676 Rhodes - Recently Updated Pages

New Membership

JordanV — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:01:50 CDT

Membership into Engineering Ambassadors is open to all undergraduate students in the College of Engineering that are enrolled in an undergraduate program. Prospective students are asked to fill out an application form via the website after ensuring they meet the following criteria:

Be enrolled in an undergraduate program in the College of Engineering
Are at least in their Spring quarter of their freshmen year
Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA

Engineering Ambassadors will hold new member recruiting events in the Winter and Spring quarters each year. Applications submitted outside of these times will be retained and their owners will be notified of this process. Membership recruiting will occur in weeks 6 and 7 with interviews in week 8 and a final decision before week 9. Interviews are conducted by the Membership Chairperson and by two (2) additional executive members.

Vice President

JordanV — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:42:30 CDT

Will preside over group meetings when the President is unable to attend. The major project undertaken by the Vice President is to keep track of each member's points by coordinating with the Events Chair and Secretary. In addition, the Vice President is also responsible for maintaining EA intramural sports, ordering member polo shirts, calculating member point totals at the end of the quarter, heading the EALD committee, and assist the President in maintaining calendar events.

The Vice President position is occupied in two different sections and elections take place in the Winter and Spring Quarters.

Home

Norrismm — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:22:56 CDT

Welcome to the home page for the official Engineering Ambassadors wiki! (WikEA?) The purpose of this website is for you, as a member of EA, to share all of your stellar tour tactics and insider knowledge so that every Ambassador can be as well-informed as you are. On the flip side, if there is something that you don't know (how do you pronounce the Dean's name? what percentage of current students are women? who's Baldwin?), you should be able to find the answer to your questions here.

For current EA news and events, check the (original) website regularly!

ACCEND

Norrismm — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:11:19 CST

The College of Engineering offers its students to opportunity to earn both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in the same five years. ACCEND stands for: ACCelerated ENgineering Degree.

ACCEND Homepage

Being Involved

Norrismm — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:10:01 CST

Future content: details on various student orgs, events, and other ways to be involved at UC. Incl. links to relevant websites.

Current Student Organizations

EA Insider

Norrismm — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:06:31 CST

Future content: relationships w/ CoE and pre-admissions; details (individual pages) on officer positions & future ideas; descriptions of annual events; interaction with other student orgs (SOCC, lunches with Dean Gerner and Dr. Eckart); detailed information on operations.

Note: can attach documents! (See "Page Toolbox" to the right.)

Technology Chair

Norrismm — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:51:02 CST

The Technology Chairperson will be responsible for all information technology, including the maintenance and upkeep of the EA website, listserv, e-mail addresses, phone, and EA Computer(s). He/she may form a committee where multiple ambassadors can report to him/her for duties in these areas.

Constitution and By-Laws

Norrismm — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:47:05 CST

The Engineering Ambassador's Constitution details the purpose of the group, roles of its members, and how the organization is to be run. The Constitution can be found after navigating the Engineering Ambassador's homepage

For ease of use the Engineering Ambassador's Constitution is provided below.

Constitution of the
University of Cincinnati College of Engineering
Engineering Ambassadors

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Engineering Ambassadors (EA). The Engineering Ambassadors are an undergraduate student organization in the College of Engineering.

Article II: Purpose

The Engineering Ambassadors shall be a service organization for the advancement of the relationship between the students, alumni, faculty & staff and friends of the College of Engineering. This may be achieved through the involvement in various events and activities sponsored by the College of Engineering.

Article III: Membership

Section 1. Membership shall be open to students meeting all of the entrance requirements and who apply no earlier than the Spring Quarter of their Freshman year.

