Tag: Statistics

Portage Health Foundation Graduate Assistantship Fall 2022 – Xuewei Cao

I am currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. My advisor is professor Qiuying Sha. My research is in statistical genetics. I focus on the development of novel statistical methods and efficient bioinformatical tools to find genetic variants or genes related to complex diseases and traits, such as type II diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, et al. My main project is incorporating the genotype and phenotype association network to simultaneously analyze multiple phenotypes and multiple genotypes and improve the power to identify genes that are associated with complex diseases by using the constructed network. Under the supervision of Dr. Sha, I have also collaborated with the Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP) in Marquette, MI since 2019 to determine the relationship between health service costs and diabetic medication compliance for patients with diabetes in the UPHP population.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Portage Health Foundation for the support, which allows me to focus on such cutting-edge research here at Michigan Tech and prepare the manuscripts for publications in the coming fall. I also want to thank my advisors Professor Qiuying Sha and Professor Shuanglin Zhang for all of their valuable guidance and support over the last four years, and I am extremely grateful to the graduate program in Math Department for their constant help and generous support throughout my entire graduate school studies.

Female and Graduate Student Enrollment Rises

Michigan Tech, like other public universities in the state, submitted its official fall enrollment numbers to Lansing this week. The news was very good.

Michigan Tech has 1,252 first-year students, the largest freshman class since 2008. The average ACT score and high school GPA of those students are at an all-time high, at 26.7 and 3.66.

Graduate student numbers also rose for the fifth straight year, to 1,359.

“I want to thank everyone all across campus for the work they do to attract the highest quality students,” said President Glenn Mroz. “The results of their efforts speak for themselves.”

Total undergraduate enrollment this fall is 5,617, making the University’s total enrollment for the fall semester 6,976, up from 6,945. There are 1,180 female students, the second highest ever. Female enrollment in the College of Engineering is now 906, up from 612 in 2005 and 835 last year. This is an all-time high. And the Graduate School has 392 female graduate students, the most ever.

The number of domestic ethnic minorities has risen to just shy of 7 percent of the undergraduate student body. This is a 10-year high and an all-time record.

“The academic caliber of this incoming class of undergraduates is one of the highest in recent history at Michigan Tech,” said John Lehman, associate vice president for enrollment, marketing and communications at Michigan Tech. “It’s a diverse class with a relatively high proportion of women entering the STEM fields. We’re very excited to have this group of talented, future leaders studying with us at Tech.”

The Graduate School saw the number of first-time master’s degree students rise 22.2 percent, to 314. There are 97 first-time doctoral students, a 1 percent drop from fall 2012. Tech’s Graduate School processed more than 4,100 applications for the fall 2013 semester.

“This is the fifth consecutive year of record graduate enrollment at Michigan Tech,” said Jacqueline Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School. “We are making clear progress toward our goal of 3,000 graduate students by 2035. Also, last year was the fourth consecutive year of record graduation numbers for master’s and PhD students. We want to thank everyone who helped get new graduate students to Tech and who worked closely with the students who are here.”

The enrollment report lists numbers of students in each of Michigan Tech’s Colleges and Schools.

* College of Engineering: 4,329
* College of Sciences and Arts: 1,657
* School of Business and Economics: 365
* School of Technology: 276
* School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science: 242
* No School or College designated: 107

Published in Tech Today by Jennifer Donovan, public relations director

Michigan Tech Garners Best Bang for the Buck Rating

Michigan Tech has been named a school that delivers the Best Bang for the Buck in ratings released by Washington Monthly magazine. Michigan Tech ranks 29th among national universities in the category, according to the publication.

Washington Monthly created the Best Bang for the Buck category, to address the now-prevalent question of whether or not a college education is worth it. According to their website, they ask, “What colleges will charge people like me the least and give me the highest chance of graduating with a degree that means something in the marketplace?”

“This rating, combined with our Business Insider ranking with underrated universities, shows how Michigan Tech is getting good reviews in the right kinds of profiles,” said John Lehman, associate vice president for enrollment, marketing, and communications. In the Business Insider ranking, Michigan Tech was also praised for the high salaries their graduates earn.

