May 17, 1973 Walker wants change in engineering education - University Park, Pa.---Unless some vital changes are made in the education of future engineers, "engeering will not fulfill its role in the decades ahead and our society may well fall short of success," warns Dr. Eric A. Walker, president emeritus of The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Walker, now vice president for sicence and technology with the Aluminum Company of America, questions some of the current trends in engineering education. he was dean of the College of Engineering at Penn State from 1951 to 1956. "I question whether the profession will produce the number and quality of people it will need to deal with the expanding sweep of science and technology over the next decade," Dr. Walker, who also is professor emeritus of electrical engineering at Penn State, says. "I am only paternally critical of engineering," he added. "Forty years in the profession, I figure, have earned me the right to rebuke as well as to praise." Dr. Walker pointed out that the engineering profession "is losing its popularity... its no secret that freshman enrollments are declining." One aspect of the education process that bothers Dr. Walker, he said, is the selection process which determines what students are to be admitted into engineering programs. "Little attempt is made," he stressed, "to determine whether or not the candidate is fully qualified, or is truly dedicated, of has the creative ability to make a solid contribution to the profession. But the thrust of his criticism was aimed at the weak bridge that joins the classroom to the world of the practicing engineer and those determining education policies, Dr. Walker said. "Why can we not seek meaningful input and direction from some of the 850,000 practicing engineers in this country--people who have direct knowledge of the skills needed on the firing line?" Dr. Walker asked, after admitting that many basic courses engineering students are designed by teachers who have never practiced engineering. Among suggestions Dr Walker made were these: ---Revise admission policies to engineering programs and encourage more selectivity. —lnvolve practicing engineers in the educational process---regarding both what is taught and how it is taught. --Develop exchange programs between the campus and the corporation. Practicing engineers should take time off to teach; teachers should take time off to practice engineering. "Not enough engineers teach the young people who will succeed them," he said. ---The campus and thecorporation should participate in a free flow of information ragarding research. Facilities should be shared. ---Communication between educators and practitioners must be total. This is "probably the most important," said Dr. Walker. 'Moderate' elected Faculty Chairman Council Dr. Robert J. Bresler by R.W. Bonaker Dr. Robert H. Bresler, As s t. Prof. of Social Science and Political Science, was elected chairman of Capitol's Faculty Council, the legislative arm of the faculty organization, in balloting last week. Other officers elected were: Dr. John S. Patterson, Asst. Prof. of American Studies and History, vice president; and Dr. Dolores Zoldos, secretary. The three officers for 1973-74 were selected by membes of the old and new council, which totalled 13 faculty and five students. Bresler won against competition from Dr. Herbert S. Eisenstein, Assoc. Prof. of Education while Patterson ran unopposed. - Zoldos was elected secretary over Dr. George Gumas, Assoc. Prof. of Engineering and Mathematics. The representation on next year's council consists of returning members Bresler, Eisenstein and Dr. Kenneth W. Masters, Assoc. Prof. of Social Science and new members Paterson, Dr. Charles A. Cole, Asst. Prof. of Engineering; Dr. Frank J. Swetz, Asst. Prof. of Mathematics and Education; Dr. Robert W. Colman, Asst. Prof. of Social Science and Psychology; and Gumas and Zoldos. All new council members will serve two years as representatives, except for Zoldos who will serve for one year. Outgoing council members are Dr. Thomas Knight, chairman and Drs. Wayne Lee, Robert Lesniak and Jacob Susskind. Dr. Roger Saylor served as parliamentarian on this year's council. Three permanent student representatives on the council will be appointed by the new SGA President Bill Matthews. Council membership was expanded by two faculty and one student by constitutional amendment last month. New council members were elected by the faculty at large in balloting two weeks ago. THE CAPITO LIST CAN YOU 1:1)1W1:11:k1W The baby seal in the photo was one of 50,000 killed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, one of over half a million seals clubbed, speared, shot, gaffed during the 1970 Canadian- Norwegian slaughter in the Atlantic. Don't believe furriers who would persuade you that Friends of Animals has been "misleading" you, that any slaughter anywhere is done for the benefit of the seals. As the bubble-domed helicopter flew low over the first day's kill, I saw mother seals nuzzling the skinless corpses of their babies. Standing ten feet away from the killers on the ice floes, twenty miles out in the Gulf, I saw baby seals, clubbed twice, raise their heads as they were sliced open. Other babies were battered as many as fourteen times while the mothers watched in terror and stress. If You Are One Who Cannot Be Indifferent to the Suffering of Other Creatures YOU CAN HELP First—by refusing to garb yourself in the agony of another, by refusing to buy the skins of wildlife. Second—by causing this advertisemeßt to be inserted in your local newspaper. (A mat vk ill be sent upon your request to Friends of Animals. See coupon.) Friends of Animals, Inc. 11 WEST 60TH STREET NEW YORK, N.Y. 10023 ❑ Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution to help stop the slaughter of marine mammals. Please add my name to your mailing list. Send me a mat of this advertisement so that I can place this advertisement in my local paper at my own expense (also tax-deductible). ADDRESS Good food at Decent prices STEFANIE'S 230 DINER Open 1 am to 10 pm 1125 East Harrisburg Pike Through Middletown towards E-to Phone 944-5302 Page 5
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers