Ken Vickers – Director Research Professor, Physics (1998 – present)

1. University of ArkansasMicroelectronics-Photonics (microEP) Graduate ProgramGraduate Student Recruitment, or Student Matchmaking? Ken Vickers – Director Research Professor, Physics (1998 – present) Eng Management, Texas Instruments (1980 – 1998) 479 575-2875 vickers@uark.edu http://microEP.uark.edu Fisk University November 2007 Nashville, Tennessee

2. microEP Mission • The educational objective of the microEP program is to produce graduates that create and commercialize electronic and photonic materials, devices, and systems. • This will be accomplished through rigorous interdisciplinary science/engineering graduate education; supplemented with soft skills, management, and entrepreneurial training. Fisk University - Nashville, TN

3. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Matchmaking – Not Recruiting…

4. Historical Departmental Approach Department or Program Degrees Courses Career Student Recruitment Method Fisk University - Nashville, TN

5. Historical Departmental Approach Student Centered Approach Department or Program Career Degrees Courses Courses Degrees Career Department or Program Student Recruitment Method Fisk University - Nashville, TN

6. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Follow your passion to Grad School(find known-good programs)

7. Passion and Resources: A good match is good for you… • Search www.nsf.gov for programs that match your research passions • IGERT (also www.igert.org) • MRSEC/ERC/SERC/NSEC/etc • Individual large research grants • Search www.nsf.gov for other attributes to help you develop • GK-12 • REU • Other types of outreach/passions Fisk University - Nashville, TN

8. Truth in Advertising:microEP does pretty well… • Search www.nsf.gov for programs that match your research passions • IGERT (1999) • MRSEC (nanoscience – 2000 and 2005) • Individual large research grants (many) • Search www.nsf.gov for other attributes to help you develop • GK-12 (2001 and 2007) • REU (2000 and 2004 – funded through 2008) • NSF Partnership for Innovation (2001 and 2004) • Dept of Ed FIPSE 2001 – Physics Grad Ed • NSF Eng U/G Ed Planning grant 2003 Fisk University - Nashville, TN

9. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Money Matters – Or Does It?

10. Passion and Resources: “Build it, resources will come…” • Consider what is important to you • Professional results? • Proximity to family? • Location (mountain/shore; north/south; etc)? • Go to the best /program school that matches your goals • If all else is equal, go to the best funding • If no funding available, your passion will create funding opportunities for you at your best matching program Fisk University - Nashville, TN

11. NSF Scholarships in STEM(Need-based scholarships for entry grad students) • Five year grant awarded to microEP in Summer 2007 • All scholarships are need based ($10k/year maximum) • Start with FAFSA to determine EFC • Talk with Office of Financial Aid for UA need • $10k graduate scholarships available per calendar year for microEP MS or PhD graduate students • Tuition is paid by matching UA grant Fisk University - Nashville, TN

12. Walton Student Fellowships(Supplements to base stipend for four years) • Doctoral Academy Fellowship $10k/year • 5.0 / 6.0 minimum (71st percentile) • BS GPA 3.5 minimum; MS GPA 3.65 minimum • Verbal plus Quantitative 1100 / 1600 minimum • Doctoral Academy Fellowship $20k/year • 5.5 / 6.0 minimum (86th percentile) • BS GPA 3.65 minimum; MS GPA 3.80 minimum • Verbal plus Quantitative 1200 / 1600 minimum Fisk University - Nashville, TN

13. A Funding Opportunity is a Terrible thing to Waste • microEP as Employment Agency • Quick notification of funded positions to appropriate students • Stress to students to pursue research passion, not funding (results will breed funding) • Demonstrate capabilities first as a volunteer • Develop Multiple Funding Sources • TA/GA positions in multiple departments • RA positions with research professor • NSF IGERT, PFI, and GK-12 programs Fisk University - Nashville, TN

14. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Why the UA –A Community to Call Home…

15. Fayetteville’s Global Location Fayetteville is central to many major metropolitan areas, yet still far enough away to retain the character of the town. XNA Regional Airport has direct flights to eighteen cities around the nation. Fisk University - Nashville, TN

16. Fayetteville: A Historic City with a Wealth of Opportunity and Character • Walton Arts Center • Concerts • theater productions • art exhibits • Dickson Street • Food • Shopping • Nightlife • The Square • Farmers Market • Springfest • Autumnfest • Lights of the Ozarks Fisk University - Nashville, TN

17. All the Amenities that Exist in Large Cities, Exist in Fayetteville • Dining • Olive Garden • Copeland's • Chilies • Outback Steakhouse • Shopping • Barnes & Noble • The Gap • Best Buy Fisk University - Nashville, TN

18. Recruitment Through • Alumni Interest • Trained in industry • Interested in home • Current graduates • All regional schools Retention Through • History and Tradition • Senior Walk • Ozark lifestyle • Museums and societies Fisk University - Nashville, TN

19. Regional cities of interest • Eureka Springs • Branson, Missouri • Van Buren • Clear, clean lakes and rivers • National forests • Festivals • Springfest • Autumnfest • Lights of the Ozarks • Educational opportunities • Fayetteville High School • Northwest Arkansas Community College • University of Arkansas • The Razorbacks Fisk University - Nashville, TN

20. Recreation & Sports in the Ozarks • HPER Facility at the UA • Indoor track • Swimming pool • Weight Training • Cardiovascular equipment • Racquetball • Climbing wall • Intramural Sports • Hiking • Mountain biking • Fly fishing • Kayaking Fisk University - Nashville, TN

21. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Why microEP –Joining a Community, not a Grad Program…

22. Microelectronics-Photonics Graduate Program microEP Student Group September 2003 Fisk University - Nashville, TN

23. microEP Workgroup Creation: Summer Camp – Pre Fall Semester Camp concepts by Dr. Ed Sobey (www.invention-center.com) Fisk University - Nashville, TN

24. microEP Workgroup Creation: Socialization outside of Campus Hawks Bill Crag Lost Valley Eden Falls Jack o’ Lantern Party Fisk University - Nashville, TN

25. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad ProgramSo What are the Results?

26. microEP Stats (06-07 Annual Report) • MS in place fall 1999; PhD in place fall 2000 • 137 current students/alumni (29 women and 24 African American or Hispanic), with 61 active in Fall 2007 • Fifty-eight conferred MS degrees • Twenty-two conferred PhD degrees (forty-one students currently on PhD path of fifty-eight enrolled total) • Twenty-seven enrolled PhD students beyond the MS • Grads at Northwestern U Post Doc, La Tech and Virginia Commonwealth Faculty, Texas Instruments, Intel, AMI, Motorola, Entergy, ITT, and self-owned SBIR fueled start-up companies Fisk University - Nashville, TN

27. MS microEP Student’s Prior Degree Department versus Major Professor’s Department (4/07) Fisk University - Nashville, TN

28. PhD microEP Student’s Prior Degree Department versus Major Professor’s Department (4/07) Fisk University - Nashville, TN

29. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad ProgramQuestions?http://microEP.uark.edu