Department of Materials Science & Engineering

 

Ten-Year Review, 1994-2003

Self-Study and Appendices

 

Table of Contents
 

 

Scenes from MSE During the Past Year:  A Photo Display

 

Chapter I:  An Introduction to Materials Science & Engineering

 

 

1.1   Description Of Materials Science & Engineering ..............................

1

 

1.2   What Is The Scope Of Materials Science & Engineering? ..................

1

 

1.3   What Is Being Done In The Field? ................................................

2

 

1.4   What Is The Demand For Materials Scientists And Engineers? ...........

2

 

1.5   What Does The MSE Department Have To Offer? ...........................

2

 

1.6   Brief History of the Department ..................................................

3

 

 

 

 

Chapter II:  Strategic Plan, Mission and Overview

 

 

2.1   The Last Ten-Year Review of the Department  ..............................

7

 

A.. Strengths of the Program......................................................

7

 

B.. Concerns............................................................................

7

 

2.2   A Strategic Vision for the Department...........................................

7

 

A.. Background.........................................................................

7

 

B.. Context: Interdisciplinary Materials Science & Engineering...........

8

 

C.. Challenges Common to Academic Programs at Public Institutions...

9

 

D.. Leveraging Materials Activities in Other Departments..................

9

 

E.. Summary............................................................................

10

 

2.3   Development of the Strategic Plan  .............................................

10

 

A.. Process..............................................................................

10

 

B.. Goal..................................................................................

10

 

C.. Components of Strategic Planning...........................................

10

 

D.. Strategic Goals....................................................................

13

 

E.. Benchmarking Peer Groups and Matrices...................................

14

 

F.. Faculty Recruitment Procedure...............................................

14

 

2.4   Mission  .................................................................................

16

 

2.5   Context and Overview  .............................................................

16

 

2.6   Executive Summary  .................................................................

17

 

2.7   Summary of Significant Changes  ................................................

19

 

 

 

 

Chapter III:  Undergraduate Program

 

 

3.1   Educational Goal..........................................................................

20

 

3.2   Undergraduate Program .............................................................

20

 

A.. Enrollment and Degrees Awarded............................................

20

 

B.. Recruitment and Admission of Students....................................

21

 

C.. Student Advising and Evaluation.............................................

23

 

D.. Student Awards and Recognition.............................................

24

 

E.. Student Participation in Experiential Learning.............................

24

 

F.. Diversity............................................................................

28

 

G.. Time to Degree....................................................................

28

 

H.. Career Placement.................................................................

29

 

I... Faculty Role in Undergraduate Program....................................

30

 

J... Instructional Assessment.......................................................

31

 

K.. Undergraduate Course Descriptions.........................................

31

 

3.3   Significant Changes in the Last Ten Years ....................................

32

 

A.. Single Degree in Materials Science & Engineering........................

32

 

B.. Combined BS/MS Degree Program............................................

33

 

C.. Honors Program...................................................................

33

 

 

 

  Chapter IV:  Graduate Program

 

 

4.1   Doctoral Program......................................................................

34

 

A.. Objectives..........................................................................

34

 

B.. Doctoral Thesis Research......................................................

35

 

4.2   Master’s Program .....................................................................

35

 

A.. Objectives..........................................................................

35

 

B.. Engineering Materials Option for MS.........................................

36

 

4.3   Graduate Program ....................................................................

 

 

A.. Assessment........................................................................

36

 

B.. Graduate Program Coursework................................................

37

 

C.. Enrollment and Degrees Awarded............................................

37

 

D.. Recruitment, Admission and Retention......................................

38

 

E.. Advising, Progress in Program, Mentoring..................................

40

 

F.. Awards and Recognition........................................................

40

 

G.. Student Participation in the Department...................................

41

 

H.. Diversity............................................................................

41

 

I... Time to Degree....................................................................

42

 

J... Career Placement.................................................................

42

 

K.. Graduate Student Service Appointments..................................

44

 

 

 

 

Chapter V:  Faculty

 

 

5.1   Current Faculty and Changes in Last Ten Years..............................

47

 

5.2   Workload ................................................................................

51

 

5.3   Measures of Professional Excellence.............................................

53

 

A.. Number of Degrees Awarded..................................................

53

 

B.. Publications........................................................................

53

 

C.. Research Funding and Research Expenses.................................

53

 

D.. Awards and Honors..............................................................

54

 

E.. Professional Leadership and Service.........................................

55

 

F.. Leadership from the Department.............................................

56

 

G.. Collaborations with other units in the University of Washington.....

62

 

H.. Participation in the Center for Nanotechnology..........................

63

 

I... External Collaborations..........................................................

63

 

J... Merit Review Process............................................................

64

 

K.. Mentoring of Junior Faculty....................................................

64

 

L.. Resources and Recognition for Teaching...................................

64

 

 

 

 

Chapter VI:  Departmental Considerations

 

 

6.1   Budget ..................................................................................

67

 

A.. State Support.....................................................................

67

 

B.. Research Support................................................................

68

 

C.. Endowment Support.............................................................

69

 

D.. Development Support...........................................................

69

 

E.. Indirect Cost Return.............................................................

70

 

6.2   Equipment...............................................................................

70

 

6.3   Electron Microscopy Center........................................................

72

 

6.4   Computing Facilities..................................................................

72

 

6.5   Space....................................................................................

72

 

6.6   Staff......................................................................................

73

 

A.. Staff Reorganization.............................................................

73

 

B.. Staff Productivity................................................................

73

 

6.7   Diversity.................................................................................

74

 

A.. Students............................................................................

74

 

B.. Faculty..............................................................................

75

 

C.. Staff.................................................................................

75

 

6.8   Accountability..........................................................................

75

 

6.9   Committees.............................................................................

76

 

6.10 Outreach and K-12 Educational Activities......................................

77

 

A.. Professional Education and Continuing Education........................

78

 

B.. Outreach Education..............................................................

79

 

 

 

 

Chapter VII:  Benchmarking and Strategic Planning 

 

 

7.1   Benchmarking with Peer MSE Departments.....................................

80

 

7.2   Benchmarking with the College of Engineering ................................

81

 

7.3   Progress with Reference to Concerns in Last Review........................

82

 

A.. Faculty Hiring needs Consistent Vision of Future........................

82

 

B.. Campus-wide Leadership Opportunities Have Not Been Realized....

82

 

C.. Establish a Unified Polymer Pathway........................................

82

 

D.. Review the PhD Qualifying Exam..............................................

82

 

E.. Mentoring of Faculty and Graduate Students.............................

83

 

F.. Improve Access to Research and Teaching Equipment.................

83

 

G.. Consider Establishing a non-Thesis MS.....................................

83

 

7.4   Progress with Respect to the Strategic Plan..................................

83