Be a full-time or part-time undergraduate student enrolled in the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering in an undergraduate program
Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Section 2. Each student shall attain his/her membership by submitting an official Engineering Ambassador Membership Application. Prospective members will be interviewed by a Selection Committee consisting of the: Membership Chairperson and two additional executive members of Engineering Ambassadors. Interviews will be scheduled in the third week of winter quarter for students in Co-op Section II (in school summer & winter) and the third week of spring quarter for students in Co-op Section I (in school fall & spring). Additional interviews will be conducted if needed.
Section 3. The membership shall not have a limit, but shall be determined on the basis of necessity. This need will be decided by the Executive Board.
Section 4. Honorary membership to an individual shall be open to any person deserving such an honor that has participated in activities with or positively influenced Engineering Ambassadors. Potential recipients shall be elected by a majority of the voting members.
Section 5. Each member shall have one vote.
Section 6. Members of the Engineering Ambassadors shall perform the duties associated with members as set forth in Article II of the By-Laws.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Engineering Ambassadors shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Events Chairman, Creative Chairman, Technology Chairman, and Membership Chairman serving for a term of one (1) year. There shall be one officer for each position in each section, excluding the President. One President will serve for the entire term. If a person is to serve as an officer in both sections, he/she must be able to perform all duties while on co-op as well as when registered for class. The President must be a member of the senior class in the year in which he/she serves. In the event that only one candidate is eligible for the office of President, then the requirement of being a senior shall be waived. The President and Vice-President shall have served at least one academic year of active membership in Engineering Ambassadors.
Section 2. Each officer shall be a voting member of the Engineering Ambassadors and an undergraduate student in good academic and disciplinary standing in the College of Engineering.
Section 3. Any officer who, during the term of his/her office ceases to fulfill the requirements set forth in Article I of the By-Laws shall be removed from office and a replacement shall be elected by the group.
Section 4. Officer elections, excluding the position of President will be held during the second to last meeting of winter and spring quarters for each respective section. All nominations for office shall be cast during the meeting prior to the election. Presidential elections will be held annually during the second to last meeting of the Spring Quarter. Mailed and electronic ballots must be received by the date of the scheduled election.
Section 5. The officers and the Faculty Advisor shall be known as the Executive Board.

Article V: Faculty Adviser(s)

Section 1. The Faculty Advisor(s) shall be a full-time member of the University faculty, staff, or administration. The Advisor(s) shall be appointed by the Dean of the College of Engineering with the advice and consent of the Engineering Ambassadors.
Section 2. The Faculty Advisor(s) shall act in a consulting status only.

Article VI: Organization and Member Conduct

Section 1. Engineering Ambassadors shall abide by all policies adopted by the University of Cincinnati related to the conduct of recognized student organizations whose assemblies and functions are on or off campus.
Section 2. Engineering Ambassador Members shall adhere to all policies of the University of Cincinnati Student Code of Conduct (SCOC) when participating in all Engineering Ambassadors functions whether on or off campus. Failure to adhere to all policies of the SCOC will result in that member's membership being reviewed by the Executive Board whose decision will be final.
Section 2.1 Any Engineering Ambassador member whose membership has been revoked for failure to adhere to the policies of the SCOC shall not be granted readmission in Engineering Ambassadors for the remainder of their instructional time at the University of Cincinnati.

Article VII: Amendments of the Constitution

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the active voting membership of Engineering Ambassadors. No amendment to this Constitution may be proposed and voted upon during the same meeting, or sooner than one week after it is proposed. Amendments to the Constitution shall be conducted no more than twice a year and must be voted on separately from By-Law changes.
Amended October 15, 2008 by Jordan Vogt

By-Laws of the
University of Cincinnati College of Engineering
Engineering Ambassadors

Article I: Duties of the Student Officers

Section 1. The President shall preside over meetings, oversee all officers, and ultimately be responsible for the initiation and implementation of all EA activities.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall assist the President and will preside over meetings in the absence of the President.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep a record of attendance at meetings, keep the minutes of the meetings, maintain all correspondence, and document special activities of the Engineering Ambassadors. These records shall be kept for the purpose of providing reference material for current and future members. The Secretary will also be responsible for scheduling meetings and reserving rooms within the College.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall oversee all financial obligations of the Engineering Ambassadors and make periodic reports to the members.

Section 5. The Membership Chairperson will be responsible for publicizing future membership opportunities/elections and will sit on the Selection Committee. He/she will also be responsible for training new members and maintaining a list of active members. The Membership Chairperson shall also ensure that information regarding the members is current.

Section 6. The Events Chairperson will be responsible for securing volunteers for each event or activity requiring the services of the Engineering Ambassadors, as well as providing volunteers with proper instructions for each event. A record of attendance at events shall also be maintained.

Section 7. The Creativity Chairperson will be responsible for assisting and running various special events and projects throughout his/her term. Responsibilities include but are not limited to taking pictures of Engineering Ambassador events and other prospective engineering student activities, organizing the quarterly dinner for EA members, and maintaining the EA weblog.