To be included among Washington Monthly’s Best Bang for the Buck rankings, schools are rated in four categories: percentage of students receiving Pell Grants, graduation rate, default rate and net price.

Of the 1,572 schools in their overall rankings, only 349 made the list in the Best Bang for the Buck category.

Other Michigan schools rated in the Best Bang category include Michigan State University (23rd) and Western Michigan University (46th). Michigan Tech is rated just behind Iowa State University and just above Rutgers University.

Michigan Tech was also ranked number 64 in the overall national university rankings, in which the Washington Monthly rates schools “based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).”

Published in Tech Today

Online Grad Programs Ranked by US News

The MBA online program in Michigan Tech’s School of Business and Economics placed 47th of 197 online graduate business programs in new rankings released today by US News & World Report.  Tech’s online master’s degree program in engineering also made the magazine’s 2013 national rankings, earning 41st place among 66 online graduate programs in engineering that were ranked.

“The Tech MBA Online program was created to provide an innovative curriculum guided by experienced and knowledgeable business faculty,” said Gene Klippel, dean of the School of Business and Economics.  “Professionals looking to advance their career, even in a challenging economy, can benefit from learning and understanding technology and innovation within organizations.  A ranking in the top 50 from US News confirms that our program is on track for continued success for students, our School and Michigan Tech.”

Bill Worek, dean of the College of Engineering, said: “The master’s program in the College of Engineering continues to be highly ranked with other premiere engineering schools.  This online program gives students with full-time jobs the ability to complete an advanced degree.  This is essential for the state of Michigan to further enhance the quality of the engineering work force in the state.”

US News defines an online education program as one for which all the coursework can be completed via distance education courses that incorporate Internet-based learning technologies.  Among criteria evaluated were graduation rate, class size, one-year retention rate, time to degree, graduate entrance exam scores and grade point averages of students, percentage of PhD and tenured faculty, and technologies and services available to students.

For the first time this year, US News added a peer assessment survey of deans and top distance learning higher education academics employed by schools ranked in 2012.

“It is a wonderful testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff that we have achieved these rankings,” said Graduate School Dean Jackie Huntoon. “I am happy to see that both the business and engineering online programs are getting the positive attention they deserve.”

“Michigan Tech’s online MBA program is really quite young, and already it is ranked in the top third of all ranked programs nationwide.  This is a remarkable achievement,” Huntoon went on to say.  “The number and quality of offerings in engineering continues to grow each year. I am continually impressed by the comments I hear from students and employers who tell me that they chose Michigan Tech because of our focus on real-world applications and because of the quality and commitment of our faculty.”

Posted in TechToday by Jenn Donovan, Public Relations Director

Fall Enrollment Figures Announced

Michigan Tech submitted its official fall undergraduate and graduate enrollment figures to the state Wednesday night.

The total number of students on campus this fall is 6,945, including 1,410 new undergraduates, both first-year and transfer students. Of those new undergraduates, 1,027 are Michigan residents, 349 are women, 93 are underrepresented minorities and 54 are international students.

“Four and half years ago we enrolled one of the largest undergraduate classes in recent memory,” said Les Cook, vice president for student affairs. “Last May those students graduated, and 95 percent of them were successfully placed. With that exceptionally large number of graduates taking their place in the world and decreasing numbers of students graduating from high schools in Michigan, it is more challenging for us to fill all their spots at the University. But we’re doing well, and I think that the high placement rates and starting salaries of our graduates bode well for the long run. The market is there. Right now, our Fall Career Fair already has the second-largest number of companies attending in our history, and businesses are still registering.”

Although the total number of women at Michigan Tech dropped slightly, the number of female students in the College of Engineering rose to 835 from last year’s 795. That brings the percentage of women engineering undergraduates up to 20 percent. Since 2005, the number of undergraduate women enrolled in the College of Engineering has increased 36 percent, from 612 to 835.

Overall, women make up 25 percent or one in four of the undergraduates at Michigan Tech.

“We’ve done a lot in the background over the past couple years to begin to position Michigan Tech as a ‘go-to’ place for women interested in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields and management,” said President Glenn Mroz. “It’s a process that will continue. This fall we’re gearing up a new marketing campaign to reach out to women interested in understanding, developing, applying, managing and communicating science and technology. After all, women make up about 55 percent of the college-bound population; their science and math abilities are exceptional, and employers are continually looking for more gender balance in their workforce.”

