Hi again! If you happened to read my previous blog, you may have noticed that I indicated to "check back tomorrow" for the conclusion of What A Week. Well, tomorrow is today - just a day later than promised. Yesterday, I worked nearly 18 hours at UNH ... and in the process, I think my meals for the day consisted of the following: 2 double chocolate donuts and a hot chocolate in the morning, a meatball sub and several chocolate chip cookies in the early afternoon, probably about 5 or 6 hershey bars in the early evening, and then a pepsi and 2 more double chocolate donuts in the late evening. This is just not a good diet!
I guess all of the chocolate and/or caffeine kept me awake. Most of my staff actually uses the David A. Beckerman Recreation Center at least once a day, but I have not done so recently. Not so good for a former college basketball player. Oh well ... it's on to What A Week - PART II. Back to our "Enhanced Visit" program - specifically for Forensic Science and Engineering.
The Forensic Science program at UNH is arguably the nation's top program. If you're not sure, try this one on for size: it's one of the nation's original 6 programs, started in 1975 by world renowned forensic scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee. It is also one of small handful of programs to have earned FEPAC accreditation through the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and has long history of producing successful graduates.
We have a National Crime Scene Training and Technology Center, a National Cold Case Center, and the Henry C. Lee Insitute of Forensic Science right here on our campus. On Friday, the propsective families in attendance actually were able to meet Dr. Lee and program coordinator Tim Palmbach. Our distiguished faculty includes professionals with experience in toxicology, trace and transfer evidence, DNA analysis, crime scene investigation, and more. Students are able to learn and study fingerprint analysis, footcasting, ballistics, and drug testing.
There's no need to say more. Our Tagliatela College of Engineering is no different, offering six nationally accredited (ABET) undergraduate degrees. Prospective families were also able to meet our faculty members in this area as well. As engineers, our faculty members have real-world experience. They fix things. They improve things. They improve systems and invent new methods. They make things go smoother and faster and make them better. So when the National Academy of Engineers revealed that only 35 percent of students who entered engineering programs nationwide actually finished, we built a new system. A better system.
Together with industry leaders, we created a new, smarter, better way to educate an engineer. Instead of waiting two frustrating years to dive into engineering while you toil away in science and math courses (yes, you will have to take these courses too!), this new method introduces you to engineering concepts from day one - freshman level courses include Intro to Engineering and Project Planning and Development. It's called our Spiral Curriculum, designed to educate the 21st century engineer by providing a complete understanding of how all engineering disciplines work and helping students to learn crucial practical skills such as time management, teamwork, communication, and presentation skills. Yes, it's not just a drafting board and calculator anymore!
Well, it's late and you probably get the idea. I worked at two other universities before joining the University of New Haven and it still amazes me just how much there is to do here ..... how much there is to talk about .... and how real everything is. I mean this because many colleges just aren't up to speed when it comes to educating for the 21st century. I guess I really do need the caffeine .... just to help me keep pace with all of the exciting things happening at UNH, though I could probably do without the donuts!
