil and environmental engineering from Vanderbilt University, and his doctorate from Cornell University. He joined UE’s faculty in 1999.

During his time at the University, he has been dedicated to serving UE and its students

Under his leadership, UE entered its first regional concrete canoe competition in 2001. By 2005, the team was competing at the national level. UE has hosted the regional competition twice on campus; and is distinguished as the smallest university to ever host the national competition. 

Well-respected and much loved by his students, Valenzuela serves not only as an advisor in academic matters but also offers them guidance in career planning and personal development.

The Alumni Association recognized him with the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2003 and 2013. He is the only member of the faculty to receive this honor twice. 

Recently Valenzuela led the campus-wide effort to gain re-accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. This major commitment of time and energy was recognized when UE received an important confirmation from the commission that the University operates in an arena of excellence with a commitment to continuous improvement.

When presenting the prize, Richard Eykamp noted that, in addition to his impressive academic accomplishments, “Valenzuela is a role model who lives by a code of respect and service to others. He is a man of curiosity, personal discovery, and the highest ethical values. The University is honored by his accomplishments, his leadership, and his character.”

Grant Obtained for Participation in NASA University Student Launch Initiative

Posted: June 6, 2016

David Unger, University of Evansville professor of mechanical and civil engineering, has received a $5000 grant from the Indiana Space Grant Consortium to support a UE student team that will design, build, launch, and recover a high powered rocket at a competition sponsored by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This competition, which takes place in April 2017, requires the rocket to reach an altitude of one mile while conducting two scientific experiments on board.

UE Civil Engineering Students Compete at ASCE Conference

Posted: May 2, 2016

Nineteen University of Evansville civil engineering students represented UE’s chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) at the annual Great Lakes Student Conference held recently in Chicago, Illinois. The event was hosted by the Illinois Institute of Technology. Mark Valenzuela, UE professor of engineering and the concrete canoe faculty advisor, accompanied the UE students to the conference.

Over 300 students from 19 civil engineering programs in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin attended the event. They participated in professional ethics presentations, academic competitions, and networking events. 

UE’s Aces concrete canoe team won second place at the regional level behind the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  In the overall conference competitions, UE placed fifth, ahead of such schools as Purdue, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Rose-Hulman,      University of Southern Indiana, Bradley, and Valparaiso. 

The concrete canoe team consisted of the following UE students: Erich Hopf (project manager), Manuel Jara Perez (team manager), Alexis Sorrell (team manager), Samantha Shuler (team manager), Meredith Secrest (team manager), Shannon Gates (team manager), Trent Vowell, Jacob Slick, Samuel Brinegar, and Ryan Freeman.

UE students competed in other categories at the conference including:

Surveying: UE students Stuart Watson, Donald Hubbard, and Trent Vowell determined the height of a tower on the IIT campus.

Materials: UE students John East, Hannah Kirk, and Hashem Hatahet tested a pervious concrete slab that was designed by their junior-level construction materials class to allow water to flow through the concrete to prevent ponding on streets and parking lots.

Environmental: UE students John East, Hannah Kirk, Meredith Secrest, and Ryan Freeman analyzed building data for environmental problems and design errors.

Mystery Design: UE students Abdullah Alzakari, Chukiat Kanphian, Elyse Massey, and Elizabeth Theriac took on a timed challenge of designing and constructing the tallest tower that could hold a golf-ball using common household items obtained by answering Chicago-based trivia.

Quiz Bowl: UE students John East, Hannah Kirk, and Hashem Hatahet answered technical questions based on civil engineering course-work in three elimination rounds.

Technical Paper: UE student Stuart Watson presented his paper on the ethical issues surrounding working with different design standards around the world. 

The ASCE is the oldest professional engineering organization in the United States.  Its Great Lakes Conference comprises the following schools: University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Marquette University, Bradley University, University of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University at West Lafayette, Purdue University-Calumet, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Indiana State University, University of Southern Indiana,  Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Notre Dame, Trine University, Valparaiso University, and UE. 

UE Student Receives Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship

Posted: February 25, 2016

University of Evansville student Forrest J. Plumlee has been named the first recipient of the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship. This $2,500 scholarship will be awarded annually to a junior or senior civil engineering student at UE’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. Plumlee, a resident of Columbus, Indiana, received the scholarship during the University’s 19th annual Engineers Week Banquet hosted by the UE College of Engineering and Computer Science on February 24.

The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) and the Tower Family Foundation recently announced the establishment of the scholarship during the annual NATE UNITE 2016 conference.

Jim Coleman, a member of the Tower Family Foundation board of directors and former NATE chairman, said that NATE and the Tower Family Foundation were honored to recognize Jones’s legacy through the establishment of the scholarship at UE.

