Michigan Tech Global Campus News

Author: Shelly Galliah

The Future of Electric Vehicles and Vehicle Electrification

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Close up of an electric vehicle being charged.

The Future is Definitely Electric

Despite common perceptions, electric vehicles are not a new phenomenon. In fact, the first battery-powered electric vehicle was built in 1834—more than 50 years before the first gas-powered internal combustion vehicle. In fact, according to an IEEE Proceedings article by Chan (2013), more than one-third of automobiles in the United States were electric by 1912.

What’s behind this rapid growth? What benefits of electric vehicles attract consumers? What is the future of electric vehicles beyond our highways? And how can we continue to build electrical cars responsibly? Read on for more.

Accelerating into the Future with Electric Vehicles

Despite sputtering in the 1990s and early 2000s, advances in electric vehicles have evolved rapidly in recent years. After the wildly popular launch of electric vehicles from Tesla, automakers scrambled to expand their foothold in the market. And they’re getting plenty of help.

Government Cooperation

National governments worldwide are fast-forwarding the future of electric vehicles by setting specific benchmarks. For instance, in the U.S., the Biden administration’s wants half of all vehicles sold in 2030 to be electric. Furthermore, the Inflation Reduction Act  encourages companies to install EV chargers at their properties. Those that do so can receive a 30% tax credit.

Also, the European Union’s goal by 2030 is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent. They plan to do so through a combination of policies that are collectively called the “Fit for 55” program. Even local governments are undertaking strong sustainability initiatives. Paris is in the midst of an ambitious “Bike Plan” initiative to create 112 miles of new permanent bicycle lanes. Furthermore, the city aims to triple the number of bike parking spots to 180,000 by 2026.

Consumer Behavior

These government-sponsored measures are a response to shifting attitudes by consumers about alternative modes of transportation—especially among those who live in cities. One recent survey indicated that inner-city trips with shared bicycles and e-scooters have risen 60 percent year over year. This number is no surprise when you consider that, in 2020, electric bikes outsold electric cars in the U.S. by more than 2 to 1. Also, public consumers aren’t the only ones shifting to electric: The U.S. Army is planning to transition its non-tactical fleet of 177,000 to electric vehicles by 2035.

Improvements in Electric Vehicle Technology

And investors are taking notice of these electric trends. That is, nearly $330 billion in investments have been granted to more than 2,000 mobility companies over the last decade. These companies are focused on automation, connectivity, electrification, and smart mobility (ACES). Thanks to these investments, automakers may research and invent new and innovative ways to increase the quality and durability of electric vehicles. One ultimate goal: making electric vehicles less expensive than gas-powered cars.

By 2035, the largest automobile markets will go electric.

McKinsey Center for Future Mobility

Considering Electric Vehicles Beyond Automobiles

When it comes to the future of electric vehicles, the possibilities go beyond highways and byways. From keeping electric vehicles on the road to changing the perception of electric vehicles in other modes of transportation, there are many innovations to get excited about and challenges to conquer.

Charging Infrastructure

There has been substantial growth in electric car sales. However, nearly half of U.S. consumers say battery or charging issues are their top concern when considering an electric vehicle. As a result, there have been increasing calls for improving charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. This infrastructure entails the network of charging stations, cables, and other equipment needed to power up these vehicles. A summary of this infrastructure is below.

  • Public charging stations
  • Home-based charging points
  • Workplace chargers
  • Necessary installation services
  • Software
  • Energy management systems

To help make charging easier for Americans, the US government has recently stepped in. For instance, the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $7.5 billion toward strengthening charging infrastructure nationwide. A main objective is installing half a million public chargers by 2030.

Sustainable Mobility in Cities

As previously mentioned, Paris wants to become a “100 percent cyclable city.” However, Paris’s vision is not the only option for cities seeking to increase both mobility and sustainability. One possible potent solution from the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility is called “Seamless Mobility.” This solution is a flexible, highly responsive network of transportation options. These include a shared fleet of public electric vehicles, electrified mass transit, and urban planning meant to reduce emissions. Therefore, an average-sized city could reap up to $2.5 billion per year by 2030 by implementing Seamless Mobility practices.

Look! Up in the Sky!

The future of electric vehicles, however, isn’t limited to the road. That is, interest continues to grow in electric air travel through eVTOLs (pronounced “ee-vee-tols”)—electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Think of them as safe, quiet, affordable, and environmentally friendly helicopters. Using eVTOLs as “flying taxis” for short flights or for trips normally taken by cars could substantially reduce emissions. Airbus Innovations, for example, is experimenting with electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems.

Some major airlines are thinking even bigger when it comes to electric aircraft. For instance, United Airlines Ventures, Air Canada, and Mesa Airlines have made significant financial pledges. After joining the investment group for Swedish-based electric aviation startup Heart Aerospace, these companies ordered several 30-passenger electric planes.

Close up of a hybrid-electric plane by the company Airbus. Planes are also electric vehicles.
Airbus Innovations is an initiative launched by Airbus to drive the development of new technologies and capabilities for the aerospace industry, such as electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, autonomous flight systems, and more.

Or Maybe Down to the Sea.

Cars and planes are not the only vehicles going electric. That is, electric boats are becoming more popular due to their low emissions, quiet operation, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness over traditional gas-powered boats. Some examples of electric boats include electric sailboats, electric ferries, electric speedboats, and electric fishing boats. More and more boat manufacturers are beginning to offer electric models, and electric boats are becoming more widely available.

Several boat manufacturers are offering electric models, including Sea Ray, Yamaha, Beneteau, Bayliner, Chris Craft, Viking, and Four Winns.

Building Electric Vehicles Responsibly

Although the benefits of electric vehicles can be substantial, it’s important to ensure those benefits aren’t canceled out by the environmental and human impact of manufacturing electric vehicles and infrastructure.