Section 8. The Technology Chairperson will be responsible for all information technology, including the maintenance and upkeep of the EA website, listserv, e-mail addresses, phone, and EA Computer(s). He/she may form a committee where multiple ambassadors can report to him/her for duties in these areas.

Article II: Duties of the Members

Section 1. Members shall be responsible for attending regularly scheduled and special Engineering Ambassador meetings and events.

Section 2. Members shall volunteer to participate in a minimum of two (2) hours worth or two (2) events per academic quarter. Failure to fulfill this duty will result in loss of active status. If there are less than four (4) events in an academic quarter, loss of active status will be left up to the discretion of the Executive Board.

Section 3. Members must attend a minimum of three (3) meetings per quarter.

Section 4. In the event a member fails to fulfill their quarterly obligations they will be notified, via email or telephone call, that they have been placed on EA probation. At this time the member will be given the opportunity to appeal their status at which time the Executive Board will conduct a review.
Section 4.1. EA Probationary status will apply to the member's next academic quarter.
Section 4.2. All appeals must be made no later then the end of the next academic quarter. If a member does not request an appeal then the Executive Board's ruling on their status is final.
Section 4.3. If a member fulfills quarterly obligations they will be notified their probationary status has been removed.
Section 4.4. If a member fails to fulfill quarterly obligations after being placed on probation they will be informed that their EA membership has been revoked. At this time the member will be given the opportunity to appeal their status as set forth in Section 4.2.
Section 4.5. A member whose EA membership has been removed must complete one personal academic quarter before attempting readmission into Engineering Ambassadors.
Section 4.5.1. If a Senior's membership is revoked during the Winter quarter they will not be granted a special interview for readmission.
Section 4.6. Former members seeking readmission into Engineering Ambassadors must go through the interview and acceptance process again.

Article III: Officer Elections

Section 1. The election of officers shall be held at the second to last meeting of winter and spring quarters for each respective section. Nominations will take place at the meeting prior to the elections. Ballots and nomination petitions will be sent out to all members not able to attend the meetings. The ballots shall be returned directly to the incumbent president before the election meeting.

Section 2. Officers shall be elected by secret ballot. Counting of the ballots shall be made by a retiring officer of the Engineering Ambassadors and the Faculty Advisor (if present).

Section 3. The President shall begin his/her term of office at the final meeting of spring quarter and shall continue for one year. The remaining officers shall begin their terms of office at the first meeting of summer and fall quarters. All officers shall act as co-officers between the time of election and the beginning of their term.

Section 4. All members (whether on co-op or not) are eligible to vote at the meeting during which elections are held. A member can vote via e-mail ballot only if they have attended at least one general meeting in the past.

Article IV: Attendance, Dismissals, and Vacancies

Section 1. Members of the Engineering Ambassadors are excused from attendance while on work section; however, such members may attend each meeting and have full voting power.

Section 2. A member may be dismissed for failure to actively pursue his/her responsibility as an Ambassador member, as outlined in Article II, By-Laws.

Section 3. A member will be considered for membership review if he/she has acted inappropriately at any event or activity sponsored by the College of Engineering. Any member whose membership status is in question may present their case to the Executive Board. A majority vote of the Executive Board will determine the status of that member.

Section 4. Due notice of an elected officer leaving his/her office must be given one meeting in advance. Vacancies in elected offices shall be filled by special election no later than two meetings after the vacancy occurred. If an elected officer absent due to co-op during one of the quarters of their term, the President shall be responsible for notifying members of the need for a replacement at the beginning of that quarter. Members present at the first meeting that quarter will nominate and elect a replacement officer.

Article V: Amendments of the By-Laws

Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the active voting membership. No amendment may be proposed and voted upon during the same meeting, or sooner than one week after it is proposed.

Amended October 15, 2008 by Jordan Vogt

Secretary

JordanV — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:17:39 CDT

Main duty is to take the minutes and attendance information for group meetings. They achieve this by creating a EA master list showing which members are active for each quarter by designation of their co-op section. In addition, they may be responsible for scheduling meetings and/or rooms for the group. Scheduling of meetings can be done by visiting the facilities link under the CoE's main webpage for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

christevelyn — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:19:35 CDT

It can be hard to answer all questions, but there a few frequent questions parents and students ask during tours.