“Ernie was one of the most prominent structural engineers in the United States, and his contributions to NATE and the entire industry made an indelible impact on safety,” said Coleman

Jones died tragically in 2015 while inspecting a tower. A structural engineer who worked in the broadcast tower industry for 30 years, Jones served as a professional engineer and president of Consolidated Engineering, Inc., and as vice president of structural engineering at Electronics Research, Inc. He was a member of the TR-14.7 Committee of the Telecommunications Industry Association and Electronics Industry Association, assisting with writing and approving the ANSI-TIA/EIA 222 standard, the American National Standard for steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures.

“The University of Evansville’s College of Engineering is excited to begin offering this scholarship to a deserving student,” stated Brian Swenty, chair of UE’s Mechanical and Civil Engineering Department. “The faculty and staff in the College of Engineering are committed to honoring Ernie Jones through this program and educating the next generation of civil and structural engineers.”

Kathy Jones, widow of Ernie Jones, expressed her appreciation for the establishment of the scholarship.

“On behalf of our entire family, we are humbled by this scholarship that has been created in Ernie’s name. I am excited that Ernie’s contributions to the industry will continue through the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship at the University of Evansville.”

UE’s 46th Annual Balsawood Bridge Competition Set for February 27

Posted: February 22, 2016

The University of Evansville student section of the American Society of Civil Engineers will conduct UE’s annual balsawood bridge competition on Saturday, February 27. This annual event has been an integral part of ASCE’s community involvement for 46 years. Kindergarten through high school aged children will participate in the competition, which will take place at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Preparations for the competition began a few months ago when participants were given balsawood and design specifications with which to build their bridges. The completed bridges will be brought to the competition where UE civil engineering students will inspect them for compliance with the rules and test their strength. The bridge that holds the most weight but uses the least amount of balsawood wins in different age group categories. The high school junior who places in the top three in the high school category will be offered a scholarship to UE.

UE civil engineering student Justin Trevino is the competition’s project manager.

Civil Engineers Receive PE Exam Results

Posted: January 18, 2016

The College of Engineering and Computer Science received Professional Engineer exam results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. The PE exam passing rate for UE civil engineering alumni was 90 percent (9/10) on the October 2015 PE exam, while the national average was 66 percent.

Over the past ten years, UE civil engineering alumni have exceeded the national passing rate on the PE exam by about 20 percent.

Passing the PE exam is a requirement for professional licensure as an engineer in all 50 states. Professional licensure protects the public by enforcing standards that restrict practice to qualified individuals who have met specific qualifications in education, work experience, and exams. In the United States, licensure for the engineering profession is regulated by state law.

Gerhart Publishes textbook on Fluid Mechanics

Posted: December 9, 2015

Philip Gerhart, Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering and Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, has co-authored the eighth edition of Munson, Young and Okiishi’s Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This text was co-authored by Andrew L. Gerhart, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Lawrence Technological University (Dr. Gerhart’s son and UE alumnus) and John I. Hochstein, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Memphis.

Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics is intended to help undergraduate engineering students learn the fundamentals of fluid mechanics. It was developed for use in a first course on fluid mechanics, either one or two semesters/terms.

With the eighth edition, the new team of authors continue the distinguished tradition of this text. As it has throughout the past seven editions, the original core prepared by Munson, Young and Okiishi remains. The authors have augmented this fine text, drawing on their many years of teaching experience and based on experience and suggestions from colleagues and students.

UE Team wins 1st Place at Site; Places 10th in ACM Mid-Central Regional Programming Contest

Posted: November 11, 2015

UE Team wins CCSC:MW Conference Student Programming Contest

Posted: October 8, 2015

EECS Students Conduct Summer Research

Posted: September 11, 2015

UE Civil Engineering Concrete Canoe Team Competes at Nationals

Posted: June 26, 2015

The University of Evansville’s civil engineering Concrete Canoe team earned 16th place overall in the 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers National Concrete Canoe Competition. Teams from some of the top engineering schools in the United States and Canada competed at the event, which was held at Clemson University on June 20-22. The UE team represented the smallest school at the competition.

The teams were judged on the design and construction of each canoe and the students’ ability to explain their innovative features in a design report and an oral presentation that included questioning by a panel of civil engineering professionals. In addition, the canoes were put to the test in a series of sprint, endurance, and slalom races.

For the first time in UE history, the paddling team placed in the top ten in the Women’s Endurance and Slalom and in the co-ed race. One of the event’s highlights was an exciting finish by the Aces co-ed team in the petit final race when they were narrowly edged out by the University of California at Berkeley.

UE associate professor of civil engineering and team advisor Mark Valenzuela traveled with the team to the competition at Clemson University He praised the UE team’s efforts, both for their work preparing for the competition and in their performance at the event.

“I’m so very proud of the team and what they’ve accomplished throughout the year,” said Valenzuela. “I was touched that they named their canoe “Julie,” after Julie Elpers Otis who led UE to her first Nationals ten years ago. She lost her battle with breast cancer just recently. These students should be proud of giving it their all to get to Nationals and competing toe-to-toe with some of the best schools in the country. Julie would most certainly be proud.”