Sourcing and Mining Raw Materials

Virtually all batteries used by electric vehicles require lithium. And its price has skyrocketed—by about 550 percent in one year—as the demand for electric vehicles has grown. Mining more lithium, as well as other necessary elements such as cobalt, means more manpower. However, this mining, which often occurs in countries such as China, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, can be a dirty business. Miners are often subject to unsafe working conditions and potentially toxic side effects of dust and fumes. As with other human and workers’ rights campaigns in recent years, raising awareness of the plight of these workers can pressure on manufacturers and governments to regulate and improve working conditions.

Ensuring Equitable Electricity

The U.S. government’s investment in charging infrastructure is substantial. Nonetheless, this investment will only be successful if those chargers are equitably distributed among its citizens. Currently, most chargers tend to be installed in higher-income areas. For example, California has 112 chargers per 100,000 people in high-income urban districts. Contrast this number with only 24 chargers per 100,000 households in urban districts with low to moderate incomes.

States that have taken specific action to improve their electric vehicle infrastructure include the following:

  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Oregon
  • Washington

Furthermore, several other states, including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia are working to promote electric vehicle adoption.

A charger for electric vehicles.
Charging stations in remote, rural areas will ensure electricity equity and encourage more Americans to buy electric vehicles.

7 in 10 survey respondents who don’t own electric vehicles said the areas near their homes lack a significant number of chargers.

McKinsey Report

Promoting Electric Vehicles

Nonetheless, roadblocks to even greater adoption of electric vehicles can be overcome. And manufacturers and governments can be catalysts for meaningful change. For example, the European Union recently introduced legislation that would require battery manufactures to identify and respond to human rights or environmental issues in their raw-material supply chain. To help create greater equity in charging infrastructure, “cities and states should “think creatively about providing chargers that work well in public settings such as curbsides, parking lots, and rest stops” (McKinsey Group).

How Will YOU Influence the Electric Future?

You can play a role in creating electric vehicles and in helping others understand the benefits of vehicle electrification. One way to start is by furthering your education through an online graduate certificate or master’s program at Michigan Tech, which has a long and respected history of collaborating with the automotive industry.

Our university also offers several online graduate certificates and programs that meet the cutting edge needs of this industry. Some of these are the following:

Investigate these and other graduate programs at our Global Campus. Explore how Michigan Tech can help prepare you for the challenging, but exciting future of electric vehicles.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This article is a joint effort of the brilliant Sparky T. Mortimer and Shelly Galliah. Whereas Mortimer provided the initial research and solid content, Galliah provided guidance for more material and then copyedited and formatted the content for this blog. All images, which are copyright-free, are from Creative Commons.

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Mass Timber Buildings: The Next Structural Engineering Challenge

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Interior of an open-office setting in a mass timber building.
Interior of the T3 building in Minneapolis: https://structurecraft.com/projects/t3-minneapolis

Structural engineers play a major role in the visual quality of our built environment, yet they seldom get public recognition for it. . . . Engineers create framing systems that give such buildings their shape and permit the manipulation of spaces and functions. Architects sometimes do nothing more creative than gussy up the exterior with a particular kind of curtain wall.

Paul Gapp, architect, 1980

These words above were spoken by Paul Gapp, an architect himself, in fact. He was critiquing how several articles on skyscrapers, from the early 20th century onwards, often celebrated the ingenuity of architects. In doing so, their authors forgot about those structural engineers behind the scenes, those whose designs made those monumental structures both possible and safe. In other words, he wanted to remind readers that skyscrapers began FIRST as structural engineering challenges and then, finally, achievements.

A little closer to the ground than skyscrapers is another challenge faced by structural engineers: designing, planning, and building for sustainability.

Facing the Next Challenge: Sustainable Construction

To put it simply, sustainable construction involves using materials, resources, and construction methods that minimize the negative environmental impact of a building throughout its entire life cycle. This practice includes using renewable materials, energy-efficient design, and greener construction methods. It also involves the recycling or reuse of materials at the end of the building’s life.

But sustainable construction is no trendy, flash-in-the-pan idea. According to Deloitte and Touche’s report on the 2023 Engineering and Construction outlook, customers/clients are increasingly becoming more sustainability conscious. Therefore, they are demanding that developers lower their carbon footprints in new construction projects. The 2021 World Green Building Trends report had similar findings. In the survey, 1/3 of the US companies said that they were focused on green building whereas 46% admitted that they would soon make it a priority.

In short, the Deloitte and Touche report summarized these objectives of the construction industry:

  • Encouraging the sustainable use of resources and new materials
  • Promoting sustainable design, development, and construction practices
  • Decreasing energy consumption
  • Reducing waste generation and encouraging responsible disposal of waste
  • Sourcing low-carbon energy

Moving From Concrete and Steel to More Modest Engineered Wood

Why does the construction industry need to step up to the plate when it comes to implementing sustainability practices?

Because nearly 50% of all carbon emissions come from our built environment. And, often, in densely populated areas, these buildings are steel and concrete. These materials, because of their high carbon density, account for 13% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. So transitioning to other more sustainable building materials and methods makes environmental sense.

As awareness of the benefits of sustainable construction grows, more architects and engineers are searching for environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional construction materials. And one of the alternatives to concrete and steel is mass timber.

Mass timber, otherwise known as engineered wood, is made by creating large sections of wood, of various sizes and functions, from smaller timber panels. These timber panels are glued, nailed, or dowelled together, creating large durable slabs. These slabs can then bear significant weights and loads.

But building with mass timber is hardly new. That is, this type of construction goes back as far as the 19th century with the use of Gluman. Glulam, short for glue-laminated timber, is a structurally engineered wood product. It consists of pieces of wood bonded together in a layer-cake style. You can find highly customizable Glulam in the beams and columns of some commercial and residential buildings.