Where do you live? What housing options are there?

UC requires all students from outside of a 50-mile radius of campus to live in University-affiliated housing. This can be a UC residence hall, University Park Apartments (UP), Stratford Heights, or McMillan Manor. These facilities require the signing of a lease (usually a year) and other payments. UC dorms and Stratford Heights offer major-specific floors and group housing by college (Stratford). This is a plus to some students because if offers a better learning environment when you're living with students who sharecommon classes.
If you're inside the 50-mile radius and don't want to live on campus, you can live at home and commute, or get an apartment or house near campus. A lot of faculty members have observed that commuting makes the adjustment to college a little difficult. In addition, it hinders a student's ability to join groups that meet in the evening or early in the morning. This comment is directed more towards freshmen because of the fundamental classes they take. It can be relaxing to go home to your own room and a hot meal, but its all about finding your comfort level with commuting. An additional benefit of living close to campus is that you don't have to worry about parking.

How does housing work during co-op quarters?

If you work in the Cincinnati area:
- On-campus housing: You will sign a coop housing contract which means UC has to hold you a room in your current residency hall, but the exact same room or with the same roommates. As far as most of us know you can still live in the dorms while you're on coop too.
- Off-campus: Here's were it can get tricky, in most cases your lease will state you will have to get a sublet if you travel out of town or be required to pay your monthly fees. Some landlords will specify that they don't want coop students taking leases from them.

If you work out of town: This totally comes down to what your employer offers in the employment deal. Some companies will completely set you up for free, pay part, or offer no housing deals. If the location is fairly far from Cincinnati they may be willing to assist in looking, but not paying for your housing. Some employers will also provide you with a travel stipend to use.

What kind of computer should I have?

Your major will affect your computing needs--for most majors outside of electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science, you can use whatever computer (desktop or laptop) you would like. The College does provide some basic specifications that they would like students to have, but these specifications usually are the current standard for new, entry-level computers. UC CoE does have a discount arranged with a few computer companies that provides the student with a small discount on specified computers. Just remember, the CoE's computer labs are open 24/7 and they have all the computer programs you'll need while in school.

Should I try to come in with college credit (AP, PSEO)?

Although it is worthwhile to give anecdotal evidence to answer this question, ultimately it should be referred to Pre-Admissions and to the student's potential department(s). Generally, the College wants everyone to take the entire Calculus sequence, although exceptions are made in the case of ACCEND students. AP Calculus scores can be used to qualify for Honors Calculus, so there's still a benefit to taking the AP Calculus test.

Obtaining advanced college credit for classes like English, American Government, American History, etc., can be hugely beneficial by filling some of the BoK (breadth of knowledge/gen ed) requirements. This can free up time for ACCEND students, or make time for a minor, certificate, video games, or whatever.

How many hours do you spend studying each day/week?

When you describe your study time to prospective students, be sure to remind them that everyone's study habits are different. The biggest factor students face when entering college is the amount of flexible time they now have. It's important to stay on top of coursework, and it helps to treat class as a job-- although individual students must find the approach that fits them best.

Do I have to co-op in the Cincinnati area?

No; the best and most important aspect of UC'sco-op program is that it is completely designed for the student and what they want. Sometimes a better job is farther away from Cincinnati. Don't forget to mention the International Co-op Program (ICP)!
The International Co-op Program (ICP) allows students the opportunity to take a position in Germany, Japan or certain Spanish speaking countries. The program is connected with well known companies such as Audi, BMW, GE Aircraft Engines, Hewlett Packard, Siemens, and 3M.

How does the co-op interview process work and what skills are needed?

The interview process is fairly simple. Your Professional Practice advisor will make a list of companies and job descriptions available to you, and after you rank which companies you'd like to interview with, your advisor will send your resume out to those companies. The companies will contact you and arrange an interview time and place. If the company is far away they may hold a phone interview or fly you out to their office. Many companies interview on campus.
If a student is interested in pursuing a job that is not on the list provided by Professional Practice, they can work with their advisor and with the company to set up a co-op assignment there. We are not limited in our job options!
During freshman year, students take Introduction to Professional Practice, which is taught by their major's advisor. They'll go over topics including how to interview well, how to write a resume, and how to adjust to the professional environment. In addition, they will offer the opportunity for mock interviews and resume reviews.