2015 UE Civil Engineering Graduate Places First in National ASCE Student Competition

Posted: May 27, 2015

UE 2015 Aces Concrete Canoe Team Qualifies for National Competition

Posted: April 21, 2015

The University of Evansville 2015 Aces Concrete Canoe team has qualified for the National Concrete Canoe Competition. The team secured their spot by coming in second overall in the regional concrete canoe competition at the American Society of Civil Engineers Great Lakes Student Conference. That conference was April 16-19 at the University of Notre Dame. Out of the more than 250 civil engineering programs in the United States, only 25 schools qualify for competition at the national level.

The team’s 190-lb, 19.9-ft long canoe Julie, is named in honor of UE civil engineering alumna Julie (Elpers) Otis, who led Aces Concrete Canoe to its first Nationals Competition in 2005. Otis lost her battle with breast cancer in 2013, and the team found inspiration in her fight and in her strength.

The canoe will be on display at UE’s annual Engineering Excellence Day on Friday, April 24, 1:00-5:30 p.m., East Terrace lawn next to Ridgway University Center. This event is free and open to the public

In all four areas of the competition, design paper, product display, oral presentation, and races, the team came in second behind only the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which has won the National Competition five times. 

Aces Concrete Canoe placed second ahead of the University of Illinois at Chicago, in design paper, where the technical and project management aspects of the year-long project are discussed. 

On Friday, April 17, the Aces Concrete Canoe team used their product display to highlight the construction quality, aesthetics, and durability of their canoe, and to honor its namesake’s fight against breast cancer. In product display, the team placed second ahead of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. 

The presentation team delivered a summary on Saturday, April 18, of their year-long work to a panel of civil engineering judges, answering questions based on their presentation and design paper, and coming in second, ahead of third-place Northwestern University.

Race day was Friday, consisting of the two-man 600 meter slalom and endurance race, the two-woman slalom and endurance, the two-woman 200 meter sprint race, the two-man 200 meter sprint race, and two-man/two-woman co-ed 400-m sprint race. Except for one race, the paddling team came in second beating out third-place finishers that included Notre Dame (women’s sprint), Marquette (men’s sprint), University of Southern Indiana (co-ed sprint), and Northwestern University (men’s endurance). 

But in the women’s slalom and endurance, the paddling team beat out the University of Wisconsin-Madison team by nearly a minute to take first place, the only time in 15 years that any school has ever beaten the women’s team from Madison.

All 18 schools in the Great Lakes Region fielded canoes this year and included, in addition to the above: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Purdue, Valparaiso, Trine, Purdue University-Calumet, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, Bradley, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Illinois Institute of Technology.

UE Engineering Students Invite All to Engineering Excellence Day

Posted: April 21, 2015

The University of Evansville is hosting its annual Engineering Excellence Day on April 24, from 1:00-5:30 p.m., with engineering projects on display on the East Terrace lawn next to Ridgway University Center. This event is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to stop by and view the projects on display. Projects on display will include the Formula car, Baja Buggy, Firefighting Robots, Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe, and many more. Engineering students will be on site to explain the projects and answer questions. Tours will also be offered of the Koch Center for Engineering and Science. For more information, please call 812-488-2236 or 812-661-0125.

Heritage Federal Credit Union Awards Scholarships

Posted: September 30, 2014

Heritage Federal Credit Union honored soccer players Bronwyn Boswell and Kevin Schafer with its annual scholarship at last week's Student-Athlete Academic Honors Breakfast.

Given out each year, the scholarship is given to a male and female who meet four specific criteria.  They must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 while participating in at least 20 hours of community service for three or more non-profit service organizations.
 
The recipients must hold a campus leadership position and also assume a leadership role on their team, which is based on a letter of recommendation from their head coach.
 
Bronwyn Boswell of the women's soccer team has earned a 3.952 GPA as a direct admit into the Physical Therapy Program.  She has accumulated 40 community service hours while helping out 10 different organizations.
 
Mechanical Engineering major Kevin Schafer has worked hard to achieving a 3.9 GPA in his first three years.  In the community, Schafer has worked 20.5 hours across eight different organizations.

Mechanical Engineering Students' Research Featured on Cover of National Publication

Posted: September 17, 2014

The research work of mechanical engineering students Brandon Causey, Efoise Eigbobo, and Kevin Schafer was recently featured on the cover of the national quarterly CURQ on the Web, a digital publication of the Council for Undergraduate Research. Other mechanical engineering students, including Ajanwachuku Okike, Nick Ueblehor, Kyle Schwinghamer, and Alex Miller, were involved in the research to improve the performance of a solar-powered thermosiphon.

UE Receives 2014 NCEES Engineering Award

Posted: September 9, 2014

The University of Evansville was presented with a 2014 NCEES Engineering Award for Connecting Professional Practice and Education during a ceremony on UE’s campus on Tuesday, September 9. The event took place in the Bernhardt Atrium of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. 

