Office of Student Affairs

The Office of Student Affairs enhances and supports the academic mission of the College of Engineering and the University.  Student development and student services, with an emphasis on building alliances between the classroom and other aspects of campus life, are our mission.  We support and encourage intellectual, vocational, personal, social and cultural development of our students.

There are many resources that students are encouraged to take advantage of to enhance their Engineering experience.  The Resources listed here are the key student service offices and are dedicated to supporting the well being and success of Michigan Engineers.  For academic problems, we recommend students speak with their instructor or GSI as soon as problems arise.  If the problem cannot be resolved at that time, students should speak with their department's program adviser or the department chair.  On some occasions, formal processes for resolving academic problems may be needed and these are described in the section on Academic Rules and Policies.

The College of Engineering is committed to not only making certain that students enjoy a high quality educational experience, but that personal interactions, classroom experiences and research activities are free from harassing and discriminatory behaviors.  Further, we are determined to investigate and address any allegations of misconduct that might occur.  Our goal is a welcoming environment of respect and courtesy for all members of our campus community.  This can be accomplished through increased awareness of the issues, access of information, and prompt action.  To insure that our students understand the consequences of strategies for the prevention of harassment and discrimination, we ask each member of the College of Engineering to commit to understanding, preventing, responding and reporting harassment and discrimination.  We are certain that through awareness, knowledge, and diligence, our College can become a safer community for all of us.  For more information and to learn how to report an incident, please visit http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adaa/ExpectRespect/index.html.

Student Affairs works with students through their entire college experience, at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Students are encouraged to visit the Office of Student Affairs as the "first stop" for academic support, advising, scholarships and student activities.

Academic Services

The Office of Academic Services serves students, faculty and staff with a particular focus on Academic Services and Curriculum. The staff of Academic Services is dedicated to assisting students navigate through the registration to degree completion processes. These services include the records office, room scheduling, major and minor declarations, diploma application and degree audits. The staff is available to answer questions about the processes and to provide the appropriate forms and procedures for each process.  Academic Services also staffs the College Curriculum Committee, continuously improves the quality and usefulness of the Bulletin and seeks input and communicates with students about curricular issues.

The Ameritech Engineering Learning Center

The Engineering Learning Center (ELC) is a resource for academic support for engineering students. The ELC offers a study area with CAEN-supported computers and offers a variety of academic support services including free peer tutoring. Supplemental Instruction sessions for selected first and second-year courses, academic skill development workshops on topics such as time management and study skills, and practice exam sessions. Staff of the ELC are also available for individual consultation on matters related to academic skill development

Engineering Advising Center

The Engineering Advising Center (EAC) provides academic advising services and support for first-year and undeclared students in their transition from high school to the rigorous academic demands of the College of Engineering. The EAC's programs and services foster success by assisting students in exploring their educational, career and life goals. The EAC plays an integral role in the first year experience. The center provides students with the College and University's resources, which can help them achieve their goals, and support their personal growth and leadership development. The EAC promotes academic success, empowering students to strive for excellence at Michigan and beyond.

First Year Orientation

All first-year students must participate in the University of Michigan and College of Engineering orientation. Summer, Fall and International orientation sessions provide students with important academic information, guidance in the course selection and registration process, and an introduction to the engineering computer environment. During orientation all students meet individually with advisors to begin their exploration of educational opportunities.

Academic Advising

First-year student advisors, consisting of a group of well-qualified faculty from the engineering departments, professional EAC advisors, and peer advisors, work with students to facilitate their transition and learning process.

During the fall and winter terms, students are encouraged to explore their educational and career goals. As part of their ongoing support for students, the advisors assist students with personal issues and provide guidance in evaluation of attitudes, goals, values and academic priorities. Students also meet with an advisor to select courses and monitor their academic progress and explore engineering options. All first-year students are required to meet with an advisor each term before registration for course advising.