What kind of pay and incentives can I look forward to on co-op?

Co-op wages vary by major, and older/more experienced students tend to earn more. Students are paid directly by their employers, so the amount depends on company size, the student's individual experience, and the benefits (such as housing and transportation) that the student might be receiving. Students typically earn enough to live comfortably and have money for the the next school quarter(s).
Average wages, as well as information about students' previous experiences with specific companies, are available from the advisors in the Professional Practice office in Swift Hall.
Many companies hire UC co-op students every year, so asking previous co-op students about their experience with a particular company is a great way to learn about working there.

How difficult is the ACCEND program?

Do I have to have a meal plan? Can upperclassmen get a meal plan?

Freshmen living in the dorms are required to have a meal plan, but can choose from several options with varying cost & number of meals per week. Older students and commuters don't have to have meal plans, but its sometimes nice to have the option available. Meal plans are used in MarketPointe and Center Court. Non-meal plan dining options abound as well.

How safe is campus and the surrounding area?

UC sits in an urban environment and because of this certain activities do happen both on campus and off campus. It is very important to tell parents the realty and provide them with all the resources and programs UC has for its students. Point out that UC police officers are real police officers, and they work together with the City of Cincinnati police department work together to secure a safe environment for the students and residents in the Clifton and other neighborhoods. The "Campus Safety" page of this wiki provides a more detailed answer for you to review.

What other schools did you look at while college searching?

All of us had our own lists of schools we looked at before choosing UC. Most times our choices revolved around: location, costs, ranking of program, campus appearance, personal reasons, and many other. When asked be honest, remember this is a great time to discuss how UC stood out in your decision. Families will also enjoy hearing about your personal reasons for attending (family history or scholarships). Just let them know how UC differed from the other schools on your list.

Why did you choose UC and would you have now changed your mind?

How difficult is it to register for classes and are your classes always available?

One of the best things about being in the CoE is that you are given a curriculum sheet before you even have your first class. This sheet lists all the classes you're going to need to graduate in 5 years. Therefore this make signing up for classed extremely quick and easy. UC uses the Onestop website for students to add/drop classes and its as easy as entering a 6 number code for the class. Onestop displays all the classes offered for that quarter for all colleges. You can get a course description, view the professor, and check attendance of certain sections.

For your engineering classes you are guaranteed to get in no matter what because the course is required for you to graduate. If the class is full online you just get the professor's signature and you're in. With students splitting time between coop and school, all engineering classes are offered twice a year in a way that you never miss your required classes. This feature is not common at all engineering universities which tends to hurt a student's graduating time.

The Art of Tours

Norrismm — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:10:57 CDT

Future content: Tour etiquette & tips; tour locations; commonly asked questions; handling large groups; link to interesting facts in Knowledge Base.

As EA members the main task we do is provide weekly Friday tours of the CoE before dropping the families off at their chosen department. These tours are meant to be casual and informative about the college and last about 25-35 minutes. Make sure the guests know that they can interrupt to ask questions about engineering or UC in general! We are giving the families a brief tour of the CoE not their respective department, however you may feel free to answer these questions if you feel comfortable. This is a time for you to shine and show off the College of Engineering at UC and the families enjoy getting information straight from the student's mouth, not an admissions officer. Families and perspective students really enjoy hearing about your Co-op experience, not matter how boring it seemed to you.

Student Organizations
It is very important to point out the many student organizations located in the CoE. Many organizations are department specific and many of these are also professional student chapters. When walking along the sixth floor in Baldwin point out the organizational offices (most organizations have or share an office) and briefly discuss what each organization is and what they do for the College of Engineering and its students (Tribunal, SWE, Theta Tau, NSBE, EA, EWB, etc).

A few of the organizations offer study sessions for underclassmen, these are good ways to get help and begin to work on the student's networking skills. Many new friendships are formed in these sessions and they also help get students into the effective study environment that dorms and other housing situations may not offer.
Students can join most of the organizations from their first quarter on campus and they can join organizations outside of their major. Organizations can help make adjusting to college easier for some students and in many cases organizations allow students to begin networking with their professors in some organizations.

