University of Arkansas Microelectronics-Photonics (microEP) Graduate Program Student Recruitment, or Student Matchmaking?

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University of ArkansasMicroelectronics-Photonics
(microEP) Graduate ProgramStudent Recruitment,
or Student Matchmaking?

• Ken Vickers Director
• Research Professor, Physics (1998 present)
• Eng Management, Texas Instruments (1980 1998)
• 479 575-2875 vickers_at_uark.edu
• http//microEP.uark.edu
• ASEE Midwest Section Meeting
• September 16, 2005 Fayetteville, Arkansas

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microEP Mission

• The educational objective of the microEP program
  is to produce graduates that create and
  commercialize electronic and photonic materials,
  devices, and systems.
• This will be accomplished through rigorous
  interdisciplinary science/engineering graduate
  education supplemented with soft skills,
  management, and entrepreneurial training.

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University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program
Matchmaking Not Recruiting
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Student Recruitment Method
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Student Recruitment Method
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University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Use
Existing Resources and Create Meaningful
Partnerships
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Research Institution HBCU Partnerships A Case
for Action

• Research institutions must attract students from
  all population groups for success
• HBCUs must prepare students for transition
• Sustainable partnerships must support
• Institutional rather than faculty centered
  knowledge
• Matching students careers to research
  opportunities
• Research institutions must recognize the change
  of culture for HBCU students
• Undergraduate versus graduate expectations
• Black majority versus white majority society
• Faculty versus research group daily interactions

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George Washington Carver Project

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

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microEP Partnership Tactics HBCU Administrators
Visit

• Institutional partnerships require detailed
  knowledge
• IGERT/Grad School funded two-day meeting on
  campus for administrators from partner HBCUs
• January 2001 and February 2003
• About 14 visitors each session
• Introduced entire UA campus, not just the microEP
  graduate program

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microEP Partnership Tactics Visits to HBCU sites

• Institutional partnerships require detailed
  knowledge
• Won FIPSE supplemental grant for 25K
• Regional meeting at HBCU host (Jan/Feb 2003)
• Funds support meeting and student travel
• Other HBCU research institution partners invited
• Primary purpose Advance dissemination of Physics
  cohort methodology
• Secondary purpose Gain knowledge of HBCU
  faculty, administration, and facilities

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microEP Partnership Tactics Identify Matching
Sister Programs

• Expand Carver/REU to institutions with matching
  educational/research interests (Norfolk State,
  San Jose State, U Texas El Paso, Fisk, Howard,
  Morgan State, etc)
• Initiate new educational initiatives with your
  partners for joint benefit (such as IGERT and
  PREM)

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NSF REU Sites - High Cost (but Effective)
Recruiting

• Submitted proposal and was funded for summers
  2001- 2003 2nd proposal funded for 2004-2008.
• Based on microEP research areas, with focus on
  nanotechnology
• Included funding for REU students to take summer
  graduate ethics class
• Included microEP Cohort methodology approach
• Viewed as a prime recruiting tool
• Dedicated three of twelve positions to Carver

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University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Why
the UA A Community to Call Home
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Fayettevilles Global Location

• Fayetteville is central to many major
  metropolitan areas, yet still removed to retain
  the character of the town.

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Fayetteville A Historic City with a Wealth of
Opportunity and Character

• Walton Arts Center
• Concerts
• theater productions
• art exhibits
• Dickson Street
• Food
• Shopping
• Nightlife
• The Square
• Farmers Market
• Springfest
• Autumnfest
• Lights of the Ozarks

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All the Amenities that Exist in Large Cities,
Exist in Fayetteville

• Dining
• Olive Garden
• Copeland's
• Chilies
• Outback Steakhouse
• Shopping
• Barnes Noble
• The Gap
• Best Buy

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• Recruitment Through
• Alumni Interest
• Trained in industry
• Interested in home
• Current graduates
• All regional schools
• Retention Through
• History and Tradition
• Senior Walk
• Ozark lifestyle
• Museums and societies

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• Regional cities of interest
• Eureka Springs
• Branson, Missouri
• Van Buren
• Clear, clean lakes and rivers
• National forests
• Festivals
• Springfest
• Autumnfest
• Lights of the Ozarks
• Educational opportunities
• Fayetteville High School
• Northwest Arkansas Community College
• University of Arkansas
• The Razorbacks

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Recreation Sports in the Ozarks

• HPER Facility at the UA
• Indoor track
• Swimming pool
• Weight Training
• Cardiovascular equipment
• Racquetball
• Climbing wall
• Intramural Sports
• Hiking
• Mountain biking
• Fly fishing
• Kayaking

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University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program Why
microEP Joining a Community, not a Grad Program
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Microelectronics-Photonics Graduate Program

• microEP Student Group September 2003

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microEP Workgroup Creation Summer Camp Pre
Fall Semester
Camp concepts by Dr. Ed Sobey (www.invention-cente
r.com)
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microEP Workgroup Creation Socialization outside
of Campus
Hawks Bill Crag
Lost Valley Eden Falls
Jack o Lantern Party
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University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad Program
Money Matters Or Does It?
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Walton Student Fellowships(Supplements to base
stipend for four years)

• Doctoral Academy Fellowship 10k/year
• 5.0 / 6.0 minimum (71st percentile)
• BS GPA 3.5 minimum MS GPA 3.65 minimum
• Verbal plus Quantitative 1100 / 1600 minimum
• Doctoral Academy Fellowship 20k/year
• 5.5 / 6.0 minimum (86th percentile)
• BS GPA 3.65 minimum MS GPA 3.80 minimum
• Verbal plus Quantitative 1200 / 1600 minimum

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A Funding Opportunity is a Terrible thing to Waste

• microEP as Employment Agency
• Quick notification of funded positions to
  appropriate students
• Stress to students to pursue research passion,
  not funding (results will breed funding)
• Demonstrate capabilities first as a volunteer
• Develop Multiple Funding Sources
• TA/GA positions in multiple departments
• RA positions with research professor
• NSF IGERT, PFI, and GK-12 programs

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University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad ProgramSo
What are the Results?
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microEP Student Prior Degree vs. microEP
Facultys Department
As of Sept 15, 2005 28 Matching US/Intl
38 Non-Matching 2 have not picked major
professor
Faculty Student Physics ME ChE EE Chem BioAg Open
Physics/ Applied Physics 4/4 1/1 4/3 1/0 1/0
Mechanical Eng 2/4 1/0 0/1
Chemical Eng 1/0 1/1 0/1 1/0
Electrical Eng 1/3 0/2 0/1 6/7 0/4 1/2
Material Science 0/1 1/0
Optical Eng 0/4 0/1
Math 1/0 1/0 0/1 0/2 0/1
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microEP Stats

• MS in place fall 1999 PhD in place fall 2000
• 103 current students and alumni (24 women, 13
  African American, and 4 hispanic)
• Forty-five conferred MS degrees
• Fourteen conferred PhD degrees (forty-one
  students currently on PhD path of fifty-eight
  enrolled total)
• Twenty-seven enrolled PhD students beyond the MS
• Grads at Northwestern U Post Doc, La Tech and
  Virginia Commonwealth Faculty, Texas Instruments,
  Intel, AMI, Motorola, Entergy, ITT, and
  self-owned SBIR fueled start-up companies

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