Developing self-reliance and the ability to make choices, as well as the ability to appraise one's own performance and intellectual growth, is an important part of the student's education. It is the role of the EAC advisors to facilitate this process by:

• Making academic policies and procedures clear and meaningful to students.
• Helping students with course selection, and the process of monitoring course progress.
• Encouraging students exploration of educational opportunities.
• Assisting students in setting and attaining academic and career goals.
• Helping students strengthen their academic skills.
• Helping students learn how to make effective decisions.
• Helping students navigate through the University of Michigan and the College of Engineering resources to help them succeed.
• Make referrals to other services when needed.

The Engineering Advising Center also publishes the First-Year Handbook, and the monthly newsletter Advising Matters. Students and parents should visit the EAC web site for additional information. www.engin.umich.edu/students/advising

Academic Advising for Continuing and Transfer Students

Declared and transfer students receive advising from Program Advisors in their declared major.

At the beginning of each undergraduate degree program description (beginning on page 72) is the name(s) of the faculty member(s) designated as Program Advisor(s). Upon selecting a degree program, the student is referred to the respective Program Advisor, who is responsible for the necessary academic advising through graduation.

Engineering Scholarship Office

The Scholarship Office coordinates the awarding of scholarships to incoming and continuing undergraduate students. Scholarships are available from College general funds, endowed and expendable gifts to the College, and gifts from industry sponsors. The Scholarship Office also strives to be a clearinghouse of information on non-University scholarship opportunities that are available to engineering students. For complete information about scholarship opportunities, visit http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/bulletin/financial/scholarships.html.

Engineering Student Activities

The College offers many opportunities for students to make a difference in the community, their profession and on campus. These experiences, whether found in student government, student project teams, community service, social justice or other areas, prepare students to face real-life challenges in business, community and personal relationships. The Engineering Student Activities (ESA) Office coordinates and provides funding from the College of Engineering, plays an important role in leadership education on campus, and provides student organization support. The office can support you in developing the skills to make the most out of  co-curricular opportunities. The ESA also manages student recognition events, including the Student Leaders and Honors Brunch, Parents Weekend and collaborates to coordinate the Roger M. Jones Poetry Contest and the Roger M. Jones Fellowship Abroad. 

Graduate Student Services

Current Graduate Students:

http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/graduate/

The Office of Graduate Education is dedicated to providing quality recruiting and retention programs for our prospective and current graduate students. On the website, you will find information pertaining to academics, support, funding, a new student resource guide, student activities, and more. Here are the services provided through our office:

• Academic, Personal, Professional, and Social Activities for Graduate Students
  http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/students/events/calendar/
• Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) Resources and Training
  http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/graduate/gsiinfo/
• Professional and Interdisciplinary Programs
  http://interpro-academics.engin.umich.edu/
• Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC)
  http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/gsac/
  
• Graduate Student Liaison
  http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/services/support/liaison
  
• Just ASK (Alumni Sharing Knowledge) Mentoring Program
  https://www.engin.umich.edu/students/graduate/justask
  
• CoE Graduate Student Newsletter
  http://www.engin.umich.edu//students/graduate/newsletters/index.html
  
• Graduate Student Resource Library
  http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/services/support/library.html

All new graduate students are invited to attend the College of Engineering New Graduate Student Welcome http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/graduate/newstudentwelcome.html event at the start of the Fall semester.  This event serves as an introduction to the Office of Graduate Education, presents an opportunity to gather information about student societies and student services offices on campus, and provides sessions on computing, funding, and a Q & A period with a panel of current graduate students.

Prospective Graduate Student Recruitment:

http://www.engin.umich.edu/gradadmissions

On Campus Recruiting
The Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education (ADRGE) coordinates various on-campus graduate student recruiting events annually. These events target all prospective graduate masters and doctoral students as well as specific populations. Additionally all graduate engineering departments are involved with the events so that students have opportunities to visit departments and gather information from faculty and staff. These include such programs as Engineering Graduate Symposium, GEM Grad Lab, Graduate School Information Sessions, Engineering Departmental Visitations and the Junior Dinner. On-campus recruitment programs are hosted for College of Engineering undergraduates and external students looking to enroll in graduate studies at the University of Michigan.

