Engineering Fundamentals News

Author: efadvise

Preparing to Get a Job

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It’s not too early to start preparing for a summer job; plan ahead for the 2014 Fall Career Fair. For details: www.mtu.edu/career/fair/students:

  • Resume Blitz: The Van Pelt and Opie Library , September 17, 18, 24, and 25, 11am-2pm
  • Career Fair Preparation: The Van Pelt and Opie Library, September 17, 6:30-7:30pm
  • Mock Interviews: Admin Building 220, September 22-26, 9am-4pm, one-on-one mock interview
  • Career Fair Cookout: Career Fest Tent outside Library, September 29, 11am-2pm
  • SWE ‘Evening with Industry’: MUB Ballroom, September 29, Social 5:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm, Information elpoli@mtu.edu, Cost $20, Tickets MUB 106 M-F 10-2pm
  • Fall Career Fair: SDC, September 30, noon-6pm

Fall Career Fair 2014 is where students and companies can meet to discuss potential job opportunities including summer internships, co-ops, and full-time employment. It is a great chance for first-year students to find summer employment which can help in making career decisions. A Job Fair Guidebook will be handed out at the Career Fair and will be available on-line. The guidebook provides a brief description of each company attending the Career Day (see details on the web at www.career.mtu.edu). A shuttle will be provided to transport students to and from the SDC; campus pick-up is at the MUB.

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Last Day to Drop Without a “W” (Withdrawal) is September 19, 2014 (Friday, Week 3)

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All first-year students must meet with their academic advisor to drop a class after orientation. All students must go to the Student Service Center to drop classes after 1st week.

When a student drops a full semester class between 1st and 3rd weeks, nothing appears on their transcripts. When a student drops a class between 4th and 10th weeks, a withdrawal grade (W) appears on their transcripts. This indicates that the student took the class for a significant amount of time (more than 3 weeks) and then decided to drop the class. One W on a transcript is not a big deal (check with Financial Aid to see a W grade will affect your financial aid, scholarships, or loans). More than a couple of Ws will start to indicate to a potential employer that a student cannot complete what they set out to do.

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No Time for Lunch?

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Do you have a meal plan with the Residence Hall but skip lunch because you have classes through lunch time? You could get a bag lunch from your dining hall, and here is how it works:

Dining Service provides bag lunches for students in the residence halls that cannot make it to lunch due to their class schedule (note, class schedules will be checked to confirm lunch-time conflicts). To request a lunch, ask any dining services staff person for a Bag Lunch form. To complete the form, you will need to specify service days and pickup times. Bag lunches, which will require a swipe when picked up, include a sandwich of your choice, fruit, chips, yogurt, and cookie. You will need to pick up your bag lunch at your dining hall.

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Writing Professional E-Mails

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Professional e-mails (those going to a professor or to a prospective employer) are different from personal e-mails or text messages in several ways.

  • Include a descriptive and detailed subject line for the e-mail. See the following examples:
    • Poor: I have a question
    • Better: ENG1101 Homework
    • Best: ENG1101 Homework due 9/12/2013, Problem 3.5
  • Address the person you are e-mailing (e.g., Hello Dr. Smith,).
  • Use full sentences.
  • Use capitals and punctuation.
  • Do not shorten words (i.e., use “you” instead of “u”).
  • Spell check the e-mail.
  • Sign the e-mail.
    • Thank you,
    • Your Name
    • Your Contact Information
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First-Year Engineering Courses (what do I take next)

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The courses in which you enroll during your first 2-3 semesters at Michigan Tech will depend largely upon your initial math placement, and somewhat upon your intended major. For course descriptions, go to the Michigan Tech undergraduate course descriptions.

If you start out in Calculus I (MA1160) or higher,$ your approximate schedule for your first two semesters will be (see your academic advisor for any changes):

Fall 1 (15-17 credits) Spring 1 (15-17 credits)
MA1160 or higher$ – Calculus I (4-5) *
ENG1101 – Engineering Analysis & Problem Solving (3)*
PH1100 – Physics Lab (1)*
CH1150 – Chemistry I (3)**
CH1151 – Chemistry I Lab (1)
UN1015 – Composition (3) (English)		 MA2160 or higher$ – Calculus II (4)
ENG1102 – Engineering Modeling & Design (3)
PH2100 – Physics I (3)
Major Specific Elective (1-4)
UN1025 – Global Issues (3) (Social Studies)

* Learning community scheduled: Groups of 20-24 students are scheduled in the indicated classes.
** Chemistry readiness guidelines
$ Typical Math sequence: MA1160 or MA1161, MA2160, MA3160, (MA2321 and MA3521) or (MA2320, MA3520). NOTE: Electrical Engineering students typically take MA2320/1 and MA3520/1 before MA3160. Computer Engineering degree does not require MA3160.

