Archive for September, 2019

The College of Engineering is having two half-day photo sessions for directory portraits. This opportunity is open to College of Engineering new staff and faculty, graduate students, as well as those who have not yet had their photo taken or feel an updated photo is needed. If you are happy with your current photo, there is no need for a retake.

Wednesday, September 25
12:00–5:00 PM
125 Reber Building

or

Thursday, September 26
8:30 AM–12:00 PM
125 Reber Building

Walk-ins only. No appointments.

Please dress professionally. This will be your photo on the website and in your offices so business attire is best (coat and tie, collared shirt, no t-shirts or loud prints, Hawaiian or paisley; no plunging necklines or sleeveless tops). Solid colors work best. There will be a gray background. Once we have the final files we will update the directory and email you a high-resolution file for your own use.

If you have questions, please contact Kate Myers at kea116@psu.edu.

Because most engineering students at Penn State do not take technical writing until their junior or senior year, a gap exists between what the students have learned in general writing courses, such as freshman composition, and what we expect them to know when they write a design report or laboratory report. This workshop facilitated by Michael Alley presents a one-hour class period that you can incorporate into your course that tries to bridge that gap. Using teaching materials developed by the Leonhard Center, this class period has the following three goals:

• persuade engineering students that their writing as an engineer is important;
• dispel common misconceptions that students hold about engineering writing; and
• help students prepare an effective outline for their next writing assignment.

A centerpiece of the class period is a website that serves as a preparation assignment for the students.

When: October 3 from 12:00 to 1:30. Lunch will be provided.

Where: Stavely Conference Room (202 Hammond)

Click here to register »

The Engineering Library is trialing Knovel now through December 9, 2019. Knovel is unique source for content, technical data, and analytics, all specifically curated for engineering.

Click here to check out the Knovel Trial.

A Knovel representative will be here on October 29 to answer questions and provide demonstrations (and some snacks). Details to follow in a later email.

Please investigate this database and email Beth Thomsett-Scott, Head of the Engineering Library, if it is something that you would like to see added to the Libraries’ collection of resources. The more impact statements that are received, the stronger the request will be.

All current limited submission opportunities can be viewed at research.psu.edu/limitedsubs.

The Office of the Vice President for Research announces the launch of the VentureWell Faculty Grants competition. The internal submission deadline is Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

Description

VentureWell awards faculty grants to colleges and universities for the purpose of strengthening existing curricular programs and/or building new programs in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Through these grant funds, VentureWell supports creative pedagogical approaches that generate student teams working on technology solutions to real-world problems, with the goal of the strongest teams applying to participate in VentureWell’s E-Team Grant Program. VentureWell has funded over 803 new courses or programs through faculty grants, and 3 out of 4 report that they are planning to continue their course or program beyond the grant period, thereby institutionalizing this experiential learning opportunity.

VentureWell encourages proposals that involve students, faculty, and advisers from engineering, science, business, design, and liberal arts disciplines, as well as groups traditionally underrepresented in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship, including women and minorities.

Proposals may include plans for creating or improving an individual course, course sequence, minor, major, certificate program, incubator, accelerator, and other co- and extra-curricular programs.

Click for more information »

The following Graduate School awards for faculty are open for nominations through October 1, 2019. Winners will be honored at the Faculty and Staff Awards Luncheon being held on April 3, 2020.

• • Graduate Faculty Teaching Award (GFTA) – graduate students, faculty, or staff may submit nominations
    The Graduate Faculty Teaching Award is intended to recognize faculty members for their outstanding teaching performance. The program is open to all University faculty members who have been tenured members of the graduate faculty for a minimum of seven years, who have demonstrated excellence in the supervision of graduate students with their theses work, and who have not yet received the University’s highest accolade for teaching and scholarship (i.e., Evan Pugh Professorship, Distinguished Professorship, or Eisenhower or Lindback Awards). Graduate students, faculty, or staff may submit nominations to the nominee’s graduate program professor-in-charge. Each graduate program is limited to approving one nomination. Nominate a faculty member.
  • Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award (GPCLA) – graduate students or faculty may submit nominations
    The Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award is intended to recognize faculty members for exemplary leadership benefiting graduate students and faculty in an existing graduate degree program at Penn State. Such leadership includes, but is not limited to: enhancement of student recruitment; professional development and placement; mentoring and promotion of faculty and students in the program; enhancement of program diversity, educational quality, resources, and national visibility; promotion of professional ethics and its integration into all elements of graduate programming (academic, research, professional conduct, etc.); and other efforts that enhance the stature of the graduate program both internally and externally. Each graduate program is limited to approving one nomination. Nominate a faculty member.
  • The Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award (PFMA) – faculty, staff or administrators may submit nominations
    The Howard B. Palmer Mentoring Award was established in 1991 in honor of Dr. Howard Palmer who served as senior associate dean of the Graduate School from 1985-1991. The award is presented to a full-time member of the faculty who demonstrates “effective mentoring through guiding and nurturing the collegial and professional development of junior faculty.” Each graduate program is limited to approving one nomination. Nominate a faculty member.

2019-20 Faculty and Student Awards FAQs »