The total number of graduate students rose to 1,322, a 1.5 percent increase over fall 2011. First-time master’s degree students this year total 257 and first-time doctoral students, 98.

Michigan Tech also saw a fourth consecutive year of increases in graduate degrees granted, reported Jacque Smith, director of marketing and advancement for the Graduate School. In the 2011-12 academic year, 352 graduate degrees were granted, including 289 master’s and 63 PhDs.

“These numbers are encouraging and are moving us closer to our goal of having 3,000 graduate students at Michigan Tech,” said Graduate School Dean Jacqueline Huntoon.

“Jacque and I both want to thank all of the people who worked so hard over the past two weeks to get all of the students in special situations enrolled before the official count date,” Huntoon added. “This includes the Graduate School staff, the Registrar’s Office staff and everyone in Accounting. Without all of these people’s collaborative efforts, we would not have been able to exceed last year’s numbers before the official count date.”

by Jenn Donovan, director, public relations
Published in Tech Today

Washington Monthly Rates Michigan Tech Among Top 100

Michigan Tech has been named one of the top 100 universities in the nation by Washington Monthly magazine. The publication ranked Michigan Tech 63rd overall and 4th in the country for encouraging students to give service to their country through its ROTC programs.

Tech placed third of only 5 Michigan universities ranked in the top 100. The other Michigan rankings were: University of Michigan, 13th, Michigan State, 34th, Western Michigan, 90th, and Wayne State University, 95th.

The magazine says its ratings differ significantly from other national publications’ rankings. According to its website, “the Washington Monthly rates schools based on what they are doing for their students and the country–on whether they’re improving social mobility, producing research and promoting public service.”

The rankings are further defined by contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students); research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs); and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).

“We are particularly gratified by our excellent showing in this ranking because the criteria align so closely with our University’s strategic plan and goals,” said President Glenn Mroz. “Recruiting and graduating disadvantaged students in spite of declining state support, conducting cutting-edge research, growing our Graduate School and encouraging students to give back are at the heart of the Michigan Tech philosophy.”

In a news release announcing the rankings, Washington Monthly explained its criteria: “The main flaw in most college rankings is that they tend to measure how prestigious institutions are rather than how effectively they serve their students.”

by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor
Published in Tech Today

A Michigan Tech Education Pays Off

Is a college education a good investment?

No question about it, according to a report just issued by the website PayScale.com. In its 2012 Return on Investment (ROI) rankings, PayScale reports that a bachelor’s degree from Michigan Tech can be expected to yield more than $450,000 over a high school diploma in 30 years.

Michigan Tech placed 102nd among 850 US colleges and universities ranked in PayScale’s latest ROI report. According to the report, a Michigan Tech bachelor’s degree provides a return on investment of 9.6 to 11.1 percent.

“You would have a difficult time getting 11 percent every year going forward in the stock market without taking on a lot of risk,” said President Glenn Mroz. “And this is an investment people make in themselves that pays dividends beyond a simple ROI, since it affects a person’s quality of life and that of their family, often for generations.”

The ROI report also compared the cost of a degree at each of the colleges and universities ranked. It reports that a degree from Michigan Tech costs an average of $103,200, including tuition, fees, room and board, and books and supplies, with 91 percent of students receiving financial aid. At the top 10 schools on PayScale’s ROI list–all private–a degree costs between $203,500 and $212,900.

“The top of the list is dominated by expensive private schools and public universities with a strong STEM focus, demonstrating the value of STEM degrees,” Mroz pointed out.

Graduate School Dean Jackie Huntoon agreed. “I think this is a more rational ranking than the US News report, since it is based less on other academics’ perceptions and more on student outcomes,” she said.

by Jennifer Donovan, director, public relations
Published in Tech Today

Tech MBA Online Rated a Best Value

The accolades continue to accumulate for the Tech MBA Online program. It is now rated a top-25 best value nationally, according to the Business MBA website (www.businessmba.org). The School of Business and Economics’ program is ranked number thirteen among some impressive institutions. Florida, Florida State, Auburn, UMass, Colorado State, Georgia and Arizona State are all on the list.