Choosing the Best Type of Mass Timber Product

Structural engineers, architects, and designers must collaborate to analyze and choose the right engineered wood material for the job. Here are the major choices:

  • Laminated veneer lumber (LVL), similar to Glulam, consists of vertical layers glued together with composites. LVL, generally made from softwoods, is more aesthetically pleasing but also less durable. You can find it in beams, trusses, and rafters.
  • Nail-laminated timber (NLT) consists of individual laminations mechanically fastened with nails or screws. The strength of this product lies in the numerous screws and nails holding the laminations together. You might recognize NLT in the flooring, decking, roofing, and walls of modern buildings. NLT’s exposed aesthetic appeal also makes it suitable for open-concept office and mixed-use buildings.
  • Dowel-laminated timber (DLT), is similar to NLT, except wooden dowels hold the laminations together. This all-wood mass timber product (no nails or metal fasteners) can be be easily constructed and modified on site. This source contains a much richer description of DLT.
  • Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is one the strongest of all mass-timber products. It has been popular in Austria and Germany for over three decades. CLT consists of panels of solid lumber boards (usually spruce, pine, or fir) stacked and glued together at alternating right angles (90°). Machines then cut these to the desired shape and size. You can find strong CLT in tall mass timber buildings.
  • Structural composite timber (SCL) consists of wood strands, veneers, or flakes bonded together with adhesives. While offering great strength and stability, SCL requires specialized installation. This mass timber product appears in rafters, beams, joists, studs, and columns.

Making a Difference, One Wood Module at a Time

Along with their durability, buildings created from mass timber materials are more sustainable and climate-friendly in several ways. They have the following advantages:

  • Reduced climate impact: According to the Journal of Building Engineering, mass-timber construction may reduce the global warming impact of buildings up to 26.5%
  • Less waste due to prefabrication: If building plans are very specific, factories can produce only those slabs required for projects.
  • Reduced transportation costs: Builders can also make some mass timber products on site from available materials, reducing shipping costs.
  • Increased efficiency: Because of the reduced waste, contractors and engineers can erect mass timber buildings up to 25% faster than similar concrete buildings.

In fact, mass timber is often worked into biophilic design. This type of architecture and urban design incorporates elements of nature, such as atriums, green roofs, natural light, into the built environment. The main goal of biophilic design is creating a more sustainable, healthier, and enjoyable living space. Mass timber structures, then, naturally fit this design approach.

By some estimates, the near-term use of CLT and other emerging wood technologies in buildings 7-15 stories could have the same emissions control effect as taking more than 2 million cars off the road for one year.

Ensuring the Safety of Mass Timber Buildings

Just as they did with those skyscrapers, structural engineers must ensure that these mass timber buildings are safe, durable, sustainable, and structurally sound. They must help to design these buildings so they withstand the forces of wind and gravity, as well as any seismic events.

In short, structural engineers work with architects throughout the entire process of creating a mass timber building. That is, they advise contractors, designers, and architects on all aspects of mass timber construction. Structural engineers design the components of a mass timber building, such as the columns, beams, and walls. They also evaluate the various materials used in construction, such as CLT panels, glulam beams, and LVL, to ascertain their suitability for the project’s components. Overall, they ensure that the design is structurally sound and meets all building codes.

And based on the building’s size, weight, use, and load-bearing abilities, they might also advise on whether the construction should be hybrid (made of wood and another component), a free-standing tall wood structure, or an infill or overbuild. (Infills are mass timber buildings that fill in a space whereas overbuilds, as they sound, are created on top of existing structures.)

Getting Past Negative Perceptions of Timber Construction

Despite the arguments for its durability, sustainability, and aesthetics; as well as its reduced climate impact, mass timber still has a way to go to meet wider public acceptance.

Why? Fire. Thanks to some historic fires in this country and others, many perceive wood buildings as less durable and more unsafe than those made from other materials. As a result, building codes and regulations still lag behind. For instance, the International Building Code just approved 18-story timber buildings in 2021.

The good news: Mass timber buildings are highly fire-resistant, due to the fire-retardant properties of the wood used in their construction. Fire-rated gypsum wallboard and other materials enhance mass timber’s fire resistance.

In fact, in one fire-resistance test, a piece of 5-ply laminated timber lasted for 3 hours and 6 minutes at 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. To put this test in perspective, here is a fact. Type 1 Buildings, often considered the “cadillac of construction” must consist of non-combustible materials with 2-3 hours of fire resistance. However, fire-resistant does not mean fire-resistive, so there are obviously still improvements to be made to engineered wood.

Building Beauty with Engineered Wood

The acceptance of mass timber construction is growing, even in a place that has traditionally resisted timber construction: New York. The city that never sleeps welcomed its first engineered wood condo at 670 Union Street.

Other recent examples demonstrate how mass timber construction is becoming more common. For instance, take the T3 office building in Minneapolis, the Framework mixed-use building in Portland, and the John W. Olver Design Building at University Massachusetts Amherst.

T3, is a 7-story, 220,000 square foot office building completed by company Structurecraft in 2016. It took less than 3 months (only 9.5 weeks) to install. The construction team used prefabricated (NLT) solid wood panels, which reduced construction time significantly. The building also boasts an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of GOLD (60-79 points or the second-highest rating). Since then, Structurecraft has erected additional T3 buildings.

Outside of the original T3 mass-timber building in Minneapolis.
The original T3 in Minneapolis, constructed of NLT (nail-laminated timber) https://structurecraft.com/projects/t3-minneapolis

Studying Timber Building Design at MTU

Michigan Tech has long had a commitment to sustainability in both research and practice. The university also has several programs that tackle upcoming sustainability challenges, such as the online certificate in engineering sustainability and resilience. Also, the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering offers five graduate structural engineering certificates. One of them is a 9-credit Timber Building Design certificate, which has long been a “historical strength” of the department.

All students earning their structural engineering certificate in timber building design will take the same core courses: Structural Timber Design and Advanced Structural Timber Design. These courses provide a strong foundation as they progress through the program.

They will then choose one of the following courses to tailor their educational journey to their career goals: Finite Element Analysis, Structural Dynamics, and Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability.

Overall, students will learn several valuable skills in this certificate, which will prepare them for a future in mass timber design and construction:

  • Investigating how timber buildings are different from buildings constructed from other common civil structural materials
  • Analyzing dimension lumber and mass timber; and axially and flexurally loaded members, shear, bearing, and combined loading on members
  • Studying connection design, shear walls and diaphragms, arches and tapered beams, modeling, and loading
  • Designing timber structures, with an emphasis on timber buildings
  • Examining the potential of wood as an alternative to steel and concrete for environmental sustainability

It is clear that mass timber buildings are here to stay as they help to set a more sustainable standard for construction. We look forward to seeing the innovative, environmental, and safe buildings that this (and the next) generation of brilliant structural engineers plan, design, and create.

