From the Dean: February 2018

Dear Purdue Engineering Community,

Before I share an update on the 2015 COACHE survey results and announce a College-wide conversation that will take place this semester, I will quickly share the exciting news that a new dual-degree program has been approved, through a joint effort with Dean David Hummels and colleagues in the Krannert School of Management. This new program will allow admitted students to receive both an MBA (from Krannert) and a professional master’s degree in engineering (from Purdue Engineering) in two years. A pilot program may launch as soon as this year.

In 2015, Purdue participated in a Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Survey of Faculty Job Satisfaction. Results were discussed in February 2017 with the Engineering Leadership Team. We are now making College-specific results available for faculty and staff in Engineering: 2015 COACHE Results for Engineering.

Results of the 2015 COACHE survey led to a number of initiatives in the College of Engineering, including: (1) the creation of Engineering Faculty Conversations (EFC); (2) the creation of a Celebrating Our Associate Professors series; (3) the inclusion of campus mentoring opportunities and a link to a “best practices guide” for faculty mentoring; (4) the launch of “Faculty Retention and Success through Intergroup Dialogue and Inclusion Alliance,” a Provost-funded, University-wide initiative led by Drs. K. Howell, K. Kokini, A. Moors, and P. Buzzanell to develop new evidence-based programs to promote a positive climate for faculty; and (5) the expansion of services of the College’s Concierge Program. Several Engineering schools/divisions have also launched noteworthy efforts based on the 2015 COACHE results.

I hope you will take part in university’s upcoming 2018 COACHE survey. Your responses are confidential and will help us continue to promote the success of our faculty.

Focusing now on the overall direction of the College, the strategic plans overseen by the two previous deans have provided outstanding foundations for the growth of the College. Many well-articulated points in those plans remain essential today. Let us celebrate our many accomplishments and renew our commitment to the 2002 theme of “From Excellence to Preeminence” and the 2009 theme of “Extraordinary People, Global Impact.” Over the past few years, new opportunities and challenges have arisen, and many new colleagues have joined us. Let us join in conversation on aspiration and actions.

In the next three months, we will take a few events as public forums where everyone can provide input:

  • February 27: Faculty Forum (originally scheduled as a College-wide faculty meeting). 4:30–6 pm in ARMS 1010
  • March 5: Meeting with undergraduate student leaders
  • March 23: Meeting with graduate student leaders
  • April 6: Faculty Forum (to be followed by the annual Faculty Award Banquet)
  • April 11: Staff Forum (originally scheduled as a College Town Hall)

Topics for each forum will be identified and communicated in advance. We will also create and advertise an “anonymous email inbox,” where anyone can submit ideas anonymously.

To plan each forum and to digest and summarize the input received, I have asked Drs. K. Howell and M. Lundstrom, along with the five associate deans, to organize small-scale workshops with faculty/staff/student leaders. More details will be provided soon.

All ideas are welcome as we explore the future of the Purdue College of Engineering.

Mung

Mung Chiang
John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering
Purdue University