The Ohio-Link Program
The University of Cincinnati is a partner in the Ohio-Link Program. This program connects the libraries of many universities in Ohio to help students obtain needed resources. Students can search for a book(s) or topic and a list of the universities that provide the material as well as the availability is created. Students can then have that text delivered the library of their choice on UC's campus. More information about the Ohio-Link can be found on the UC's libraries website.

Handling Large Groups
For our tours we divide the families up by which department they are visiting and combine like majors. These usually ends up with groups of 2-4 students (3-10 people total). If you are the leader, speak up so everyone can hear you because they won't always ask you to repeat yourself. In addition your group should have a battle plan on what you want to get accomplished before dropping your families off. The best thing when handling a large group is to keep things moving in a comfortable pace to where you can answer questions and make it to all the main locations before running out of time. However, you should always try to answer their questions before making sure you make it to a location (we are here to answer their questions, not to only show them around the engineering complex so you can skip a location). Being under a short time frame can also make things difficult, but have a mini-agenda so you can get the most important details in.

Not everyone is comfortable with talking in front of groups, so you won't be expected or placed as a tour leader on your first tour. We will let you hang in the back and answer more personal questions from the parents. This the perfect time to learn more about the CoE from a veteran. Obtaining more information about your college helps make giving tour easier regardless if you are fearful of talking in front of people. It is all about being prepared, so if you have questions ask an upperclassmen, go to the Rowe Center (Admission's Office), or go to that department's website. As soon as you feel comfortable you are free to lead a tour when you want.

Frequently Asked Questions
Many times, families will not ask questions and all the talking points will be used, so feel free to discuss any experiences you have had in the following areas:
~ where you lived as a freshman and what options people have
~ how housing works for coop - both in town and out of town

Living and working in town

Your housing situations can be very different given your type of housing so here's some quick information:

On-campus housing: You will sign a coop housing contract which means UC has to hold you a room in your current residency hall, but the exact same room or with the same roommates. As far as most of us know you can still live in the dorms while you're on coop too.

Off-campus: Here's were it can get tricky, in most cases your lease will state you will have to get a sublet if you travel out of town or be required to pay your monthly fees. Some landlords will specify that they don't want coop students taking leases from them.

Living and working out of town

This totally comes down to what your employer offers in the employment deal. Some companies will completely set you up for free, pay part, or offer no housing deals. If the location is fairly far from Cincinnati they may be willing to assist in looking, but not paying for your housing. Some employers will also provide you with a travel stipend to use.

~ what kind of computer do I have to get

Your major has a lot to do with this criteria, for most majors outside of the electrical or computer areas you can pretty much use what every computer (desktop or laptop) you choose. UC CoE does have an account set up with a few computer companies that provides the student with a small discount on specified computers. Just remember the CoE's computer labs are open 24/7 and they have all the computer programs you'll need while in school.

~ what courses to you recommend taking college credit for

Some of this comes down to what program you're heading into. Students come in with credit in Calculus, Chemistry, English, and others. The admissions office and department faculty are the best at answering these questions unless you have experience, but we mostly turn the family to the departments. This subject can be difficult to answer because some majors welcome credit and some don't always like the student to use it, but to retake the class to be fresh (and get a good grade) depending on when the credit was obtained.

~ how many hours do you spend studying each day/week

Everyone's study habits are different and so spend many hours daily and some don't. The biggest factor students face when entering college is the amount of free time they now have. The idea for students is that they need to be doing work daily to stay up to date with their classes. Slacking off in high school is a lot different and the if you slack off in college (especially in engineering) can hurt you very quickly and make your life very stressful and difficult. Many professors will tell you that college is your new 40 a week job and this sounds liek a lot, but some people find this approach easy to adjust to and get the most benefit from. This approach doesn't mean you're studying 40 hours a week, but that you manage your time and focus on what is important during the week. Don't be like a DAAP student and slack off all quarter and then stay up for a week straight to get your work done. Doing a little at a time ultimately pays off in the long run.

~ do I have to coop in the Cincinnati area

No, the best and most important aspect of UC's CoE coop program is that it is completely designed for the student and what they want. Sometimes a better job is farther away from UC or your home.

