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
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Don't believe furriers who would persuade you that
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As the bubble-domed helicopter flew low over the first day's
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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
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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