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Michigan Tech Signs on to MEDC’s Semiconductor Talent Action Team

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Close-up of a circuit board, one of the products that require semiconductors.

Securing state-wide chip production is crucial to several manufacturing industries, such as mobility, and to maintaining the health of Michigan’s economy.

On November 17, 2022, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined forces with The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to form the Semiconductor Talent Action Team (TAT). This collaboration, a public/private alliance led by the MEDC, aims at making Michigan a leader in semiconductor talent, production, and growth.

MEDC’s Talent Action Team involves this organization, the State of Michigan, SEMI (an industry association for global electronics design and its manufacturing supply chain), and four key universities: Michigan Technological University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. Other partners include key community colleges.

 The Semiconductor TAT has several goals:

  • Expanding the development of Michigan-created semiconductors
  • Ensuring the onshoring of both legacy and advanced semiconductor systems
  • Creating well-paying manufacturing jobs
  • Reducing semiconductor shortages
  • Securing the supply chain

Addressing the Semiconductor Shortage

Semiconductors are the foundation for integrated circuits (or microchips), which are vital components in manufacturing. Semiconductors are material products that lie between insulators (glass) and pure conductors (such as copper and aluminum). These versatile products can have their conductivity altered (through the addition of impurities) to meet the needs of various devices. Chips are found in appliances, medical equipment, gaming devices, smartphones, computers, and, increasingly, automobiles.

In short, they’re everywhere.

But COVID put the brakes on chip production. Labor problems, the shutting down of assembly lines, the closing of factories, and disruptions of the global supply chain all contributed to a semiconductor shortage. There were also drastic reductions in raw materials and substrates and slowdowns in crucial processing steps, such as wire bonding and testing. As a result, consumers were unable to purchase electronic devices as well as larger goods such as appliances and vehicles.

Protecting the Automotive Industry

But the global semiconductor shortage caused significant problems for the automotive industry, driving down both production and sales. Some companies, such as GM, were even forced to build vehicles that were missing parts. By some estimates, the reductions in automotive sales were extreme: down by 80% in Europe, 70% in China, and nearly 50% in the United States.

Why the plummeting sales? Even the most basic automobile is heavily reliant upon semiconductors. That is, the average car can contain more than 100 chips. These tiny devices power such necessary components as the navigation display, digital speedometer, and fuel-pressure sensors.

More sophisticated vehicles, on the other hand, may contain thousands of these chips. For instance, these chips are found in advanced safety features, electrical and powertrain systems, and connectivity components.

And the need for these chips in expanding. Market research company Yole predicts that by 2026, semiconductors in cars will value $78.5 billion dollars, which adds up to a 14.75% CAGR from 2020.

Therefore, securing the semiconductor supply chain is especially crucial to the mobility industry, and, by extension, to Michigan’s economy. To help prevent these shortages and their repercussions, and to further tap into the burgeoning semiconductor market, Michigan’s Semiconductor TAT  is on board to secure the state’s semiconductor production.

Accessing Michigan’s Semiconductor Talent

Michigan is well-suited to take advantage of these funding opportunities. The state has a history of semiconductor manufacturing. That is, Michigan is home to Hemlock (semiconductors), SK Siltron (semiconductor wafers), and KLA (semiconductor R & D and supply). Even closer to Michigan Tech is Calumet Electronics, which has been in Calumet since 1968. This Michigan company specializes in manufacturing printed circuit boards for the domestic industrial, power, aerospace, defense, medical, and commercial markets.

What’s more. This state has almost 50 semiconductor-related courses and programs. Michigan Tech, for instance, from its undergraduate to graduate degrees in materials engineering, mechanical engineering, and its electrical and computer engineering ; as well as its specialized graduate certificates in manufacturing engineering and automotive systems, has a long history in preparing students for all things semiconductors. Whether its the materials from which they are made, to their design, processing, properties, applications, integrations, and even their repurposing, Tech has a program. The university also has a history of collaborating with the automotive industry and helping to ensure its success.

Furthermore, on May 5, 2022, The Michigan Strategic Fund approved the Semiconductor Technician Apprenticeship Network Program. Michigan is one of only three states, in fact, that is launching plans to define curricula that will support employers in the semiconductor industry.

In short, both Michigan Tech and the state have the drive, talent, resources, and history to advance semiconductor production and to make Michigan a leader on both the national and global stages.

Making a Historic Investment in Chip Technology

The Semiconducor TAT answers the call of the bipartisan 2022 CHIPS and Science Act (August 9, 2022). Nearly a year in the making, this act implemented previous programs under the 2021 CHIPS for America Act (January 2021). It also authorized nearly $250 billion in semiconductors and scientific research and development. This monumental amount adds up to the country’s largest publicly funded R & D program.

The CHIPS and Science Act responds not only to semiconductor shortages, but also to the decline in American microchip fabrication. That is, in January 2021, the US manufactured 12% of the world’s chips, which is down from 37% in the 1990s.

The act, which focuses on building key critical semiconductor technologies in the United States, has several goals:

  • Building a stronger and more diverse workforce
  • Creating high-paying technical manufacturing jobs
  • Supporting and extending American manufacturing
  • Investing in American science and innovation
  • Rebuilding and securing our supply chains

Most of the act’s funds ($169.9 billion) are dedicated to research and innovation. These funds are dispersed among several foundations, which include the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

All departments will expand semiconductor research, development, training, and talent. For instance, in its budget, NSF’s mandate is investing in research, building a STEM workforce, and expanding rural STEM education.

Supporting the Growth of Local and State Economies

The act also directs the DOC to create 20 geographically distributed regional technology hubs. These hubs will focus on developing technology, creating jobs, promoting U.S. innovation, and providing economic development activities for distressed communities.