The University was only one of only six colleges receiving this award from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES.) UE’s Civil Engineering Program in the College of Engineering and Computer Science will receive $7,500 as a winner of the competition.

For their entry, UE’s civil engineering senior design team worked with faculty, residents of Fairfield, Illinois, and licensed professional engineers on the Fairfield Reservoir and Dam project in Fairfield. Lakeside Park, in Fairfield, included a 100-year-old lake constructed on a 454 acre watershed. The lake was used for recreational purposes by local residents, but the deteriorating earth dam was declared unsafe in 2007 and ordered breached by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Successful collaboration between a ten-member student team, five licensed engineers, four faculty members, the Fairfield Park District, and the Fairfield Mayor’s office resulted in a design for constructing a new dam and spillway, reestablishing a 12-acre lake, and providing flood protection for residents of the city of Fairfield. Find more information about the project at http://cdn1.ncees.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Univ-Evansville.pdf

“It is quite an honor to receive this prestigious award,” said UE President Thomas A. Kazee. “We are extremely proud of our civil engineering student team.”

The student team members were: Chris Kuester and James Gabe, project managers, Matt Blythe, Jamie Johnson, Alex Loehrlein, Hieronymus Mitchell, Zach Neukam, Heather Passey, Alex Schwingerhamer and Kilian Sweet.

“These students did an outstanding job, and their design meets state and federal dam safety requirements,” said Brian Swenty, chair of UE’s Mechanical and Civil Engineering Department.

The NCEES Engineering Award recognizes engineering programs that encourage collaboration between students and professional engineers. EAC-ABET-accredited programs from all engineering disciplines were invited to submit projects that integrate professional practice and education. The winners were selected by a jury of NCEES members and representatives from academic institutions and professional engineering organizations.

Philip Gerhart, dean of UE’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, said competitions such as this one are invaluable to students.

“This competition added a degree of realism and significance to the students’ projects that is not present in ‘textbook’ assignments,” explained Gerhart. “We are grateful for NCEES providing this opportunity and for selecting our students’ project for an award.”

The grand prize winner of the competition was Seattle University. Other winners were The Citadel, North Carolina State University, and University of Notre Dame. Profiles of the winning submissions are available online at http://ncees.org/award.

University of Evansville Civil Engineering Students Win 2014 NCEES Engineering Award for Fairfield Reservoir and Dam Project

Posted: June 12, 2014

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) has named the University of Evansville as one of only six colleges nationally to receive a 2014 NCEES Engineering Award for Connecting Professional Practice and Education. UE’s Civil Engineering Program in the College of Engineering and Computer Science will receive $7,500 as a winner of the competition.

For their entry, UE’s civil engineering senior design team worked with faculty, residents of Fairfield, and licensed professional engineers on the Fairfield Reservoir and Dam project in Fairfield, Illinois. Lakeside Park, in Fairfield included a 100-year-old lake constructed in the late nineteenth century on a 454 acre watershed. The lake was used for recreational purposes by local residents, but the deteriorating earth dam was declared unsafe in 2007 and ordered breached by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Successful collaboration between a ten-member student team, five licensed engineers, four faculty, the Fairfield Park District, and the Fairfield Mayor’s office resulted in a design for constructing a new dam and spillway, reestablishing a 12-acre lake, and providing flood protection for residents of the city of Fairfield. Find more information about the project at http://cdn1.ncees.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Univ-Evansville.pdf

“The civil engineering students worked eight months on this project and collaborated with a number of stakeholders.  They did an outstanding job and their design meets state and federal dam safety requirements,” said Brian Swenty, Chair of the Mechanical and Civil Engineering Department at UE. The ten civil engineering students who worked on the project were Chris Kuester and James Gabe, project managers, Matt Blythe, Jamie Johnson, Alex Loehrlein, Hieronymus Mitchell, Zach Neukam, Heather Passey, Alex Schwingerhamer and Kilian Sweet..

The NCEES Engineering Award recognizes engineering programs that encourage collaboration between students and professional engineers. EAC-ABET-accredited programs from all engineering disciplines were invited to submit projects that integrate professional practice and education. The winners were selected by a jury of NCEES members and representatives from academic institutions and professional engineering organizations.

“Competitions like this are extremely valuable in educating engineering professionals,” explains Philip Gerhart, UE Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “The competitions add a degree of realism and significance to the student’s projects that is not present in mere ‘textbook’ assignments. We are grateful for NCEES providing this opportunity and for selecting our students’ project for an award.”

The grand prize winner of the competition was Seattle University. Other winners were The Citadel; North Carolina State University; Seattle University, and University of Notre Dame. Profiles of the winning submissions are available online at http://ncees.org/award.

