President's Message

By Sarah A. Rajala
ASEE President
E-Mail: rajala@bagley.msstate.edu

Welcome to the website of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Whether you are a member of ASEE, a prospective member, or just someone interested in engineering education, you will find a wealth of information here.

Founded in 1893, the mission of ASEE to further education in engineering and engineering technology has never been more important. Today the world faces an array of complex problems that will require the talents and creativity of engineering and engineering technology professionals. It is also clear that important new skills will be demanded of the global engineer of the 21st century. In recent years, we have gathered significant new knowledge regarding how to enhance the learning opportunities for our students. Yet interest in engineering education continues to decline, especially among women and underrepresented minorities. We must find new ways to share the excitement and possibilities a career in engineering has to offer and the impact it can have on the quality of life.

To ensure the diversity of workforce needed to meet these challenges, it is important for ASEE to clearly define its role in and commitment to broadening participation in engineering. It is my goal that we will work together to articulate a new vision and plan for the future. We will build on the on-going efforts of our minority and women’s divisions and the work being done by our Corporate Members and Deans Councils, and collaboratively with our partner diversity serving organizations.  With the collective effort from all our members and divisions and our K-12 students and teachers through its ASEE K-12 Engineering Center, we will make a difference.

During 2006-2007, ASEE engaged in a Year of Dialogue addressing how we can advance engineering and engineering technology education based on the collective wisdom and experience of its more than 13,000 members. This dialogue began with a plenary session at the 2006 Annual Convention and was followed by discussion at each of the twelve section meetings. These efforts provided the foundation for an NSF-funded project to create a blueprint for transforming engineering education through educational scholarship and to initiate substantive actions to advance the proposed recommendations. Over the next year a team of more than fifty ASEE members and educational leaders will develop draft recommendations and plans for converting these recommendations into actions. Public distribution of the draft report for feedback will begin in early 2009. The effort will be supported and strongly informed by research in engineering education published in the Journal of Engineering Education and with research and best practices that appear in the new on–line journal Advances in Engineering Education. I encourage each of you to continue to be a part of this dialogue. Of critical importance to the long term success and impact of this project will be the initiation of actions that will allow us to produce engineers who will be tomorrow’s leaders.

Over the past several years ASEE’s role and leadership in international activities has grown significantly. These activities provide ASEE and its membership the potential for expanding educational opportunities for our students and faculty and enhancing opportunities for collaboration on education and research initiatives. To maximize the impact of our international activities and their benefit to our membership, we must articulate a clear vision to guide our decisions as we move forward. Over the next year my goal is to engage our membership and staff in developing a plan to ensure financial sustainability, defining strategies for meeting the needs of our members, and enhancing opportunities for broadening participation in engineering.

ASEE continues to be the leader in the world in engineering and engineering technology education.  However, given the global economy in which we live and the many challenges we face, it is important we remain focused on our mission to promote excellence in instruction, research, public service; serve as a role model for broadening participation in engineering; exercise worldwide leadership; foster the technological education of society; and provide quality products and services to our members. If you have suggestions on how to accomplish our mission or how to improve the Society, please send them to me or any other member of the Board of Directors.

July 2008

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