Besides the $169.9 billion dedicated to research, there is a $54.2-billion-dollar federal advancement for domestic semiconductor production and public wireless supply chain innovation. $39 billion, the responsibility of the Department of Commerce (DOC) Manufacturing Incentives, is allocated to building, extending, and modernizing domestic semiconductor facilities. Another $200 million is for jump-starting the development of the domestic semiconductor workforce, which has faced extreme labor shortages.

In short, the CHIPS and Science Act will support American manufacturing and create jobs, It will also ensure that, when it comes to STEM education, semiconductor research, and chip production, the US will be a global force.

Taking First Crucial Steps: What’s Next for the TAT?

The ultimate goal of the Semiconductor TAT is to help Michigan access funding in order to increase its STEM workforce. Another objective is leveraging the state’s talent, assets, resources, so that it leads the future of the semiconductor industry.

But big goals begin with small steps. The TAT’s first objective is having its partners form advisory boards. These boards will provide strategic direction on the semiconductor programs, talent, and research that exist at Michigan’s universities and colleges. They will also analyze the “broader semiconductor and technology ecosystem” to develop a better understanding of industry needs for semiconductors.

The university community looks forward to learning about Michigan Tech’s contributions to the Semiconductor TAT as well as this group’s ongoing initiatives.

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Michigan Tech Joins Nexteer in Fellowship Education Partnership

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Sign at Nexteer welcoming MTU to its organization.

Electric vehicles. Connected software-enabled automobiles. Advanced electric power and steer-by-wire systems. As these advances and others demonstrate, keeping pace with the transformation of technologies in the automotive industry is both an opportunity and a challenge. Both Michigan Technological University and Nexteer Automotive understand that higher education offers one avenue to develop solutions for these evolving trends and technologies.beteen

Therefore, to help meet ongoing industry needs, Michigan Tech and Nexteer have joined forces.

On October 20, 2022, leaders from Michigan Tech and Global Campus visited Nexteer Automotive’s Global Technical Center in Saginaw, Michigan. The purpose: signing an Education Partnership Agreement with Nexteer Automotive.

This unique agreement will allow Nexteer employees to pursue advanced degrees from Michigan Tech. By doing so, they get to develop their interests, level up their education, and acquire in-demand skills. Furthermore, employees will also gain the benefits of furthering their own competitive advantages while acquiring the industry-specific knowledge needed for Nexteer’s high-growth areas. And for Nexteer, this fellowship will attract, retain, and grow its talented workforce. 

How does this partnership work? Current Nexteer employees will receive fellowships to enroll in one of Michigan Tech’s online graduate certificates or master’s degree programs. These fellowships are available for up to four years, provided the recipients continue to meet Tech’s eligibility requirements.

The CEO of Nexteer and the president of MTU shake hands at a table over the signing of Michigan Tech's Corporate Education Fellowship. In the background are leaders from their organization.
Leaders from Michigan Tech and Nexteer at the signing ceremony. Robin Milavec (President, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Sales Officer, & Executive Board Director of Nexteer) shakes hands with Michigan Tech President Richard Koubek.

Building Bridges with Nexteer Automotive

The fellowship program is part of Global Campus’s missions to a) build relationships between academia and industry; and b) make quality online education more accessible to diverse adult learners.

Robin Milavec, Nexteer’s President, CTO, CSO, & Executive Board Director, also spoke of the importance of partnerships between industry and education. He recognized that Nexteer resides in a “dynamic environment where technology is rapidly changing.” Collaborating with a university, then, make sense. This program, which makes “continuing educational development opportunities” more accessible, will help Nexteer achieve its goals.

Overall, it’s a win-win relationship. That is, Nexteer gets to “to tap into a very rich pipeline of talent and skills that we need to fuel our future growth.” Also, Michigan Tech is “able to tap into industry and see their challenges.”

Milavec also recognized the competencies and preparedness of Michigan Tech graduates, noting their valued ability to “hit the ground running.”

Robin Milavec, President, CTO, CSO, & Executive Board Director of Nexteer

In terms of attracting, retaining, and growing our employees, the partnership with Michigan Tech is really one of the foundational elements of our future. . . it gives us that lifeline into continuing education so our employees can continue to develop and help us solve our industry-specific problems.

Robin Milavec, President, CTO, CSO, & Executive Board Director of Nexteer

Working with an Industry Innovator

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Nexteer is a leading motion control technology company with a global reach. Currently, the organization has 27 manufacturing plants, with multiple operations in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Collaborating with Nexteer is a natural fit for Michigan Tech. At the signing ceremony, President Koubek affirmed that Michigan Tech is “a bit unique as an institution, in that our founding legislation established that we are to help advance” Michigan’s industries. “This partnership helps us to actualize that responsibility.”

Furthermore, Tech also has a long history of working with the automotive industry. Our university offers several online certificates and degrees that help students develop skills in automotive technologies: Online Hybrid Electric Drive Engineering Vehicle Certificate,  Automotive Systems and Controls Certificate, Control systems, and Vehicle dynamics.

And Tech’s educational mission of “discovering new knowledge through research, and launching new technologies through innovation” aligns well with Nexteer’s vision of striving for “relentless innovation.” The company is also respected for delivering high-quality, next-level electric power and steer-by-wire systems, steering columns, driveline systems, and driver-assistance systems. A few of Nexteer’s clients include BMW, Ford, General Motors, Renault-Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance, General Motors, Stellantis, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

Collaborating to Prepare for Industry 4.0

The signing ceremony was just the first step in a long and fruitful relationship between Michigan Tech and Nexteer.

Next, David Lawrence and his Global Campus team will hold a series of in-person and virtual interest sessions to Nexteer employees. These sessions will explain more details about and the benefits of this unique program.

Higher education will equip Nexteer Automotive employees to meet the challenges of the mobility revolution. It will also prepare them to address the technological developments of Industry 4.0. Or, as President Koubek put it, Tech is both honored and excited to partner with organizations such as Nexteer. They “will be the ones that are transforming and leading our country in the fourth industrial revolution.”

Michigan Tech and Global Campus look forward to working with Nexteer Automotive and helping to grow the organization’s success. We are also happy to welcome Nexteer employees into our university community.

