1. Industry-Education Collaboration: Faculty Interns 2006 CIEC Session ETD 528 B. Neal Whitten, P.E. Charles D. Parker East Tennessee State University Construction Engineering Technology

2. Credentials Required Engineering Programs Engineering Programs Generally a Ph.D. Generally a Ph.D. Proven Research Record Proven Research Record Engineering Technology Programs Engineering Technology Programs Generally a Master’s Degree Generally a Master’s Degree 3 years of industrial experience 3 years of industrial experience

3. Types of Students Academic Type Academic Type Usually understands theoretical concepts Usually understands theoretical concepts May prepare for more academic / research type career May prepare for more academic / research type career Learns well from traditional methods (Lectures / texts) Learns well from traditional methods (Lectures / texts) Hands-On Type Prefers real-life examples and applications to theory Typically prefers field work Learns well from practitioners and hands- on activities

4. Concerns for Faculty Strong academic backgrounds required for tenure-track positions do not necessarily lend themselves to relevant professional engineering experience Strong academic backgrounds required for tenure-track positions do not necessarily lend themselves to relevant professional engineering experience Tenure requires teaching, service, and research Tenure requires teaching, service, and research Teaching and service are not a focus for many universities due to desire for external funding Teaching and service are not a focus for many universities due to desire for external funding Research focus takes away from professional development and staying current in the field Research focus takes away from professional development and staying current in the field Not feasible for smaller programs – too narrow of a focus Not feasible for smaller programs – too narrow of a focus

5. Concerns for Faculty (continued) Trend of engineering education diverging from engineering practice since the 1950s Trend of engineering education diverging from engineering practice since the 1950s The half-life of an engineering education is approximately 5 years (depending on field) The half-life of an engineering education is approximately 5 years (depending on field) Relying on research for professional development may not be sufficient for institutions focused primarily on teaching Relying on research for professional development may not be sufficient for institutions focused primarily on teaching Not as competitive for research funding Not as competitive for research funding Release-time not possible Release-time not possible

6. Benefits of a Faculty Internship Workable arrangement to gain current and relevant experience Workable arrangement to gain current and relevant experience Enhance the visibility of the institution in the local area Enhance the visibility of the institution in the local area Provide educators tools to appeal to a broader range of students Provide educators tools to appeal to a broader range of students Current “real-world” examples Current “real-world” examples Discussions often turn to related subjects Discussions often turn to related subjects Professionalism and Ethics Professionalism and Ethics Liability Liability Personnel Issues Personnel Issues Have an opportunity to see what employers are looking for in new graduates Have an opportunity to see what employers are looking for in new graduates

7. Faculty Internship Benefits (continued) Profession has access to additional highly- educated workers Profession has access to additional highly- educated workers Provide a “fresh view” on processes of the industrial partner Provide a “fresh view” on processes of the industrial partner This type of “real-world” work can lead to professional registration This type of “real-world” work can lead to professional registration Credibility to program and instructor’s abilities Credibility to program and instructor’s abilities

8. Drawbacks to a Faculty Internship Institutional policies on outside employment Institutional policies on outside employment Tenure and promotion policies often do not focus on professional development as much as research and service Tenure and promotion policies often do not focus on professional development as much as research and service Compensation Compensation Other higher paid opportunities Other higher paid opportunities Time constraints Time constraints Faculty member Faculty member Industrial Partner Industrial Partner

9. Faculty Interns and Municipal Governments Municipalities generally have tight budgets Municipalities generally have tight budgets Often can not afford more full-time engineering staff even if there is a definite need Often can not afford more full-time engineering staff even if there is a definite need Faculty interns may be willing to forego compensation for professional development opportunities Faculty interns may be willing to forego compensation for professional development opportunities Some municipalities don’t need full-time staff due to workload Some municipalities don’t need full-time staff due to workload Still could benefit from highly-educated assistance on some aspects of their operations Still could benefit from highly-educated assistance on some aspects of their operations Strategic Planning Strategic Planning Asset Management Asset Management

10. Faculty Interns and Municipal Governments (continued) Municipalities are often more flexible with their schedules Municipalities are often more flexible with their schedules Allows faculty to fit the internship into their schedule Allows faculty to fit the internship into their schedule

11. Faculty Internship Example: City of Kingsport, Tennessee Employs a part-time faculty intern at a lower than market rate for an equivalently educated engineer Employs a part-time faculty intern at a lower than market rate for an equivalently educated engineer Kingsport benefits from expertise in paving materials, pavement management, and erosion and sediment control Kingsport benefits from expertise in paving materials, pavement management, and erosion and sediment control Any small savings the intern provides more than justifies the expenditure on salary (the citizens benefit as well) Any small savings the intern provides more than justifies the expenditure on salary (the citizens benefit as well) Intern benefits from interaction with registered engineers, developers, and gaining new experiences to draw from in class Intern benefits from interaction with registered engineers, developers, and gaining new experiences to draw from in class Future professional registration more valuable than financial compensation to most non-registered engineers Future professional registration more valuable than financial compensation to most non-registered engineers

12. Faculty Internship Example: City of Kingsport, Tennessee (continued) Intern Qualified to take Principles & Practices of Civil Engineering Exam Intern Qualified to take Principles & Practices of Civil Engineering Exam Passed October 2005 Exam Passed October 2005 Exam Obtained Professional Registration in the State of Tennessee in January 2006 Obtained Professional Registration in the State of Tennessee in January 2006

13. Conclusions Faculty of all-experience levels could benefit from internship opportunities Faculty of all-experience levels could benefit from internship opportunities Students benefit from exposure to faculty who participate in internships Students benefit from exposure to faculty who participate in internships Time constraints can make faculty internships difficult, however municipalities can often offer a more flexible schedule Time constraints can make faculty internships difficult, however municipalities can often offer a more flexible schedule Faculty need to realize the benefits go far beyond the financial compensation for this type of opportunity Faculty need to realize the benefits go far beyond the financial compensation for this type of opportunity

14. Questions / Discussion