~ how does the coop interview process work and what skills are needed

The interview process is fairly simple. You'll have the opportunity to rank as many companies as you'd like, then your Professional Practice advisior will send your resume out to those companies. The companies will contact you and arrange an interview time and place. If the company is far away they may hold a phone interview or fly you out to their office.
In your freshman year you'll take an intro to professional practice class taught by your major's adivsior. They'll go over things like: how to interview, how to write a resume, how to handle working in the professional environment, and anything else you may wonder about. In addition, they will other you the chance to do mock interviews as many times as you would like. This is a great way to work on your skills if you don't feel comfortable in interviews.

~ what kind of pay and incentives can I look forward to on coop

Each major has its own set of average coop pays per year. Another thing to consider is that smaller companies might not pay the same as larger firms. There may be a smaller pay, but benefits that may equal things out (housing or transportation). Either way the company will be paying you an engineering wage based on your and/or their experience with coop or the job field. Typically you'll earn enough to live comfortably and have money for the the next school quarter(s).
The best way to see what the averages is to the Professional Development office in Swift and talk with your major's advisor.
Incentives all come down to the company and the location. Asking previous coop students is a great way to gauge the incentives of a company.

~ how difficult is the ACCEND program and do I lose anything while taking part in the program
~ do I have to have a meal plan and can upper classmen get a meal plan

You don't have to have meal plan, but its sometimes nice to have the option available. We mostly associate meal plans with freshmen, but upper classmen can get a meal plan as well. UC has many meal plan options that allow any student to choose a plan that suites them given their schedule or cooking experience.

~ how safe is campus and the surrounding areas
~

Locations of Note
The main locations to take families in the CoE are: ERC 6th Floor Lab, CoE Library, Baldwin Lobby on the 6th floor, 5th floor Baldwin computer labs, and any of the Baldwin classrooms and seminar rooms. As we break from the "Tour Talk" each group will head to one of these locations separately. The order at which you pass these locations is up to the tour leader. At each of these locations its good to give a brief description of the room and any important information about it. At so of the larger locations, you can pause briefly and discuss different topics (housing, meal plans, Co-op, or anything else they might ask) to keep from an awkward silence.

Additional locations to visit may include: North stairwell and 544/644 Auditorium.

Additional Useful UC/CoE Notes

The Blog

JordanV — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:37:33 CDT

EA has started a member blog to allow its members the opportunity to write about whatever they want whether it be a what's going on with school or how coop is going. Each member has the right to request being added as an author.

The main goals of the blog are to allow: current, past, and perspective students and family members to see what its like being an engineering student at UC. Blogging offers a very good way for perspective students to see what an engineering student might be thinking or doing during the week. With all majors and class years on the blog EA hopes to allow any perspective student/family to see what their son/daughter has to look forward should they entering engineering, not just at UC but any school.

Creative Chair

JordanV — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:56:19 CDT

Is responsible for overseeing EA's unique programs or tasks. Currently that includes monitoring the blog, ordering t-shirts and other clothing, or obtaining video or pictures from EA events.

Membership Chair

JordanV — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:00:30 CDT

Responsible for conducting recruitment process by publicizing opportunities by various means (fliers and presentations). They also sit on the Selection Committee along with other executive members. After the selection process they are responsible for training new members and maintaining the status and information of the current members.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

elliotjt — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:34:15 CDT

Civil engineers design, build, and construct the nation's infrastructure. This may include roads, bridges, buildings, water treatment facilities, and additional consulting tasks. Civil Engineering at the University of Cincinnati is broken down in six sub-discipline in which a student will choose a focus concentration their senior year. The six main concentrations are: Construction Management, Transportation, Structures, Water Resources, Environmental, or Geotechnical. Students have the ability to Co-op with companies in all these concentration areas during their undergraduate education.

Construction Management: manage the construction of projects by developing cost estimates, performing inspections, or advise owners and builders of alternatives.
Transportation: build, operate, and maintain the means by which goods and people move by air, land, or sea. They also observe and enact new methods by use of technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of roads and other transportation methods.
Structures: plan and design complex building systems whether the materials are steel, concrete, or another material. Most projects include: bridges, towers, large buildings, and stadiums.
Water Resources: design and build dams, canals, and other water related projects. Water pollutant models are constructed and observed to determine how and where to correct mistakes.
Environmental: improve and invent new methods to minimize air, water, and land pollution. Usually work for large consulting firms or government agencies.
Geotechnical: design new pavements, tunnels, landfills, and other land disturbing projects. Usually work along with other civil engineering disciplines as project consultants.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering hosts some of the best grad and undergraduate labs in the Midwest. Other universities and professional companies often request the use of CEE's labs for purpose of conducting tests. The main labs used by the department are the Highbay which is shared with Mechanical Engineering department and a larger structures lab located a few miles north of campus.