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Michigan Tech + Stellantis: Collaboration and Innovation

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Michigan Tech university students standing up and learning in one of the automotive labs at Stellantis.

(Writer’s note: this is a slightly revised, previously published article.)

Opening Up New Educational Pathways for Michigan Tech Students

The main initiatives of the Michigan Tech Global Campus are growing programs, promoting online learning, and raising awareness of Tech’s online offerings. Along with these, though, David Lawrence, Vice-President for Global Campus and Continuing Education, is always searching for additional opportunities. He strives to develop mutually beneficial partnerships between academia and industry. He seeks new educational pathways for all students, whether they are undergraduates or graduates.

Meeting these latter two goals is the main purpose of Stellantis’ PReP. PReP, or the Propulsion System Readiness Engineering Program, is an educational partnership between Michigan Tech and automotive company Stellantis. If you haven’t heard of Stellantis, it is a global company that comprises several European and American-rooted iconic brands. Its brands include, but are not limited to, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Peugeot, and Ram. Stellantis is also a respected automotive industry leader. It aspires to be “the greatest sustainability mobility tech company” as well as a front runner in advancing technology for the mobility revolution. Several Michigan Tech alumni also work at this innovative organization.

PReP: Preparing Michigan Tech Students for the Mobility Revolution

PReP will benefit both Michigan Tech students and Stellantis. That is, students will acquire automotive systems knowledge, work experience, and applicable skills. The end result: having the necessary tools to transition into a Stellantis position, spring boarding their careers.

This program, targeted at incoming Michigan Tech Junior students, will supplement the last two years of their engineering degrees. That is, on top of their regular program courses, students will take both core (year three) and advanced courses (year four) that focus on vehicle electrification. For instance, some of the core courses in the first semester include Propulsion Architecture, Engine/eMotor, Transmission/Axle, Battery, Fuel economy/Emissions, Power Electronics, and Communication.

Along with attending weekly lectures from Stellantis propulsion experts, students will also get valuable hands-on experience. They will take facility tours, participate in teardowns, and have paid summer and senior-year internships. Through these experiences and mentorships with industry experts, they will develop communication, leadership, and professional skills.

Partnering with an Industry Leader

Michigan Tech’s mission is to strive to

create solutions for society’s challenges by delivering action-based undergraduate and graduate education, discovering new knowledge through research, and launching new technologies through innovation.

Michigan Tech Vision/Mission

Similar to Michigan Tech, Stellantis is also committed to developing advanced technology while promoting sustainability and transparency. Stellantis strives to balance financial and environmental needs. Its Dare Forward initiative (March 2022) further expanded and quantified these goals. That is, the company has pledged to increase its remote workforce, put more battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) on American roads, and reduce its carbon footprint by 50%. In other words, sustainability is not solely a buzzword for Stellantis, but similar to our university’s sustainability promise, part of its ongoing strategic initiatives.

Both Michigan Tech and Stellantis value diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Stellantis’ community of employees spans over six regions and comprises over 170 nationalities. And the company is not stopping here. It is also striving to create a more equitable workplace for women. In fact, by 2030, its goal is having women holding at least 35% of all leadership positions.

Applying to the PReP

The PReP program, which should start in Fall 2023, will be available to a limited number of Michigan Tech students who

  • are enrolled as either electrical or mechanical engineering majors
  • sophomores who have at least two years available in their degree program
  • have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA

Students must commit to participating enthusiastically in the program, attending all the lectures and events, and meeting other rigorous criteria.

Stay tuned for more announcements about eligibility and application.

And while you are here, please extend a big thank-you to the bridge-building and creative thinking of David Lawrence. In his role as Vice President for Global Campus and Continuing Education, Lawrence is not only looking out for Michigan Tech’s online programs, but also the entire university community. When opportunity knocks, Lawrence does his best to be there, making sure our university is right there alongside him.

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Engineering and Public Policy: Connections and Opportunities

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View of Houghton's Agate Street, which is a mess of mud and rubble, after it was destroyed by the Father's Day Flood.

Houghton’s Agate Street after the Devastating 2018 Father’s Day Flood:

Just One of the Tough Repair Projects Tackled by Engineers

Remembering the Father’s Day Flood

On June 17, 2018, Houghton County experienced torrential rain, which some called a 1000-year event. Seven inches of rain fell in under nine hours. Roads were washed out. The Ripley neighborhood was decimated as a landslide tore downhill, wiping out peoples’ homes. The rain damaged over half of the 160 culverts on the Calumet-Hecla recreational trail. It flooded multiple homes and damaged yards. All in all, the Father’s Day Flood created 60 sinkholes and 150 road washouts. It left behind 42-million-dollar bill for road repair alone. Property damage is still being estimated.

Broken bridge floating in Hancock's trail system, which was destroyed by the Father's Day flood. This image demonstrates the damage caused by raging waters.

Also destroyed was the Swedetown Gorge, the highlight of the Maasto-Hiihto trail system in Hancock, MI. The rain transformed its gentle stream into a raging river that uprooted trees and tossed boulders. Bridges collapsed, their wooden structures and concrete slabs jutting precariously out of the water. The trail on which people hike, ski, and bike suddenly became unnavigable.

But how to repair this trail? Where to get the money? There were public consultations. There was debate. Typically, people seek funding for recreational trail infrastructure projects through Michigan’s DNR grant programs. However, a lot of money was needed for the Swedetown Gorge Recovery Project. So engineers and project managers decided to take a different tactic. They went to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Navigating Policies and Programs

A crucial step for project planners was consulting FEMA’s 217-page Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide. One goal: making the argument that the trail system was a public facility (park) eligible for substantial funding. According to Michael Markham (OHM Advisors), his engineering firm “collected information on all the damaged sites, estimated the cost of repairs, designed, and bid out the project.” The city filed applications and proposed budgets. Because the project took so long to approve, OHM had to collaborate with three separate city managers. Eventually, The Swedetown gorge project got the green flag in late Jan 2021.

As this example demonstrates, engineers waded through several policies at every stage of this project. In other words, public policy knowledge is not solely for those in government and political careers. It is also for engineers.

