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

1. University of ArkansasMicroelectronics-Photonics (microEP) Graduate ProgramStudent 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 ASEE Midwest Section Meeting September 16, 2005 Fayetteville, Arkansas

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. ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

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

4. Historical Departmental Approach Department or Program Degrees Courses Career Student Recruitment Method ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

5. Historical Departmental Approach Student Centered Approach Department or Program Career Degrees Courses Courses Degrees Career Department or Program Student Recruitment Method ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

6. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Use Existing Resources and Create Meaningful Partnerships…

7. Research Institution – HBCU Partnerships: A Case for Action • Research institutions must attract students from all population groups for success • HBCUs must prepare students for transition • Sustainable partnerships must support • Institutional rather than faculty centered knowledge • Matching students’ careers to research opportunities • Research institutions must recognize the change of culture for HBCU students • Undergraduate versus graduate expectations • Black majority versus white majority society • Faculty versus research group daily interactions ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

8. George Washington Carver Project • Originated in 1996 as a UA funded REU style partnership • Southern University at Baton Rouge, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Alcorn State University, Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, Xavier University • HBCU Administrators identify students matching research opportunities • Initiated by Colleges of Agriculture, Business, and Education • Now also supported by College of Engineering, Fulbright College, and five NSF REU sites on campus • Typically seventy-five students in these programs each summer ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

9. microEP Partnership Tactics: HBCU Administrators’ Visit • Institutional partnerships require detailed knowledge • IGERT/Grad School funded two-day meeting on campus for administrators from partner HBCUs • January 2001 and February 2003 • About 14 visitors each session • Introduced entire UA campus, not just the microEP graduate program ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

10. microEP Partnership Tactics: Visits to HBCU sites • Institutional partnerships require detailed knowledge • Won FIPSE supplemental grant for $25K • Regional meeting at HBCU host (Jan/Feb 2003) • Funds support meeting and student travel • Other HBCU research institution partners invited • Primary purpose: Advance dissemination of Physics cohort methodology • Secondary purpose: Gain knowledge of HBCU faculty, administration, and facilities ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

11. microEP Partnership Tactics: Identify Matching Sister Programs • Expand Carver/REU to institutions with matching educational/research interests (Norfolk State, San Jose State, U Texas El Paso, Fisk, Howard, Morgan State, etc) • Initiate new educational initiatives with your partners for joint benefit (such as IGERT and PREM) ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

12. NSF REU Sites - High Cost (but Effective) Recruiting • Submitted proposal and was funded for summers 2001- 2003; 2nd proposal funded for 2004-2008. • Based on microEP research areas, with focus on nanotechnology • Included funding for REU students to take summer graduate ethics class • Included microEP Cohort methodology approach • Viewed as a prime recruiting tool • Dedicated three of twelve positions to Carver ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

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

14. Fayetteville’s Global Location • Fayetteville is central to many major metropolitan areas, yet still removed to retain the character of the town. ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

15. 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 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

16. 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 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

17. 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 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

18. 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 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

19. 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 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

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

21. Microelectronics-Photonics Graduate Program microEP Student Group September 2003 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

22. microEP Workgroup Creation: Summer Camp – Pre Fall Semester Camp concepts by Dr. Ed Sobey (www.invention-center.com) ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

23. microEP Workgroup Creation: Socialization outside of Campus Hawks Bill Crag Lost Valley Eden Falls Jack o’ Lantern Party ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

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

25. 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 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

26. 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 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

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

28. microEP Student Prior Degree vs. microEP Faculty’s Department As of Sept 15, 2005 28 Matching US/Int’l 38 Non-Matching 2 have not picked major professor ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

29. microEP Stats • MS in place fall 1999; PhD in place fall 2000 • 103 current students and alumni (24 women, 13 African American, and 4 hispanic) • Forty-five conferred MS degrees • Fourteen 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 ASEE Midwest Meeting - Fayetteville, AR

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