WELCOME
TO
Engineering Co-­‐op & Placement
Experience is the best teacher
Deanna Dunn
Director, Engineering Co-­‐op and Placement
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Five-­‐year educational program which allows you to alternate semesters of paid employment in your field of study with semesters of classroom study
Reinforce theoretical classroom knowledge through practical work experience
Develop professional skills such as communication, responsibility, and confidence
Graduate with 12+ months of full-­‐time work experience
Earn between $1,600 and $6,600 per month during co-­‐op semesters
English Department
Dr. Heather Braun
English Composition 112
PAY IT FORWARD Service-­‐Learning Program
Student groups researched non-­‐
profit organizations’ needs related to clear communication, argumentation, and written
expression. Then the groups
worked competitively to provide the best written products. The winning group was rewarded
with a $1000 check for their partner organization.
The winning group with their partners from Happy Trails Animal Sanctuary
Internship: Leslie Flores
Media Production
ZTV: Akron After Hours
Leslie works at the Zips TV Station to write, direct, film, and edit amazing content for Akron After Hours, a comedy sketch show. She gains real-­‐
world experience in her major from this work. “Everything you do you take seriously. It's not just a grade, it's something you can send out that shows your actual experiences. You're going to graduate saying you know how to actually do it, and show and prove it."
School of Law Joann Sahl
Re-­‐entry Clinic
The Re-­‐entry Clinic offers law students exposure to public sector practice while allowing them to assist clients in applying for employment certificates, sealing convictions, seeking pardons, and expunging criminal records for victims of human trafficking.
Joann Sahl
Archaeology Field School
The ‘Pig Dig’
Dr. Linda Whitman
FIELD WORK
Mock Crime Scene
Students of forensic archaeology searched for pig carcasses that had been buried a year before the dig by professors to resemble a crime scene.
Linda Whitman’s class poses with the victim.
They excavated the ‘crime scene,’ including decomposed clothing and other evidence, and then investigated how the pig was ‘murdered.’ Students learned how they might investigate in the field.
Archaeology Field School
The ‘Pig Dig’
FIELD WORK
Mock Crime Scene
Archaeology students excavate carefully using field methods taught in the classroom, trying to recover evidence they can analyze.
English Department
Dr. Patrick Chura
English Composition 111
FIELD WORK
John Brown: Hero or Terrorist?
On-­‐Site Research at the John Brown Memorial
Students visited the John Brown Memorial, a neglected monument in Akron. They researched American historical figure John Brown, and used communication skills to hold a debate. Practicum: Carson Hollar
Allied Health Medical Assisting
Externship at St. Thomas Orthopedic Clinic
Carson worked at St. Thomas to practice the clinical and administrative elements of medical assisting. He roomed patients, made calls, checked charts, and learned the physical aspects of medical assisting. Carson has since graduated with his Associate’s and works for Summa Health System.
“You learn how to communicate with people in a different way...You learn people skills and how to advocate for them. You learn how to disarm someone."
Polymer Science
Kaushik Mishra Ph.D. student of Polymer Science
Pitching his lab’s innovative light sensitive polymer to I-­‐
Corps@Ohio and the ARCHAngels Investment Network. “I want to take things to the market but I never realized there were so many things to be done in between,” says Kaushik of his entrepreneurial journey.
College of Engineering
Heidi Cressman
Engineering Service Design Team & Women in Engineering
SERVICE LEARNING
Replay for Kids
Engineering students partnered with Replay for Kids to fix broken toys and adapt them for children with disabilities. The toys are then distributed to children in need. Students learn how their skills can assist their community and help others.
School of Law
Trial Academy
In the Trial Academy, second-­‐
and third-­‐year law students hold mock trials at the Summit County Court of Common Pleas. They act as attorneys and gain practical experience in how to hold a trial.
Matt Hall, a student trustee, gives a professional presentation to a mock judge and jury of his peers from UA’s school of law. The real courtroom setting allows students to experience a lifelike trial.
College of Engineering
Dr. Julie Zhao
Engineering Redshirt Learning Community 2014, 2015
Service-­‐Learning Program
Freshmen worked with the Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio to develop sled hockey gloves with special grip support for young players with disabilities.
Eight proposals were developed for the ASP by fifteen Engineering students.
Students pose with their hockey engineering proposals.
Community-­‐based Research: Tannya Forcone
Anthropology
COMMUNITY-­‐BASED RESEARCH
The Worm in the Apple: An Inside Look at Campus Food Insecurity at the University of Akron Main Campus
Tannya’s research has led her to research food insecurity on campus, with the goal of establishing programs that make students become more successful. "I saw a need and I couldn't ignore it. It's not enough to just study it, you have to fix it. You have to at least try." To participate in this research study, send an email from a non-­‐UA account to [email protected].
Are you a hungry UA student?
1 out of 3 of you are hungry. We need to hear your story so we can fix the problem. We want to interview you. Help out by doing an interview. Just send an email from a non-­UA account to [email protected].
Completely Anonymous!
College of Engineering
Dr. Julie Zhao
IDEAS Engineering Seminar
TEAM-­‐BUILD A BLIMP Service-­‐Learning Program
In 2012, Students in IDEAs Engineering Seminar worked together as a team to design and build a plastic blimp. Later, the blimp was displayed by the Summit County Historical Society.
Department of Sociology
Dr. Kathryn Feltey
Special Topics: Hunger & Homelessness
PAY IT FORWARD
Service-­‐Learning Program
Sociology students competed for a $1,000 grant to be given to a non-­‐profit organization. They formed teams to volunteer and advocate for these organizations:
Open M, Rebuilding Together, ACCESS, Haven of Rest, Boys and Girls Club, Safe Landing, and Nazareth Housing.