Of the Tech MBA Online, the website stated that the School of Business and Economics is “known for its commitment to the business of technology as well as the technology of business education.”

The Tech program earned high marks for being accredited by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), the fact that it can be completed in two years, and its focus on the integration of technology and business.

“This recognition comes at a critical time as the cost of education continues to increase,” said Associate Dean Tom Merz. “Our goal is to provide a high-quality education while not sacrificing learning and professional development in an online learning environment.”

The website also stated that “. . . we’re confident that the combination of high quality and low cost offered by the programs on our list gives students looking to get the biggest bang for their MBA buck a great place to start their search.”

Previously, the Tech MBA Online was honored by US News and World Report in its first-ever online rankings. Michigan Tech was ranked 24th in Admission Selectivity and 38th in Teaching Practices and Student Engagement, among the 161 online graduate business programs honored.

by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor
Published in Tech Today

More Accolades for Tech MBA Online

The School of Business and Economics has another reason to cheer: SuperScholar, an online education and career information website, has named the Tech MBA Online among the top 25 in the nation, coming in at number 20.

Recently, Tech’s MBA Online was ranked among the honor roll programs in first-ever online rankings by US News and World Report.

The SuperScholar website singles out Tech’s program “for its emphasis on innovation, technology and entrepreneurship”–all prominent features of Tech’s online MBA program, which, like the School itself, is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

School of Business and Economics Dean Darrell Radson said, “Our Tech MBA Online has once again been recognized as a top MBA program internationally. It also confirms that we are aligned with the changing trends in our global economy by offering a flexible, online learning environment focused on innovation and technology management with an international business perspective.”

The SuperScholar editors say they designed their “Smart Choice” ranking of online MBA programs to help fill a void of quality rankings and reviews of online degree programs, as well as provide prospective students with help in finding the best degree program for them.

After researching all online MBA programs accredited by AACSB or by regional accrediting agencies, SuperScholar ranked the top 25 schools based on quality, marketability and affordability–as determined by market reputation, admissions selectivity, accreditation and cost.

AACSB accreditation is considered the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Being AACSB-accredited means a business school is able to continuously pass a set of strict standards that are designed to ensure quality. The School of Business and Economics successfully completed reaccreditation requirements in spring 2011.

Published in Tech Today.

Education in Tune with Industry Raises Michigan Tech’s Job Placement Rate to Nearly 95 Percent

As Michigan Governor Rick Snyder takes the podium at Delta College today to talk about the need for more highly skilled workers to meet Michigan employers’ needs, Michigan Tech reports that its job placement rate has risen to an astonishing 94.6 percent.

At its most recent Career Fair in September, the University hosted 720 recruiters from 245 companies. Students participated in more than 4,200 interviews at the event and in the days immediately following it. The University has another Career Fair scheduled for February 2012.

“Employers measure us by the performance of our alumni working at their companies,” said Jim Turnquist, director of Career Services. “We have a reputation for excellence.”

And employers are willing to pay for excellence, Turnquist noted. For example, the average salary reported by a 2011 Michigan Tech graduate in software engineering was $67,000; biomedical engineering, $60,000; and electrical engineering, $58,561. The national average salary of a 2011 college graduate was $51,171, according to the latest report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

In Snyder’s fifth special message to the Legislature since he took office Jan. 1, the governor is expected to outline his plan for improving ties among employers, educators and students to better match job skills to employers’ needs.

“At a time when many are questioning the value of a college education, we stress an education that meets both the needs of the students and the requirements of industry. It’s part of our DNA at Michigan Tech,” said President Glenn Mroz. “We work hand in hand with the industries that employ our graduates, through co-ops, internships and our signature Enterprise Program–where students work in teams to solve industry problems–to make sure our graduates are well-qualified to enter the workforce.”

During the economic downturn in 2009, the University’s traditionally high job placement rate dropped to 83.1 percent, still well above the national average of 63.7 percent. But Turnquist saw the economy starting to take a turn for the better in late 2010, as more recruiters began coming to campus.

“Companies are retooling and reengineering, and they’re hiring our people to do it,” he said.

by Jennifer Donovan, director, public relations
Published in Tech Today