UE College of Engineering and Computer Science students have garnered numerous awards and recognition in 2014 including the following:

Civil Engineering

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Great Lakes Regional Conference

Concrete Canoe –2nd Place • Quiz Bowl – 1st Place • Mead Paper (Technical Paper) – 3rd Place

Other Achievements

ASCE Indiana Section Design Presentation Competition – 1stPlace

ASCE Student Chapter – Certificate of Commendation, top 15% in U.S.

Mechanical Engineering

SAE Formula Car International Competition

39th Place; 107 teams competing (25th Place among U.S. teams)

SAE Baja Vehicle Competition

44th Place; 91 teams competing (38th Place among U.S. teams)

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Williston Student Paper Award

2nd (eight 1st or 2nd place winners in the past 12 years)

Computer Science

ACM Programming Contest

Team 1st Place at site and 19th Place regionally

Electrical and Computer Engineering

IEEE SoutheastCon Regional Competition

2nd Place; 42 team robotics competition

For more information contact about the University of Evansville College of Engineering and Computer Science visit http://www.evansville.edu or email uerelations@evansville.edu.

UE Engineering Students Invite the Public to First “Fast Friday”

Posted: April 22, 2014

The first University of Evansville Fast Friday is set for Friday, April 25 from 1:00-5:30 p.m. on UE's Memorial Plaza. Vehicles designed and built by UE engineering student teams will be on display, including the Baja Buggy, Formula Car, Super Mileage Car and Solar Car.

The student team members will also be on hand to explain their process for designing and building the vehicles.

The public is invited to this free event which will also include tours of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

For more information, contact UE student Rory Moran at rm177@evansville.edu or 260-499-1783

UE Places First in Quiz Bowl at ASCE Conference

Posted: April 16, 2014

University of Evansville civil engineering students placed first in the quiz bowl portion of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) Great Lakes Regional Conference on April 11-12. At the event, hosted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, UE’s quiz bowl team came in ahead of such competitors as the University of Notre Dame, Northwestern University, Purdue University-Calumet, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

The objective of the quiz bowl challenge was to test the knowledge of civil engineering students in several categories including:

• Statics/Dynamics
• Water Resources Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Fluid Mechanics/Hydraulic Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Engineering Economics
• Engineering Ethics
• Engineering Materials
• Surveying
• Construction Engineering/Management

In the first round, each team answered 40 different questions. The top five teams after the first round then advanced to the last round where they were asked 10 more questions. The final standing was based on teams’ total number of points.

Members of UE’s quiz bowl team were: Jamie Johnson, James Gabe, Chris Kuester and Heather Passey.

UE placed second overall at the conference which, in addition to the quiz bowl, consisted of concrete canoe, steel bridge, professional ethics paper and presentation, environmental design, surveying, concrete materials, and mystery design.

UE student Jamie Johnson won third place in the professional ethics paper and presentation with her paper: “The Engineer’s Role in Natural Disasters.”

The concrete canoe team with project managers Christina Bernauer and Shannon Osiecki won second place with the canoe “Dark Knight.”  Category awards in the concrete canoe competition included third place in races (led by captain Hannah Okray and paddlers Jaclyn Altstadt, Aubin Fowler, Silas Bohlen, George Carroll, Forrest Plumlee and Levi Leffert), second place in design paper (led by academics captain Abby Browder), second place in presentation (with Alejandro Mojica Cadario, Carroll, Bernauer and Osiecki), and second place in final product.

The steel bridge team, led by Abby Browder and Alex Schwinghamer, improved the bridge design so that they constructed their bridge 30% faster than last year with the help of team members Hieronymus Mitchell, Noble Rassam, Hannah Kirk, and Forrest Plumlee.

Other students who were involved included: Danilo Bortoletto, Helena Leon, David Lopes, and Monica Pinto.  UE faculty advisors who traveled with the students were: Associate Professors of Civil Engineering James Allen and Mark Valenzuela and Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Immanuel Selvaraj.

44th Annual Balsawood Bridge Competition Set for Saturday, February 15

Posted: February 11, 2014

The University of Evansville student section of the American Society of Civil Engineers will conduct the 44th annual balsawood bridge competition on Saturday, February 15. Approximately 200 kindergarten through high school aged children will participate in the event which will take place in Eykamp Hall in Ridgway University Center on UE’s campus from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The top junior winner will be awarded a scholarship to study engineering at UE.

UE Associate Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering Mark Valenzuela, co-advisor for the competition, says the event was created to be a “fun activity that gets kids excited about engineering, math and science.”

He explains that preparations for the event began a few months ago when participants were given balsawood kits to build their bridges.

The completed bridges will be brought to UE for the competition where, says Valenzuela, “our civil engineering students will inspect them for compliance with the rules and test their strength by seeing how much lead shot each bridge can carry in a bucket. The bridge that holds the most shot but uses the least amount of balsawood wins in different age groups.”

UE civil engineering student Christina Bernauer is the competition’s project manager. Valenzuela notes that Christina was herself a contestant in one of the annual balsawood competitions when she was in grade school.