That is the argument that Dr. Adam Wellstead, director of the Online Certificate in Public Policy, made to the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE). On October 4, 2022, Dr. Wellstead presented at the CEGE department meeting. There, he articulated the connections between public policy and environmental engineering.

Although there is a high demand for policy analysts, he noted that there is even a higher demand for engineering graduates with a policy background. For instance, both state and local governments as well as public policy consulting firms require engineers with public policy skills. In fact, whether they’re planning infrastructure, bridges, or water systems, CEG engineers regularly have to consider local, state, and federal policies. They must conduct risk assessments, consult with publics, and understand the policy process. They must frequently examine issues through a public management lens.

Pursuing Public Policy Online

The Department of Social Science‘s online public policy certificate can help fill the demand for engineers with policy experience. Consisting of three 7-week courses (The Policy Process, Public Management, and the Policy Cycle), this certificate equips graduates with the fundamental skills to work as public policy experts in several fields. Students can also complete it in only two semesters. Along with Dr. Wellstead, the program’s teaching team comprises four other experts with diverse public policy perspectives. They are Angie Carter, Associate Professor of Sociology; Mark Rouleau, Associate Professor; Carolin Sjöholm, Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor; and Shan Zhou, Assistant Professor of Environmental Policy.

Regardless of their background, students can add value to their graduate or undergraduate degrees with this certificate. They can tap into the strong demand for policy-related careers. In particular, this program especially appeals to Michigan Tech’s BS and MS students considering employment in government agencies.

Proposing Engineering and Public Policy Programs

With this online public policy certificate, MTU currently joins other respected schools who have similar programs, such as Arizona, Auburn, and Michigan State.

Other prestigious universities also offer engineering and public policy programs (Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern, Delaware). Using these as examples, Wellstead proposed developing a similar program at Michigan Tech. One possibile joint program with CEGE is the Accelerated Environment and Energy Policy MS degree plus Public Policy Certificate option. He also suggested existing programs that would complement public policy, such as the online certificates in water resources modeling, geospatial data science and technology, and structural engineering (hazard analysis). These stackable certificates would allow CEGE students to combine their specific expertise with public policy skills.

Considering Next Steps

At the end of his presentation, Dr. Wellstead answered questions, considered comments, and planned the next steps. Several faculty members brought up additional connections between public policy and CEGE. Others suggested courses for the online public policy certificate, such as program evaluation.

To further analyze program viability and gauge interest, Dr. Wellstead will continue researching comparable programs, meeting with students, and exploring the linkages between public policy and engineering. In doing so, Dr. Wellstead is helping to achieve three of goals of the Michigan Tech Global Campus: promoting online learning; offering in-demand knowledge and skills; and opening up new educational pathways to diverse learners.

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Graduate School: Is it for You?

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View of six doors, ranging in color from blue to green. The fifth half-open door symbolizes the possibilities of grad school.

A Graduate Degree Could Open Up Doors For You

Graduate School: Some Quick Stats

More people than ever are enrolling in graduate degrees. That is true. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization, enrollment in graduate programs increased by 3.6% in Fall of 2020. During the Spring 2021 semester, enrollment continued to rise to 4.4%. In fact, this growth far outpaced that predicted by the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES).

Several sources attribute much of this growth to online graduate enrollment, which amped up during the pandemic. In fact, Education and Beyond (EAB) reports that “from 2019 to 2020, enrollment in online graduate programs grew by 63%.” There was also a median increase in the number of students in online programs. Rather than the big online giants getting these gains, smaller universities with respected, accredited online programs created much of this growth. One of the online programs experiencing the most growth was the MBA. And, for the first time ever, in 2020-2021, online MBA students surpassed in-person MBA students.

So more people than ever are enrolling in graduate programs. It is also clear that online master’s degrees are gaining in credibility. We at Global Campus believe in the quality of Michigan Tech’s online graduate programs. But we also recognize that people pursue advanced education for various reasons.

Therefore, we collated a few resources to help you determine if graduate school is right for you.

General Benefits of Graduate Programs

Considering the Pros and Cons: These two articles from US News and the Harvard Business Review (HBR) discuss some of the strongest and weakest reasons for attending graduate school. Although they differ on the drawbacks, both articles agree that an advanced education can diversify your career options and increase your marketability. Career-consulting firm BetterUp also lists six crucial questions you should ask yourself before considering graduate school.

Exploring the Top Reasons: “The Top Ten Reasons to Go to Grad School” summarizes common motivations for pursuing master’s degrees. These include investing in your future, getting noticed in the job market, and exploring your passions. This article also stresses how graduate programs help students gain important professional development skills. In fact, several of Michigan Tech’s graduate programs, such as the TechMBA and the Online Manufacturing Certificate, incorporate professional development and leadership skills in their curriculum.

Other Benefits of Advanced Degrees

Motivations differ, but below are a few of the other reasons people pursue advanced degrees.

Acquiring Increased Earnings and Greater Job Stability

Master’s programs obviously differ. Still, the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) has repeatedly shown how graduate degrees may increase your earnings and lower your chances of unemployment. When it comes to engineering, there are other advantages to pursuing advanced degrees in certain fields. For instance, the median annual income for aerospace engineers with a bachelor’s degree is $118,600. This salary rises to $134 to $143k for those with master’s degrees. And this is just one example.

Accessing In-Demand Careers

A graduate degree may allow you to take advantage of career trends. For instance, in its future jobs forecast, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted that the need for statisticians will grow by 33% by 2026. (For perspective, the average job growth is about 7%.) Michigan Tech’s Online MS in Applied Statistics is an innovative degree meeting the need for professional, trained statisticians. Similarly, managing and securing the flood of data produced by the healthcare industry has created new employment opportunities. Tech’s MS in Health Informatics can prepare you for a career managing and securing health data and much, much more.

Meeting Employer Needs

Master’s degrees are also becoming necessary for certain in-demand jobs. As early as 2016, Fast Company reported on how employers were pumping up their education requirements for new hires. This trend has continued. According to some estimates, as much as 27% of employers prefer master’s degrees for certain positions.

