Curriculum Change Developed By Galanti And Eisenberg by Jim Gormley Two Highacres engineer ing teachers have introduced a curriculum change for associate degree engineering students. The education innovation want to increase the students was developed by Mr. Eliot versatility,” Dr. Galanti said. Eisenberg and Dr. Anthony Gal- "That part of their education anti, instructors of mechanical needs to be expanded," Picking and chemical engineering. The up the same theme, Mr. Eisen subject, Mechanical Engineering berg emphasized the newly mint -807 or Chemical Engineering 802, ed engineer "needs to know depending pn the student's ma~ .these applications exist and to jor, deals with fluid mechanics have an open mind to his world and heat transfer. More than and. his work." 40 students are taking the new Out in the world changes course, which is also offered are commonplace. One area ex to nuclear engineers. , The periencing change is the bal course integrates concepts and ance in the nation's univer principles common to the three sities research and develop programs and like many innova— ment funds. While Dr. Galanti's tions has encountered its share characterization of financial of success and reversal. support associated with the Mechanical Engineering 807/ c °urse development was a bit Chemical Engineering 802 is the jaundiced both agreed it was product of more than six months moderate. "There is a taxpayer work, which is still proceeding revolt in progress these days," as the subject is taught and Dr. Galanti noted. The 're refinements are made. One ad— volt' will make courses like justment involved scheduling Fluids and Heat more attractive, another class in the first week Both Mr. Eisenberg and Dr. to accomodate almost twice the Galanti are optimistic other anticipated turnout. The un- Penn State campuses will adopt forseen congestion is both a their course and approach next consequence and cause of the fall, course. "The need to combine dis crete segments...'globs’.. .of material into something with applicability to other topics," as Dr. Gallanti puts it, "is , what we were trying to achieve." This broadened applicability is seen by both professors as an extremely useful engineering tool. It is also a marketable one in a time of economic flux. In addition Mr. Eisenberg focused on the need to upgrade the mechanical engineering technology program. "Program flexibility and quality had to be expanded," he said. "Mech anical engineers will be doing diverse work and the curriculum was limiting them." Mechanical engineers in the associate pro gram will have more of an op tion in choosing an educational direction. While retaining the choice of drafting and design originally conceived for MET*s, they can also move into more technical applications or en gineering. When asked if this inter disciplinary approach was an educational fad both stressed the value of the change. "We Smoking The recommendations of Un iversity Council followed a study that began last December by a sub-committee which had gathered comments and opinions from students, faculty and staff. The study reflected a grow ing concern about the comfort and health of the nonsmoking public and recognized that in an academic community faculty arid students often become a captive group, especially in •the classroom. While health of the individual was the main concern, the committee also studied the matter of safety, damage to property, custodial and maintenance problems, and visual appearance and personal comfort as it relates to smok ing. The Highacres Collegian, September 26, 1975 ~ 5 SPecfi/e Continued from page 2 Another possible conseq quence is that more programs will put limits on the number of students allowed to enter those fields. The nursing, lav, enforcement and pharmacy pro grams already have limits on a first come, first serve basis. The accounting major is facing similar limitations. On a more basic level, available dorm space is limited At present, 150 students are on a waiting list to get into the dorm. Parking originally looked as if it might become a problem since there were more cars than parking spaces. By the second week of classes how ever, the parking problem de creased. The over-crowding was attributed to students staying longer than usual in order to become reacquainted eith friends, buy books or attend other activities, in stead of rushing home. Highacres is trying to alleviate many of these prob- '■ lems, though some problems at present cannot be solved. Part-time faculty had been hired in an attempt to relieve some of the excess amount of students* Attempts are still being made to improve registra tion though there will always be students who will not get their courses. The number of courses that can be offered are limited. Sophomores going to University Park have first pri ority since they must have cer tain courses before they can transfer to Main Campus. Also given priority are students in majors which require certain critical subjects in a partic ular order. Often a student may have to wait a term to pick up a nonessential course. Some problems cannot, at present, be eliminated. Lack of facilities determine the number of students allowed in a particular major. Despite increased enrollment and tui tion, University Park is short of funds. Since the state has limited its sponsorship of un- iversity buildings, it is be- \ coming increasingly difficult , Continued on page 8
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