Off Campus Recruiting
Off-campus recruiting events constitute a great deal of the College's graduate student recruitment efforts. Annually the Office of the Associate Dean for Research and  Graduate Education sponsors numerous faculty, staff, and current graduate students to attend these events. National conferences, graduate school fairs, and campus visitations are utilized to promote all of the Colleges advanced degree programs. Collaboration with other University of Michigan units such as Rackham Graduate School/AGEP Alliance, LSA Sciences, Program in Biomedical Sciences, School of Information, and the Ross School of Business also assist with these campus wide recruitment efforts.

Center for Entrepreneurship

The Center for Entrepreneurship is a space where faculty, students and staff can find the resources, expertise and environment that empower and inspire them to transform innovative ideas into rewarding ventures which have value for individuals, society and the business community.

The Center grew out of the College's Committee on Entrepreneurial Environment and Programs, a group of faculty that released its recommendations in the report "Empowering Entrepreneurial Students."  The Committee recognized that inventors in and around the University of Michigan should be supported to live out their entrepreneurial dreams.  It also recognized that there were a large number of potential Entrepreneurs already at the University of Michigan, but that these individuals felt isolated and generally did not feel empowered to live out their entrepreneurial aspirations.  The group also saw that the College - and the University - had additional resources: faculty, alumni, facilities and corporate partners.  This vision needed a focal point: the Center for Entrepreneurial and its programs. The University's many resources include the Zell-Lurie Institute (ZLI) for Entrepreneurial Studies, which is part of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.  The Center collaborates with the ZLI to include business courses in the Michigan Engineering curricula to help students bridge the gap between the inventor and venture capitalist.

Objectives

The center provides a range of resources that enable it to:

• Empower students, faculty and staff to pursue entrepreneurial achievements that improve people's lifes, drive the economy and help innovators bridge the gap between inventor and venture capitalist.
• Connect current students with Michigan Engineering alumni who work in the start-up community.
• Provide grants for students to pursue their own ideas for companies and products.
• Simplify and clarify student intellectual property transfer processes for students and the broader community
• Develop and maintain an entrepreneurship certificate program so that engineering students can take courses in innovation and business from U-M professors or members of the broader entrepreneurial community.
• Coordinate these activities with MPowered, a Michigan Engineering student organization focused on entrepreneurship.

The CFE Certificate is an academic program during the student's education here at the University of Michigan.  To obtain the Certificate a student is required to take a minimum of nine (9) credits from a particular selection of courses.  More specifically, the requirements for the Certificate include: one entrepreneurship seminar course, one course from a core set of courses, and an entrepreneurship practicum within or outside of the University. The anchor for the Certificate program is the Distinguished Innovator Lecture Series.  This is a one (1) credit course with a weekly lecture toward the end of the day, followed by a reception that allows mingling of the audience with the speaker as well as other attendees.  This seminar series exposes students to entrepreneurship in engineering.  The topics include the latest and most diverse practices and thinking on emerging business models, new venture creation, and technology commercialization, legal, financial and other management issues.  The lectures include leading entrepreneurs and executives, technology innovators, venture capitalists, attorneys, experts from the financial markets and others who support entrepreneurial infrastructure. Additional information about the Certificate program can be found in the Undergraduate Education section of the Bulletin.