UE’s 17th Annual Engineer's Week Banquet Planned for February 19

Posted: February 10, 2014

The 17th annual Engineer’s Week Banquet, sponsored by the Dean’s Advisory Council of the University of Evansville College of Engineering and Computer Science, will be held February 19 at 6 p.m. in Eykamp Hall in Ridgway University Center. The community is invited to attend.

The $20 ticket price includes a buffet meal. To make reservations and purchase tickets, call Tina Newman at 812-488-2651.

Hosted by the student chapter of IEEE, the banquet celebrates National Engineer’s Week.
The guest speaker this year is Sam Giesting, associate and member of the Intellectual Property Department in the Indianapolis office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP.

Giesting received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from UE in 2005. He earned his J.D. cum laude from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, where he was president of the Intellectual Property Association. While at UE, he was selected to the Pi Tau Sigma mechanical engineering honor society and served as ombudsman for the student government association. As an engineering student, Giesting co-invented a wheelchair design for which he holds a patent.

Giesting’s current practice focuses on patent preparation and patent prosecution. He also counsels clients on foreign patent protection, patent infringement and invalidity, and various other intellectual property matters.

 

UE Students Win Innovative Design Competition

Posted: October 22, 2013

UE to Host Webelos Scouts Engineering Pin Day

Posted: October 18, 2013

The University of Evansville's College of Engineering and Computer Science will host an engineering pin day for local Webelos Scouts and their leaders. From 7:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Saturday, October 26, Webelos Scouts will rotate through hands-on activity stations led by UE engineering and computer science students. The activities can be applied toward earning the Webelos Scout engineering pin.

Advance registration with payment of $6 per scout is required. Webelos Scout leaders may obtain forms and information from Tina Newman in UE's College of Engineering and Computer Science, 812-488-2651, or Jennifer Whitaker with the Boy Scouts of America Buffalo Trace Council, 812-423-5246.

UE to Offer Review Course for Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

Posted: September 17, 2013

This fall, the University of Evansville’s College of Engineering and Computer Science will offer a review course for students and community members preparing to take the 2014 Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

The eight-hour FE exam, which will be offered at computer testing centers nationwide beginning in January, is designed for students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree. It is typically the first step in the process to becoming a licensed professional engineer.

The review class is taught by University of Evansville faculty members and offered only once a year. Classes will take place on Thursday nights from 6:30-9 p.m. in UE’s Koch Center for Engineering and Science.

This year, classes will be divided based on specific majors: civil engineering (classes run September 26-January 23), electrical and computer engineering (classes run October 31-November 21), and mechanical engineering and other disciplines (September 26-December 5). 

The deadline to register for the review course is September 25. For more information or to register, please contact the College of Engineering and Computer Science at 812-488-2651.

UE Students to Help Nonprofit Organization Launch Medical Facility in Dominican Republic

Posted: July 22, 2013

As part of an intensive summer course in applied process development – and an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a developing country – 15 University of Evansville students will spend the next two weeks in the Dominican Republic.

From July 23-August 6, UE business, communication, engineering, and nursing students will work with the nonprofit organization G.O. Ministries to develop plans for the organization’s new medical facility, currently under construction in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

UE’s interdisciplinary, faculty-led team is tasked with creating process developments (such as determining efficient patient flow, how to secure medications and archive patient medical records, and more), business plans, and equipment and supply recommendations consistent with accepted United States practices.

The two-week course, for which students will receive three hours of academic credit, includes a classroom portion taught by UE professors, as well as fieldwork and observation at the existing G.O. Ministries medical clinic and other relevant sites in the Dominican Republic. The students will receive instruction in health administration, process development, and business plan development.

At the conclusion of the course, students will present their findings to G.O. Ministries for implementation in the new medical facility, scheduled for completion in Summer 2014.

“I think I’ll grow as a result of this opportunity through the application of what I’ve learned in class, but I’ll also have my eyes opened to another culture,” said Jacquelyn Ballard, a business administration and international studies student from St. Louis, Missouri, United States. “I hope that this changes my perspective in how I view the world and my own values. On a professional level, I believe this will expose me to many different aspects of business in a very hands-on way, helping me understand exactly where I would like to focus or specialize.”

“Working with a multidisciplinary team provides me with new thought processes and chances to see the world through the eyes of other people,” said Brenna Siscoe, a nursing student from Dugger, Indiana, United States. “With new ways to view the world and all we have, I am able to be a more well-rounded worker and human being.”

"I decided to take part in this opportunity because I felt that I had a lot to offer this organization and that it would be a life-changing experience for me personally," said Vaughn Ahlf, a mechanical engineering major from Evansville. "Through the University, I participated on a team that took first place at the Lawerence Tech Innovation Encounter competition, where I learned problem-solving techniques and gained experience working with a multidisciplinary team. I also feel that my experience working as a mechanical engineering intern at the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center would help me with the medical aspect of this project."