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First-Year Engineering Learning Center

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Engineering Fundamentals has a First-Year Engineering Learning Center for students taking first-year ENG courses. If you have questions regarding your ENG course you can see your instructor or go to the First-Year Engineering Learning Center.

  • Room: 208 Dillman
  • Sunday – Thursday
  • 7-9pm
  • Staffed with Coaches

Dillman 208 is also open for students to do homework when there is not a class in the room.

If you need help with other classes, there are other learning centers available across campus.

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Important University Dates

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Each semester, Michigan Tech has important dates regarding course schedule changes. These are based on the week of the semester (i.e., Orientation week is Week 0, the first week of classes is Week 1,  etc.). After orientation all first-year students will need their advisor’s signature to drop or add a course. Below is a list of these important dates (Add and Drop refer to adding and dropping a course):

  • Last day to Add (without instructor’s signature): Friday, Week 1
  • Last day to Late Add (with instructor’s signature): Wednesday, Week 2
  • Last day to Drop with a refund: Wednesday, Week 2
  • Last day to Drop with no record: Friday, Week 3
  • Last day to Drop (Withdraw) with a W grade: Friday, Week 10

For a full list of university academic dates go to the following link.

http://www.mtu.edu/registrar/students/calendars/academic/

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Selecting a Major

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If you are still deciding on a major, there are several items you may want to consider.

1. Meet with an academic advisor before you leave for campus for the summer.

– Biomedical Mr. Mike Labeau (344 M&M, malabeau@mtu.edu))
– BSE & Engineering Undecided Ms. Amy Monte & Dr. AJ Hamlin (112C Dillman, efadvise@mtu.edu)
– Civil & Environmental Ms. Julie Ross (103 Dillman, jzross@mtu.edu)
– Chemical Ms. Katie Torrey (202M Chem Sci, cmadvise@mtu.edu)
– Computer Mr. Trever Hassell (131 EERC, tjhassel@mtu.edu)
– Electrical Ms. Judy Donahue (131 EERC, eceadvise@mtu.edu)
– Geological Ms. Kelly McLean (627 DOW, kelly@mtu.edu)
– Materials Dr. Daniel Seguin (U-101 M&M, mseadvise@mtu.edu)
– Mechanical Ms. Danise Jarvey & Mr. Ryan Towles (204AMEEM, dnjarvey@mtu.edu & 205A MEEM, ratowles@mtu.edu)

2. Take an engineering seminar course Fall 2014 to see if a particular major is right for you. The courses that are offered are listed below.

– Biomed BE2100 – Tue 4-5
– Chemical CM1000 – Tue 11-noon
– Civil CE1000 – Mon 2-3
– Environmental ENVE1501 – Tue 2-5
– Geological GE1100 – Wed 4-5 & Sat 9-11
– Sciences and Arts Undecided SA1000 – Tue & Th 10-11
– Career Development Foundations UN2525 – Tue 4-5

3. Meet with Career Services for career guidance, discuss your MyPlan results, or gain career development strategies.

4. Check out the information about different engineering fields at the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Spring Waiver Forms and Required Signatures

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It is best to check course pre-reqs, co-reqs, and restrictions before registration opens. This will allow you time to get appropriate signatures or make other plans for your schedule. You can check the course pre-reqs, co-reqs, and restrictions in the course descriptions listing by clicking the CRN (Course Registration Number) in the Schedule of Classes or by looking at the undergraduate course descriptions.

When registering, if you get an error, read the error. Many times the error is due to a time conflict or lack of a co-requisite course (i.e. MA2321 has a co-requisite of MA3521). You can easily correct these errors by selecting a class at another time or adding the co-requisite course. If you still are unable to register, check the course pre-reqs, co-reqs, and restrictions to see if you may need a waiver.

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