Gaining Certifications

And then there is the relationship between advanced degrees and certification. The American Society of Civil Engineers offers board certifications (in certain fields). It offers certifications to those who have achieved at least a master’s degree, a P.E. license (or foreign equivalent), and 8 years of post-licensure progressive engineering experience. Michigan Tech’s own College of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering can help you take one of these first steps. That is, the CEGE offers an Online MS with a specialization in Water Resources Engineering. This field is available for board certification.

Graduate School: Let Us Help You Decide

These are just a few reasons and resources that were selected from the internet’s vast sea of information. There might be other factors influencing why you would enroll in graduate certificates or degree programs. And this blog also just skimmed the surface of the versatile online certificates and degrees offered by Michigan Tech.

If you need help choosing an online graduate program, deciding between a graduate certificate or master’s degree, or figuring out the application process, reach out to a representative from the Michigan Tech Graduate School or an expert from Global Campus. We’re here to help you open the door to new interests, educational pathways, and career opportunities.

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Online Learning: Not New, but Definitely Improved

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The hands of a student working at a computer, working on an online course.

Online Learning Has A Long History

A few weeks ago, this author made a Global Campus Facebook post about one of Michigan Tech’s online programs. Almost immediately, one of my husband’s friends sarcastically piped in: “What is this place? University of P—-ix?” At first, his comment confused me. Surely he knew that Michigan Tech, which began as a brick-and-mortar mining school, is obviously very different from that other for-profit online university. But his words also annoyed me. His tone implied that online learning is new, less credible, and less effective than traditional learning. These claims are all untrue.

Online Learning: From Correspondence Courses to MOOCs

Online learning is definitely not new; it has its roots in early distance education. In fact, you could trace its origins all the way back to 1728 when a struggling teacher, Caleb, offered to teach shorthand to students by exchanging letters. Over 150 years later, in 1892, the University of Chicago offered its first correspondence course. Then came radio-broadcasted, televised, and even phone-based courses. Admittedly, some of these first distance courses were “canned” and quite text-heavy. They involved little creativity, self-pacing, or instructor interaction. These instructor-focused courses had the goal of transmitting as much information as possible.

Both synchronous and asynchronous online learning sped up in the 1990s. Huge players such as Michigan State, CAL-Campus, and the UK’s Open University blazed the way. Michigan Tech also stepped in; its current Online Hybrid Electric Vehicle Engineering Certificate, in fact, is based on a 1990’s distance-learning course initially developed by Tech, General Motors, and AVL. This is just one of the online automotive programs offered by Tech.

Improvements in online learning were enhanced by e-learning and learning management systems, such as Blackboard (1997). WebCT, YouTube, and MOOCS further transformed online education. Theories of online learning and best practices for designing and teaching online courses also improved both teaching and learning experiences. For instance, Michigan Tech’s own William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning offers resources for designing, teaching, and reviewing online courses. Combined, these changes helped to make online education more accessible, interactive, and student-focused.

The Pandemic: Forcing a Shift

The pandemic made universities offer hybrid and online options. Students, teachers, and employers suddenly experienced the benefits of online learning. The result: more visibility and credibility for online courses. According to a recent New America poll, the belief in the quality of online learning actually increased by 16% during the pandemic.

A CNN survey also confirmed that 83 percent of the hiring executives said that an accredited online degree is as credible as one earned through a traditional on-campus program. Michigan Tech, continuously accredited since 1928, and which offers over 40 online certificates and degrees, is obviously a smart choice for your online education. And we’re working hard to develop new online programs, such as the recent TechMBA® and the Public Policy Certificate.

Other Benefits of Online Learning

The reputation of online learning probably suffers from the designs of early distance courses. These mainly consisted of students working through massive mail-ordered materials and contacting their instructors only periodically. Things have definitely changed since then.

That is, research has shown that online learning is as good as and, for some students, better than face-to-face instruction. In a recently published systematic review of thirty-two studies that analyzed both online teaching and learning, the authors found no significant difference in reduced effectiveness for online courses. The study did recognize, though, that for online courses and programs to succeed, courses needed to be well-designed, provide very structured online discussions, and incorporate interactive content and timely instructor feedback.

Others have commended online courses for enhancing learning and retention. The Research Institute of America puts this increase at 25-60% more. Why? For many students, the structure, multimedia content, frequent discussions, and flexibility of online courses maintain their attention. Involved students are then more likely to keep going and not drop their programs. IBM even found that in online courses with multimedia content, students learn five times more material than those in traditional face-to-face classes. There is also the freedom of working at your own pace. That is, for those students who feel bored or rushed in a traditional classroom setting, online courses allow them to move slowly through some challenging materials while skimming easier ones.

Young woman reading a book and taking notes at a desk, in front of a window in an open online setting. This image demonstrates that online learning can happen anywhere.

We need to bring people to learning rather than learning to people.

Elliot Masie

Rich Classroom Communities, Greener Learning

Online courses also offer the opportunity to learn from students with a plethora of perspectives, interpretations, and solutions. And, from the author’s own research and experience, online courses often have this benefit: richer, more engaging discussions that include more learners, especially those who might not be as vocal in the face-to-face classroom.

And for those concerned about the environment, online learning is also the greener option. According to the Open University, students in online courses “consume 90% less energy and release 85% less CO2” than those in traditional in-person courses.

Time Management is the Key to Success

Despite its various benefits, online learning is not the easier option. Students must work hard, make a plan, and dedicate time to study. They must be self-motivated and organized. They must stay connected with other students and regularly interact with their instructors. Thankfully, Michigan Tech has several resources and even a self-paced course, which can help students tackle the challenges and receive the benefits of online programs.

As someone who has been both a student in and teacher of online courses, I’d advise that earlier guy, as well as others, to give online learning a try. Instead of having something to lose, you have a lot to gain: the flexibility and freedom to work in your own space and at your own pace; and the opportunity to learn what you love while fulfilling personal and professional goals. If you think that online learning is right for you, check out Michigan Tech’s online certificates and degrees.

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