B. Accreditation Summary

6. Facilities

The current physical location of the MSE department is in Gilman Hall with additional space allocated temporarily in Howe Hall. Additionally, new space has been allocated in Hoover Hall expected to be completed in summer 2003. This space will represent a 50% increase of the current available space. The new space in Hoover Hall will be largely dedicated to teaching facilities, faculty and administration, while research activities will largely remain in Gilman Hall.

In this section:

• Classroom and Laboratory Space
• Computing and Information Infrastructures
• Laboratory Equipment
• New Space in Hoover Hall
• Opportunities for Student Use of Modern Engineering Tools.
  

Classroom Space
The materials science and engineering department is assigned classroom space through the office of space and scheduling using standard university procedures. Many classes are held in 1312 Gilman, a classroom that has been equipped with an MSE-owned built in computer projector to allow faculty to quickly plug in their laptop for computer-based instruction. Because the department owns and maintains the projector, we have priority in scheduling this room. A variety of other classrooms, both traditional and electronically equipped are used in and near Gilman Hall.

Laboratory Space
The bulk of the teaching laboratory space is in the southwest wing of Gilman as shown in Figure B6.1. Additionally, often research equipment and laboratory space is utilized for teaching undergraduates, particularly in the capstone design course. Most laboratory space serves multiple courses as all laboratory courses are taught only once a year. The function of the room usually varies by semester.

FIGURE B6.1 AND FIGURE B6.2


Computing and Information Infrastructures
The MSE department provides computing resources to students on two levels. At the first level, much of the departmental teaching equipment is controlled by computer workstations. This includes devices such as the thermal analysis equipment, x-ray diffractometer, etc. which use proprietary software packages for data acquisition and analysis, and equipment (e.g. furnaces, the Instron) where the department has developed its own computer control interface. Special computing resources in this category include the computer-based SEM teaching laboratory. On a second level students are provided with personal computing resources by maintaining a common student work room. This student room is fully equipped with computers, printers, and scanners for use by all students. (a complete list will be available at the time of the visit.) Specific software packages used in various MSE classes are on these computers as well as general word processing, graphing, and drawing packages. Students have access to this room 24 hours per day through a key card access system and can connect to the student server from their homes using a modem pool also maintained by the department.

The department also owns a number of projectors used for directly displaying computer images on a screen. A large number of departmental classes have lectures and notes placed on web pages or in PowerPoint presentations and these projectors are used for class lectures. This type instruction also allows the faculty to demonstrate computer-based analysis in class. Videos and animations are also frequently used classroom tools. The projectors are used heavily by students for their in-class technical speaking assignments and for presentations to companies involved in design projects.

A joint faculty/student computer committee oversees the student room as well as the remainder of the department computer resources. The student computer room is maintained using student computer fees paid as part of their tuition. Paid student monitors see that the computers are kept in working condition while the committee decides on new purchases. Faculty and student requests are solicited each Fall to ensure that the equipment and software will need the needs of the curriculum. Laboratory computer equipment that is used for both research and teaching purposes (such as the thermal analysis equipment, XRD, SEM etc.) is maintained jointly using user fees charged to research contracts and from departmental resources.

Laboratory Equipment
The MSE department has an excellent inventory of equipment for use in teaching classes. This equipment is inventoried yearly, and the Facilities and Equipment Committee regularly reviews needs for upgrading, repairing, replacement and new equipment. Recently, two new teaching laboratories were established – electronic properties of materials laboratory (3313 Gilman) and a Polymer Processing Laboratory, 3162 Gilman. (Fig. B6.1) Approximately $140,000 of new equipment has been purchased to support these laboratories. An complete equipment inventory will be available during the visit. Table B6.1 gives some examples of modern engineering tools used in courses.

New Space in Hoover Hall
The Facilities and Equipment (F & E) Committee of the MSE department has developed an extensive facilities plan to optimize use of existing MSE space and equipment in Gilman Hall and new space in Hoover Hall.

Highlights of this plan include

• Expanding the use and availability of research equipment.
• Facilitating stronger interaction among our undergraduate students, graduate students, and research scientists through shared spaces to improve students’ preparation for professional practice after leaving ISU.
• Development of 3 teaching laboratories
• Materials Characterization
• Thermal analysis, powder characterization
• Materials Processing
• Forming
• Heat Treatment Facility
  

Details of planned space usage will be available at the time of the visit.

Opportunities for Student Use of Modern Engineering Tools.
Students have ample opportunity to develop proficiency with a variety of modern engineering tools. Students are required to take between 25 and 27 laboratory credits in the program (depending upon which specializations are selected.)

Computer-based tools:
Computer use is required throughout the curriculum, and students achieve a high level of proficiency with standard word processing, spreadsheet and graphics programs. Additionally, students are often required to use presentation programs, web-design tools and communication tools. Some courses require computer aided design and analysis. A variety of specialized software tools, (e.g. materials selectors, mold design for casting, etc.) are also used as listed in Table B6.1.

TABLE B6.1

Equipment:
In addition to computer based tools, students are required to operate a variety of materials processing and characterization equipment. In many cases, this equipment is shared with research laboratories, and the equipment represents state-of-the art tools in that particular area. A list of the tools used in the most equipment intensive labs appears in Table B6.1. Two especially notable facilities are the fast scanning x-ray diffractometer (able to scan a sample in less than 3 minutes for classroom purposes) and the Web-based Environmental SEM. Each was procured through NSF grants on education.

Many students gain additional experience with sophisticated research equipment and software working as undergraduate research assistants.