Winter 2011
Enrollment Growth, New Programs and Accreditation Process Highlight Fall Semester
The past fall semester was a busy one at the Fenn College of Engineering. The hallways and classrooms of Stilwell Hall were noticeably more crowded with a 10% spike in enrollment from the 2009 fall semester. This continues the trend of sustained growth at Fenn, which since 2005 has seen a 25% increase in total enrollment and a 119% increase of new undergraduates.
This influx of students can be mainly attributed to the Fenn Academy program, which exposes local youth to engineering and provides industry-supported scholarships to CSU. Activities held this year such as the Pathway to Engineering Summer Camp and the VEX Robotics Competition help to inspire students to enter the field. Fenn Academy welcomed Lutheran West High School as its newest partner this fall.
A number of new events and programs were introduced this fall. The Fenn Freshman Picnic, which was modeled after an event Fenn College held in the 1940s, gave incoming students the chance to meet their classmates and faculty over food and games. The Adopt-a-Freshman program also aimed to enhance the first-year experience by paring new students with upperclassmen who showed them the ropes of college life. The new International Co-op Program will give students the opportunity to work in co-op positions for U.S. companies with overseas facilities.
The fall also included a visit from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) for a lengthy evaluation of the College. The ABET review process measures the quality of education students receive and assures that established standards are being met. The College thanks its faculty and staff for their hard work in preparing for ABET and their dedication to providing excellent education and guidance to our students.
Engineering Alumni Speaker Series
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| Alumni participating in panel discussion on entrepreneurship. |
The fall session of CSU’s Engineering Alumni Speakers Series offered students four separate opportunities to hear and learn from alumni who spoke on projects and experiences from their careers. Topics ranged from GE’s transition from incandescent to LED lighting by Rebecca Bompiedi (BS ‘84, MS ‘92 ) to the design of the Euclid Corridor by Ralph Trepal (BS ‘67) to the electronic design process of line cards at Cisco Wireless by Michael Hawkins (BS ‘99).
The series also featured the Engineering Entrepreneur Panel Discussion as part of CSU’s Career Week. Alumni who are business owners gave insight and advice to students on starting and managing their own firms. Panelists included Kathy Lorentz (BS ‘80), Jack Redilla (BS ‘89, MS ‘09), Bill Thesling, (BS ‘87, MS ‘90, PhD ‘95), and Daniel Waite (BS ‘82). CSU and the Fenn College of Engineering thank this fall’s participants and welcome suggestions for future speakers and topics (Email ideas to Todd Gagyi at t.gagyi@csuohio.edu).
Alumni Fill Foxes’ Den to Modify Toys for Children with Disabilities
Engineering alumni came together on November 30th in Stilwell Hall’s Foxes’ Den lounge to adapt electronic toys so they can be used by children with physical disabilities. Hosted by the Engineering Chapter of the CSU Alumni Association and coordinated by the non-profit organization RePlay for Kids, the workshop had over 50 participants - three times more than last year – as many alumni brought their spouses, children, and co-workers to volunteer. All of the toys were modified in record time and given out over the holidays. Thanks are extended to everyone who volunteered.
New Endowments and Grants
Fenn College has been fortunate to receive public and private funding in recent months that will create new scholarships and support faculty research projects. Alumni support increased significantly in the past year, including graduates who endowed engineering scholarships with significant financial commitments. Fenn thanks the following endowment donors:
- Anonymous
- Craig (BS ‘75, MS ‘76) and Joanne (BA ‘74) Black
- Dr. Bart DiLiddo (BS ’54)
- James Heckelman (BS ’62)
- Terry (BS ’64) and Mary Zuk
- John (BS ’99) and Marta Zamiska
Terry Zuk Receives the 2010 Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award
The Fenn College of Engineering congratulates Terry Zuk who was honored at CSU’s 20th annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner on June 5th. Terry graduated from Fenn College in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering technology and went onto a highly successful career. A tireless champion of CSU, Terry expressed his gratitude to his alma mater by establishing the Terrence V. & Mary K. Zuk Endowment through a generous charitable commitment. The fund will provide scholarships for student athletes majoring in engineering at CSU.
First Issue of Fenn Research Published
Fenn College recently published its first issue of Fenn Research, a magazine that highlights research being conducted by CSU engineering faculty and graduate students. Click here to read the issue online.
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