A Message From The Department Chair

 

 

Welcome to the Department of Engineering Technology website.

 

I am pleased to have you visit our website. If you are a prospective student we invite you to explore the many exciting opportunities awaiting you in our undergraduate programs in civil engineering technology, computer engineering technology, and electronics engineering technology. Our goal is to provide an environment to which there are no limits to creativity and exploration. Though our courses are rigorous, students will experience fun as they progress further and further into the program. Our goal is to have ALL our students succeed in our programs. We have developed several innovations to increase the likelihood of graduation success including creation of freshman study pods with senior pod leaders, a Counseling Assistant to watch over all the entering freshman students and senior tutors. The goal is to create an early bonding among freshman students and to have them meet with faculty and staff in a relaxed and informal setting. We are in the second year of a program to insure success by creating an integrated peer-tutoring program, and we have increased the number of seniors working as tutors to assist freshman and sophomore students. A number of activities that had occurred within the department in the last two years. These are noteworthy, and I have decided to include some of this in this welcome message:

 

Memorandum of Agreement with Transportation Department

On September 9 2005, the Department of Engineering Technology (ENGT) signed an agreement of cooperation with the Department of Transportation Studies (DTS). The agreement aims at fostering sound linkages between the two departments, leading to sound pedagogical and research collaboration. Main content of the agreement are:

 

DTS shall offer certain undergraduate classes through the Civil Engineering Technology Division of the Engineering Technology Department. The classes which shall be included in the course offering of the Civil Engineering Technology department shall include Urban Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering. These classes shall be offered at the junior level and shall be taught by DTS faculty.

Names of DTS faculty involved in teaching classes through the Civil Engineering Technology Division shall be listed as part of ENGT staff.

ENGT staff shall also participate in DTS activities in the area of Bridge Engineering and Pavement Management.

 

Implementation of this agreement has since commenced. This coming Fall, Dr. Yu will be teaching the Traffic Engineering class in the Civil Engineering Technology Division of the department. Likewise, Dr. Olowokere will begin a new class offering, Transportation Infrastructure Management in the Transportation Studies department.

 

Peer Tutoring Program

The department embarked on a major program that identifies more highly motivated students that have capabilities to tutor other students in a number of classes. These student tutors are hired by the department as student assistants. As much as we do not yet have sufficient data to assess the efficacy of this effort, we are able to see signs of improved student performances based on this peer tutoring initiatives.

 

Civil Engineering Technology Computer Laboratory

TECH 141 has been converted to a computer laboratory for civil engineering technology students. 18 computer workstations are already in place in this room, and they have significantly enhanced The capability of Civil Engineering students for stronger computer integration into their work.

 

New Equipment

To supplement existing stock of an array of state-of-the-art modern equipment available in the department, a new set of testing equipment and components valued over $150,000.00 is expected for delivery to the civil and electronics engineering laboratory by December 2007. This set of equipment will greatly strengthen and enhance the capability of our students to conduct experimental work simulating real-life scenario, and meeting industry standard. Additionally, through Title III funding several sets of miscellaneous components for the electronics engineering technology are being purchased.

 

Recent Funding

The department houses the newly awarded TSU-SAIC/NASA contract to provide engineering support for NASA Safety and Mission Assurance program. This is the outcome of a subcontract agreement between Science Applications International Corporation and Texas Southern University. Funding is in the amount of $1,375,203.00.

The department has been selected as one of 8 sites nationwide to provide pre-college summer engineering program to 30 high school students annually. Funding is from the Army Research Office (ARO) and it is in the amount of $30,000.00 yearly.

The department has received seed funding to conduct study entitled ‘New Secure Communication Scheme Based on Adaptive Observers for Delayed Uncertain Neural Networks’.

The department has recently been placed in the final list of Team Members of the Energy and Environment Cluster of the United Negro College Fund Special Program of NASA Science & Technology Institute. In this capacity, the department will share funding to facilitate studies on energy issues. This is the outcome of a competitive proposal from the department to UNCFSP–NSTI. Project takes off Fall 2007.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has recently provided the department seed money to facilitate the preparation of a proposal for them on renewable energy.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has funded the department in the amount of $61,000.00 to support the department’s pre-college engineering program.

A new Title III funding for $51,000.00 has been approved for the department. This supports the purchase of certain essential equipment stock for both the Electronics Engineering Technology Program and Civil Engineering Technology Program.

The Office of Civil Right (OCR) has approved funding of our Computer Engineering Technology Program. This includes funding of one tenure-track faculty, one visiting faculty and a laboratory Technician.

 

Visitors

Dr. Fowler of the US Corp of Engineers in Vicksburg, Mississippi paid a visit to the department in January 2006. He was taken on a tour of our civil engineering technology facilities. A feedback from him is a comprehensive report identifying areas of improvements for our civil engineering program. His report has been found extremely useful as we begin the process of preparing the Civil Engineering Technology program for ABET accreditation.

Dr. George Adebiyi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University has visited the department in April 2007 to conduct a preliminary condition assessment of the solar energy facilities prior to commencement of our energy studies experimental activities beginning fall 2007. Full report of findings has been submitted.

Electronics Engineering Technology Industrial Advisory Board visited the department on November 8 2006.

Civil Engineering Technology Advisory board visited department, December 8th 2006.

 

Collaboration with Enrolment Services

The department has lately worked with the TSU Enrolment Management division in reviewing and assessing various TSU strategies for enhancing and promoting better understanding between TSU international students and their domestic American counterparts. This effort has resulted in a publication entitled: Promoting cohesion and enhancing international understanding between international and domestic students at Texas Southern University co-authored by Dr. Olowokere and Ms. Shoyombo, of the Engineering Technology Department and Enrollment Management Services respectively.

 

Additional Faculty

Dr. X. Chen --- Computer Engineering

Dr. G. Thomas ---Electronic Engineering

Dr. E. Kamel --- Electronic Engineering

 

Faculty Activities

We have enjoyed a wide array of activities from our faculty. They have made presentations and publications counting over 30 in the last 2 years. Thy have also been very active in attending various workshops and symposium adding to enhancement of their teaching and research capabilities. We are located in the Technology Building of Texas Southern University in the heart of Houston. Our administrative office is Room 319; and I invite you to visit and meet with some of our students and faculty and have a tour (both individual and school tours) of our facilities.

 

With my best wishes,

 

David Olowokere Ph.D., P.E.

Professor & Chair

Department of Engineering Technology

 

Mailing Address:

3100 Cleburne Street

TECH 319

Houston, Texas 77004

Tel: (713) 313-7119

Fax: (713) 313-4486

 

Email: olowokeredo@tsu.edu