UE faculty members accompanying the group are Amy Hall, White Family Endowed Professor and chair of the Dunigan Family Department of Nursing and Health Sciences; Richard Deer, director of UE’s Center for Intensive Experiential Education; and Jill Griffin, director of the Global Assistance Program in UE’s Institute for Global Enterprise. John Layer, associate professor of mechanical engineering, will deliver online course components.

Layer facilitated the relationship between UE and G.O. Ministries after he traveled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic with the organization. He saw opportunities for UE students to be involved in the design and planning phase of the organization’s projects.

Since then, University of Evansville students have assisted G.O. Ministries on projects in the Dominican Republic (assessing a 40-acre potential building site and designing a three-story building in 2008 and developing a solar water heater in 2010) and Mongolia (designing two new buildings and creating business plans for craft businesses in 2012).

“Over the last five years, the relationship with G.O. Ministries has led to transformational experiences for many of our students,” said Layer. “When students travel to developing countries, they often return home with a new sense of purpose and desire to make an impact. In addition, they benefit from working with an interdisciplinary team to address real-world problems and create solutions.” 

UE students traveling to the Dominican Republic are Vaughn Ahlf, Jacquelyn Ballard, Ryan Bassemier, Laura Best, Brandi Blosl, Abby Browder, Mathew Brown, Heather Browning, Renee Croce, Gaby Fifer, Rachel Mendoza-Santiago, Shannon Osiecki, Breianna Simpson, Brenna Siscoe, and Brynne Thompson.

The University of Evansville wishes to thank the Institute for Global Enterprise, the Center for Intensive Experiential Education, and the Lilly Endowment for their generous support of this educational experience.

Concrete Canoe Team Wins Innovation Award, Places 10th at Nationals

Posted: June 23, 2013

Past OPTIONS Participant to Serve as Mentor-in-Residence for High School Girls

Posted: May 20, 2013

Mechanical Engineering Students Design Aquatic Wheelchair for Easter Seals

Posted: May 14, 2013

Mark Valenzuela Named UE's Outstanding Teacher of the Year

Posted: May 4, 2013

Mark Valenzuela, associate professor of civil engineering, has been named the University of Evansville’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year for 2012-13. He is the first UE faculty member to win this prestigious honor two times.

The award, presented annually by the UE Alumni Association, was announced today at the Ford Center during the University’s 155th Commencement ceremony.

Valenzuela, known as “Dr. Mark” by his students, first received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award in 2003. A decade later, thanks to high marks from his students and colleagues, he has earned the award once again.

“Dr. Mark uses a very detailed and interactive teaching style in the classroom by coming to class prepared with real-life examples, hands-on activities, and ideas on how to involve his students,” wrote one student nominator. “Outside of the classroom, Dr. Mark’s door is always open. He is willing to take as much time as necessary to help students understand class material, and it shows when it is time to take exams. Students feel as if they have truly learned the material, not just memorized.”

“Dr. Mark’s influence on students is impressive,” one student said. “He ensures that his students make ethical decisions and treat one another with respect. I have witnessed many situations in which students are having trouble cooperating in groups, and he helps them overcome differences and complete projects.”

“Mark Valenzuela is without a doubt one of the best professors as well as one of the best human beings I have hired,” said Phil Gerhart, dean of UE’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “For the past 29 years, I have had the great blessing of working with and leading an extremely talented, collegial, and principled group of faculty. Dr. Mark Valenzuela is outstanding among them.”

In addition to his teaching duties, Valenzuela serves as the faculty advisor for Chi Epsilon, the national civil engineering honor society; the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); and the Concrete Canoe team, which has qualified for nationals four times in the last five years. Under his leadership, in 2011, UE became the smallest school ever to host the ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition. Valenzuela is also the vice president of the Southwest Indiana branch of ASCE and a registered professional engineer in the state of Indiana.

In addition to the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award, his previous teaching awards include the Dean’s Teaching Award for the College of Engineering and Computer Science (2003 and 2013), a UE Global Scholar award (2008), and the ExCEED New Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (2002).

Valenzuela holds a PhD and Master of Science in structural engineering from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Engineering in civil and environmental engineering from Vanderbilt University. He came to UE in 1999 and received tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2005.

UE Concrete Canoe Headed to Nationals

Posted: April 22, 2013

UE Civil Engineering Freshmen Test Balsawood Bridges

Posted: November 30, 2012

UE VETS Wins Top Honors Among Indiana Student Veteran Organizations

Posted: November 1, 2012

UE Students Win Inventive Problem Solving Competition

Posted: October 23, 2012

OPTIONS Program Receives $30,000 Grant from Alcoa Foundation

Posted: September 24, 2012

The University of Evansville is proud to announce that it has received a $30,000 grant from the Alcoa Foundation in support of OPTIONS, a summer program that introduces middle and high school students to the vast career possibilities in engineering and computer science.

