We’re excited to debut our new interactive booklet about the online Master of Engineering in Professional Practice (MEPP) program! Check it out to experience videos of students and faculty discussing the benefits of the program, easy social sharing, and the latest information on the MEPP program.

View MEPP interactive booklet.

Pferdehirt organized and moderated a panel discussion titled, “Optimizing Group Projects for Practicing Engineers in an Online Environment: Lessons Learned.” The presentation and discussion focused on lessons that instructors in UW’s online Master of Engineering in Professional Practice (MEPP) program have learned about successfully integrating collaborative group projects into online courses. Co-panelists for the session included:

• Jeff Russell, UW Vice-Provost for Lifelong Learning and MEPP faculty
• Dave Pagenkopf, UW Division of Information Technology (DoIT) Director of Applications Development and Integration and MEPP alumnus
• Jeff Haught, NASA project manager and MEPP alumnus.

The award was presented at the 2013 CIEC meeting in Mesa, Arizona in February. Learn more about the MEPP program.

Tuesday, February 26
4:00 – 5:00 pm Weston Lecture Series “Mastering Public Presentations,” 1106 Mechanical Engineering
Audience: SMPH, MRSEC, NSEC, general engineering folks

Wednesday, February 27
1:00 – 2:00 pm “Leaving The Pipeline: Alternative Career Options for Scientists,” 1610 Engineering Hall
Audience: SMPH, MRSEC, NSEC, general engineering folks

4:00 – 5:00pm “Mastering Public Presentations”
Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (WID)
General campus and public audience

Tim Miller, a communications expert with a diverse background, received his M.S. in engineering from Dartmouth College, was a Research Associate at Harvard University, and worked for the Museum of Science, Boston. Tim is also a trained actor, and studied filmmaking at the University of California’s School of Cinematic Arts. His unique background shapes his approach to science communication, which emphasizes the human element.

Tim Miller is being sponsored by:
UW Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (UW MRSEC); UW School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Office of Graduate Program Support; UW Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (UW NSEC); UW Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Nelson Institute, Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE); Office of Professional Development and Engagement with the Graduate Student Collaborative (GSC); Co-sponsored by WARF as part of the WARF Discovery Challenge series.

This course is designed to advance your knowledge in electrical energy storage with a focus on batteries and supercapacitors. Introduction to Electrical Energy Storage Devices and Systems will focus on electrical energy storage devices and its application into various systems, such as hybrid electric vehicles and grid-tied electrical systems.

For more information, contact:
Bulent Sarlioglu
EPD Program Director
Phone: 800-462-0876 or 608-262-2061
Email: bulent@epd.engr.wisc.edu
Website: epd.engr.wisc.edu.

For the second year in a row, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has been ranked as one of the the top ten schools offering high-quality online graduate engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report.

This important distinction was announced today as U.S. News & World Report released its most recent ranking of online master’s of engineering programs, which required eligible programs to pass rigorous standards for quality education in the areas of faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, student engagement, and admissions selectivity.

“UW–Madison is honored to again be included in this prestigious ranking by U.S. News & World Report,” said Wayne Pferdehirt, Director of Distance Degree Programs for UW–Madison’s Department of Engineering Professional Development in the College of Engineering. “We are proud to have the quality and success of our online engineering graduate programs recognized as one of the best in the nation.”

“Our online master’s degree programs provide practicing engineers who are not able to attend courses on campus with the opportunity to learn and engage with the excellent faculty and research for which UW–Madison is known the world over,” he added. “Our goal has been to build distance degree programs that of the highest quality. We are glad that U.S. News & World Report joins our graduates in affirming the exceptional educational quality of these degree programs, designed in content and format to propel the career of working professionals.”

UW–Madison’s College of Engineering and Department of Engineering Professional Development offer a variety of online engineering graduate programs, in areas including:

• Engineering management (professional practice)
• Engine systems
• Sustainable systems engineering
• Polymer engineering and science
• Technical Japanese
• Electrical and computer engineering (power electronics)
• Mechanical engineering (controls)

More information on all of UW–Madison’s online engineering degree programs can be found at distancedegrees.engr.wisc.edu/2013usnews, or contact Wayne Pferdehirt, Director of Distance Degree Programs, at 608-265-2361 or wppferde@wisc.edu.

The project, led by Engineering Professional Development Program Director James Tinjum, extended educational opportunities in civil design and construction to both practicing engineers and university students. These efforts support the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 initiative, by increasing the number of professionals and students skilled in the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and advancement of wind power technology.

Read more about how UW–Madison and EPD have contributed to this initiative and explore EPD’s courses in alternative energy and electric power generation, including the online course for university credit, “Wind Energy Site Design and Construction.”

The SSE program is designed to prepare mid-career engineers to be knowledgeable in sustainable engineering practices and be leaders in managing systems that impact the quality of water, land, air, energy, economics, and society. In addition, the program focuses on the technical aspects of three specializations:

• Energy production and distribution
• Facilities and the built environment
• Infrastructure

U.S. News & World Report rates UW–Madison’s online engineering graduate programs #1 in the categories of “Teaching Practices and Student Engagement” and “Student Services and Technology.”

Those interested in applying for the program should contact Marty Gustafson, Program Director, 608-262-8819 or magustafson2@wisc.edu, or visit the SSE program website.

Read the full article here, or view upcoming water and wastewater courses developed and taught by Paschke.

Paschke’s article was invited for publication by the Water Environment Federation, and was based on a workshop and paper by Paschke, given at their national conference in Los Angeles in October 2011.

Online information sessions will be held:

• Wednesday, July 25, 7:00-7:30 pm Central Time
• Thursday, July 26, 1:00-1:30 pm Central Time

Pre-registration for information sessions is required. To register for an information session, contact Marty Gustafson, SSE Program Director, magustafson2@wisc.edu, 800-462-0876 or 608-262-8819.

SSE is designed to prepare mid-career engineers with knowledge in sustainable engineering practices to be leaders in managing systems that impact the quality of water, land, air, energy, economics, and society. In addition, SSE focuses on the technical aspects of three specializations—energy production and distribution, facilities and built environment, and public infrastructure.

For more information on SSE, contact Marty Gustafson, SSE Program Director, magustafson2@wisc.edu, 800-462-0876 or 608-262-8819.

The UW Professional Practice Improvement (PPI) Online Fall 2012 series includes three courses, each offered for three Tuesday evenings, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Central time.

Accelerating Creativity 

• Developing your creativity mindset
• Personal characteristics that foster creativity
• Exploring the difference between creativity and innovation
• Organizational requirements that foster/support creativity and innovation

Managing Change

• The nature and paradox of change: change is essential for our sustainable success and we both seek it out and avoid it
• The four-step framework for introducing change in one’s life or on one’s team
• The four-phase Leading Change model for helping yourself and others navigate the emotional journey through change
• The sources of resistance and how to view resistance as a gift
• Strengthening your resilience to enable a healthy response to change
• A step-by-step plan for introducing and leading change effectively

Planning Strategically

• What is a strategic plan and why having a plan is crucial for your organization’s longevity
• The crucial difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning—and the importance of mastering both for sustainability
• Exploring the four steps for developing a strategic plan
• Who to involve in developing a plan and how to involve them
• Common barriers and pitfalls for strategic planning success
• Dealing with uncertainty, chaos, and change within your strategic plan