The Environmental programs is one of the best in the world for research and development. With a US EPA facility located immediately off campus, students have the opportunity to work for the EPA on government projects. The Environmental graduate program is one of the best the country with our professors providing numerous research opportunities for their students.

ACCEND Program
The current ACCEND degrees students can obtain in civil engineering are:

Civil BS and MBA
Civil BS and Environmental MS

Giving Back
Each year the department helps with the siding on UC's Habitat for Humanity project. Students are asked to help volunteer during the Fall and Spring Quarters. In addition the department also hosts many high school programs for students in the Greater Cincinnati area. The main program of these is the high school bridge building contest held each March on UC's main campus.

Additional information can be found at the Department of Civil Engineering website

Treasurer

JordanV — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:00:02 CDT

Is in charge of keeping up to date records of EA's financial records and be able to provide feedback. They are responsible for getting advisor co-sign on checks. Recently the Treasurer has taken over the fund-raising activities of EA. Most notably the refreshments sold in the EA office, they are responsible for the: order taking, purchasing, cost analysis, and upkeep of the fund-raiser. Tho other fund-raising activity done by EA is the selling of used textbooks.

Campus Safety

JordanV — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:54:06 CDT

The University of Cincinnati sits in an urban area and therefore, the importance of safety is a major factor in the success and health of its students. To help protect its students, the University of Cincinnati's police department has its own headquarters on campus and they work in conjunction with the city of Cincinnati Police Department. It should also be noted that UC police are just the same as Cincinnati police in that they carry all the equipment a normal police officer would carry. When giving a tour you should point out to the parents and students the numerous safety programs and organizations that UC provides to its students. Here's a sample list of the major programs offered to UC students free of charge:

Nightwalk - provides free transportation from campus to a students place of residence
Bearcat Transportation System - free transportation shuttle system that has numerous stops on campus
Cincinnati Metro - students currently have free access to all bus transportation
University of Cincinnati Police
City of Cincinnati Police Department
Cincinnati Crime-Stoppers

In addition, you need to tell them that because of UC's location suspect activities will occur, but point out the ways UC informs its students by email alerts when something happens on or around campus. These alerts are usually sent within hours of the activity and include all information the police have. In particular to female students, they should always walk in groups after dark even if their travel path is very familiar. This advice should also apply to all students male or female even if they are walking in familiar areas. In recent years the University and City of Cincinnati have taken steps to improve lighting in suspect areas with hope of decreasing the instances of student harm. Another fact to point out is that you will regularly see UC Police and Cincinnati Police patrolling on campus and the surrounding areas.

It should be stressed that if the student is to become a victim in a crime they should comply with all the demands asked. After the incident the student should immediately inform the authorities (this can be one or both of UC police or Cincinnati Police) and give them all the information needed to find the perpetrator(s). You should always be alert when walking home or to a friend's place.

Events Chair

JordanV — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:02:20 CDT

Responsible for finding the necessary number of volunteer's for each designated event or activity that EA has been asked to assist. They are also to supply a description of what the event is and what EA's role will be in assistance. This is done by creating events on the EA website and making sure everyone that signed up attends.

President

JordanV — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:04:07 CDT

Is responsible for conducting the group meetings and overseeing the officers. In addition, they are also responsible for implementing all EA activities and keeping everyone up to date of important EA details. This is usually accomplished by regular meetings with CoE faculty and alumni. Between regular member meetings the President also conducts an EA Executive meeting with the current officers to go over new ideas or topics related to EA and/or the CoE.

This position is only open to those students entering their senior year. Election for President takes place once a year during the Spring Quarter.

Majors

JordanV — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:48:31 CDT

As an EA, it can be tough to field questions about majors other than your own. Classes and co-ops (and maybe even personalities?) are quite different from discipline to discipline. These sub-pages contain information regarding the opportunities available in different majors-- hopefully this will better equip us to inform prospective students. More information about each major can be found at the CoE departmenta website