The grant will provide scholarships for middle and high school girls to attend OPTIONS in 2013 and 2014, opening up STEM opportunities (science, technology, engineering, and math) to a population that is underrepresented in these career fields. Scholarships will also be available to OPTIONS graduates who enroll in a four-year degree program at UE.

During OPTIONS programs, students stay on UE’s campus in a residence hall, complete hands-on projects, take classes taught by UE faculty members, and meet local professional women in the engineering and computer science fields.

“We started OPTIONS for High School Girls in 1992 — and OPTIONS for Middle School Girls in 2004 — as residential summer programs to help young women with an aptitude for math and science learn about the exciting career opportunities in engineering and computer science,” said Phil Gerhart, dean of UE’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Today, we’re very grateful to the Alcoa Foundation for providing scholarship support to this program, which will allow a greater number of talented, motivated young women to experience OPTIONS.”

“Alcoa Warrick Operations is excited to be able to help support this program through the plant’s annual allocation from the Alcoa Foundation,” said Royce Haws, the location manager for the Primary Metals Division at Warrick Operations. “Most of our community investments from the Foundation are focused on education, recognizing that changes in the economy require upgraded skills that will help keep Warrick Operations globally competitive — investments in science, technology, engineering, and math are a key community and business need.”

The University of Evansville wishes to thank the Alcoa Foundation for its generous support of OPTIONS, in addition to other programs and projects at UE. Past Alcoa Foundation grants to the University of Evansville have supported the development of the LEED-certified Ridgway University Center, development of TWICE (the Tri-State Women in Computing and Engineering professional network), student scholarships, and the community-wide RecycleMania initiative.

For more information on OPTIONS, please visit options.evansville.edu or contact the College of Engineering and Computer Science at 812-488-2651.

Concrete Canoe Team Earns Record Finish at Nationals

Posted: June 18, 2012

Despite unexpected challenges, such as a canoe that cracked in half, the University of Evansville’s Concrete Canoe team earned 12th place overall in the American Society of Civil Engineers National Concrete Canoe Competition — the team’s second highest finish in its 12-year history.

The 25th annual competition took place June 14-16 at the University of Nevada, Reno. Twenty-two teams from some of the top engineering schools in the United States and Canada competed and were judged on the design, construction, innovative features, and racing ability of each concrete canoe.

UE’s 17-member team finished seventh in the technical paper category, 10th in oral presentation, 13th in the races, and 12th overall. UE was the smallest school and the only private American university that qualified for the competition.

One harrowing moment came before the last race on Saturday, when UE’s purple and gray canoe, Tempest (measuring 20 feet long and weighing 250 pounds) cracked in half as team members climbed in.

Thanks to help from several other universities’ Concrete Canoe teams and plenty of duct tape, Tempest was patched up in time for the Aces to complete their final race.

“This year, our students not only proved that they can excel in the academic and athletic portions of the competition, but also that they can think and act quickly to solve problems,” said Mark Valenzuela, UE associate professor of civil engineering and the team’s faculty advisor. “I’m so proud of their hard work and dedication, and know this experience will serve them well in their future careers as civil engineers.”

Last year, UE hosted the National Concrete Canoe Competition and was the smallest school ever invited to do so. This year marks the third time in the past four years that UE has qualified for nationals.

For more information on the 25th Annual ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition, please visit www.asce.org/concretecanoe. 

Concrete Canoe Team Departs for Nationals

Posted: June 8, 2012

This Sunday, 17 UE civil engineering majors will hit the road to Reno, Nevada, where they will compete in the 25th Annual American Society of Civil Engineers National Concrete Canoe Competition. The competition will take place June 14-16 at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The competition provides civil engineering students with a practical, hands-on application of the principles they learn in the classroom, along with leadership and project management skills.

The 22 teams that qualified for this year’s National Concrete Canoe Competition, representing some of the top engineering schools in the United States and Canada, will be judged on the design, construction, innovative features, and racing ability of each concrete canoe. UE’s purple and gray canoe, “Tempest,” measures 20 feet long and weighs 250 pounds.

UE earned a bid to nationals by placing second in the Concrete Canoe competition at the ASCE Great Lakes Student Conference, held April 19-21 at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Out of 14 Concrete Canoe teams, UE finished second behind the University of Wisconsin-Madison, narrowly edging out perennial powerhouse the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to advance to nationals.

Last year, UE hosted the National Concrete Canoe Competition and was the smallest school ever invited to do so. This year marks the third time in the past four years that UE has qualified for nationals.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our students’ continuing success in the Concrete Canoe competition,” said Mark Valenzuela, UE associate professor of civil engineering and the team’s faculty advisor. “This year’s team has logged over a thousand person hours designing and building their canoe, ‘Tempest,’ and it was a thrill to watch them outperform some of the nation’s top engineering schools at regionals. They certainly earned the chance to showcase their work on a national level this summer.”

For more information on the 25th annual ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition, please visit www.asce.org/concretecanoe.