Other resources at the Center for Entrepreneurship include:

• Advisors from various field provide walk-in advising hours where students, faculty and staff can discuss ideas for entrepreneurship
• Coordination with existing support services like the Technology Transfer Office.
• Strengthening the existing external financial support systems (e.g., New Enterprise Forum, Ann Arbor SPARK, angel investors, venture capital firms, private equity entities, investment and commercial banks, etc.) and creating new ones to support and fund start-ups and assist in growth and change of existing Michigan companies.
• Assistance and communication of standardized processes regarding intellectual property, technology transfer, business and legal help
• Identifying lab space and basic equipment open to all students along with processes to access more advanced facilities.
• Provide meeting space on North Campus with areas to socialize, work with marker boards and computers, drink coffee, and use basic equipment to test ideas
• Entrepreneurial Opportunities Fair is to expose students to the immense job opportunities offered by the thousands of small, high-tech, emerging businesses that exist within Michigan.
• MPowered is an organization focused on fostering and promoting entrepreneurship on campus.  Its mission is to excite and incite students to explore the opportunities of entrepreneurship through exposure to active entrepreneurs, orientation toward innovation-by-collaboration, and support as students begin their own ventures.
• Although MPowered's home is the College of Engineering, it is open to undergraduate and graduate students from other schools and disciplines at the University, including Business, Law, Medicine, Economics, Humanities, Science, Architecture, Information and the Arts.

http://cfe.engin.umich.edu

Multicultural Engineering Programs Office (MEPO)

The College of Engineering's Multicultural Engineering Programs Office (MEPO) was established to increase the number of underrepresented minority engineering students who graduate with engineering degrees, from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. To accomplish this, MEPO works with students from a diversity of backgrounds, from 7th grade through completion of graduate studies; maintains collaborative relationships with faculty and staff; and networks with engineering employers to secure resources and employment opportunities for engineering students.
At the pre-college level, MEPO offers students in grades 7 through 12 opportunities to actively explore and prepare for engineering and other technical career fields.

MEPO hosts the Summer Engineering Academy and the Ford Summer Engineering Institute (for entering first-year students) each year to address participants' pre-college academic and personal development needs.

MEPO also maintains a formal relationship with the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), which sponsors tutorial services, hands-on projects, academic enrichment, and engineering exposure sessions.

MEPO is also actively engaged in the local, regional, and national initiatives of GEM (National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc.), which encourages promising minority students to pursue graduate degrees in engineering.

The MEPO Advisory Council, composed of executives from many of the College's engineering employer partners, provides advice, financial support, and strategic direction for outreach and retention efforts. The Council sponsors the annual ScholarPOWER Academic Awards Banquet to recognize student achievement.

Finally, MEPO consults with College and University administration and faculty to facilitate an environment conducive to diversity.

Women in Science & Engineering Program (WISE) 

The Engineering Office of the Women in Science and Engineering Program (WISE) works with students, faculty and staff to provide an inviting and supportive environment for women at all levels throughout the College of Engineering. The Engineering Office provides services and resources to assist women in various stages of academic and professional development and provides leadership in the College concerning women's issues. The goals of the Engineering Office include increasing the pool of qualified women who enter engineering, assisting in their retention, assisting women in pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers, supporting student, staff and faculty groups that focus on women's issues and facilitating a cooperative environment within engineering. To meet these goals, WISE:

• Generates and disseminates data on women in engineering disciplines
• Offers research opportunities for juniors through the Marian Sarah Parker Program, a graduate school awareness program
• Sponsors weekend and summer outreach programs for middle and high school students
• Provides informal advising and counseling
• Oversees the WISE Residence Program, a living-learning program for undergraduate students
• Maintains a small library of print and video resources
• Sponsors a speaker series
• Publishes a bi-annual newsletter
• Maintains a website with scholarship, career and academic information
• Provides graduate peer advisors for new graduate students
• Provides administrative support to student organizations
• Offers professional development workshops

WISE also advocates for women students by educating the University community about gender equity, an important contribution to supporting the success of women and providing a more comfortable campus climate for all students. WISE is committed to responding to the needs of our constituents and enhancing the educational experience of all College of Engineering students.