The winning team presents their check to Nazareth Housing.
Biomedical Engineering
Bing Yu
I-­‐Corps Program
Biomedical engineering Ph.D. student Vivek Krishna and advisor Bing Yu invented a portable endoscope to prevent cancer deaths in low-­‐income countries. As part of UA’s I-­‐Corps program, Vivek interviewed more than 100 doctors and nurses to make sure the device he is building meets their needs. “It’s been transformational for me,” Vivek says of I-­‐Corps.
Field Work: Love Gwaltney
Anthropology
Independent Study: Gender Fluidity
Love is researching masculinity, femininity, gender fluidity, sex, sexuality, and gender expression. Her fieldwork has included interviews and photography. She is applying what she has learned in the classroom to her project.
“It's hands-­‐on research. I am in control of what I'm researching and how I’m researching it." Senior Capstone in Marketing
Students worked with clients to create a marketing strategy. They formed teams, and competed against each other to determine the best idea. “The Capstone course was a great experience and helped me develop "real-­‐world" world tools that I plan on using in the future.” -­‐ James Cramer
Clients have included Goodyear, Ace Hardware, Today’s Bride, and Hyland Software.
College of Engineering
Heidi Cressman + James Hager
Engineering Service Design Team
SERVICE LEARNING
ASPO Cyclist Equipment
The Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio asked students to adapt technology for disabled athletes. Students created a design to allow cyclists to train in a more efficient way.
Polymer Science
Ph.D. student Erik Willet
Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund
Students like polymer science Ph.D. Erik Willett (at left) make $25,000 investment decisions as part of Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund. NEOSVF student members see pitches from area startup companies and perform due diligence to choose those most worthy of investment. “We get to advise [startups] with feedback that’s more forceful, more substantial,” says Erik.
Engineering
Students Roxanna Raoofi and Evan Fritz Developing a new kind of adhesive with UA graduates at Akron Ascent Innovations. The company makes “universal magnet” adhesives that can hold up to 100 lb/sq inch while still peeling cleanly from surfaces to eliminate residue and prevent damage.
Modern Languages
Photo by Lisa Mickley
Dr. Matt Wyszynski
Advanced Spanish for the Health Professions Certificate
STUDY ABROAD
Five students completing the Advanced Spanish for the Health Professions certificate traveled to El Salvador with Dr. Wyszynski. Students developed and delivered presentations about basic health care and hygiene to children at local orphanages and in the poorest of the comunidades in San Salvador. The students also were invited to the Hospital Nacional San Rafael to interact with pediatric patients and to observe Dr. Zulma Méndez, director of the hospital’s HIV clinic, as she visited patients’ homes. Wyszynski will lead another group this year, and Dr. Mendez has invited them to spend a week of their trip working with her in the hospital and in the areas surrounding San Salvador.
Undergraduate Research: Tannya Forcone
Anthropology (Honor)
COMMUNITY-­‐BASED RESEARCH
Hunger Down the Street: Experiences of Food Insecurity in an Urban Environment
Tannya is researching food insecurity in the community. She spent a year volunteering at a suburban food pantry, conducted interviews, did qualitative analysis, and is currently writing a paper to present.
“I learned how to listen and see more deeply. I see my community differently. I am more aware of social injustices." Biology Department
Dr. Randall Mitchell
Field Experience
Students visited Bath Nature Preserve to evaluate water quality at the park.
College of Engineering
Heidi Cressman + James Hager
Engineering Service Design Team
SERVICE LEARNING
ASPO Soccer Chair
Students partnered with the Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio to create a soccer cage that could be quickly removed or attached from a wheelchair. They adapted the cage so it could be removed in less than 5 minutes.
Modern Languages
Dr. Parizad Dejbord Sawan
Certificate of Beginning Medical Spanish for Health Professionals and Staff at Akron Children’s Hospital
This is an interdisciplinary program between the University of Akron and Akron Children’s Hospital health professional and staff. It has fostered a culturally and linguistically appropriate health care environment that has impacted positively on both health providers and patients. It has allowed pediatric staff and healthcare professionals to gain confidence and cultural openness when communicating with their LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Hispanic patients.. The cross-­‐cultural communication that has been established between patient and provider has resulted in a therapeutic relationship of trust that has benefited the well-­‐being of members of the Hispanic community. Zips Electric Racing
Trevin Hartzler
Zips Electric Racing -­‐
Team Manager
Zips Electric Racing’s ZREV14 Vehicle
UA’s own Formula Electric SAE Team competes with a race car. They design and build the car as a team, and compete with the 100% electric Formula AE car. Pre-­‐Education
Fall 2015 Akron Experience Pre-­‐
Education Learning Community
Leggett Elementary
During Trunk or Treat, UA Students hosted a ‘laboratory’ where elementary students could experience organs in the human body. Carrots and peeled grapes masqueraded as finger bones and eyeballs in the haunted operating room.
Electrical Engineering
Dr. Yilmaz Sozer
Community-­‐based Research
Electrical engineering students are keeping streets safer by diagnosing and preventing power line failures, which lead to hundreds of underground explosions each year. The students worked with John Lauletta of Exacter Inc. to build the ConductoRX system to quickly test power cables. It began selling to select utility companies in January. NSF I-­‐Corps
UA’s NSF I-­‐Corps programs give cross-­‐disciplinary teams of students, faculty and business mentors an opportunity to explore the commercial potential of patent pending UA technologies. Based on lean launch methods and customer outreach, I-­‐
Corps “ends up changing your entire worldview and how to approach research,” says student Clint Taubert. Learn more at uakron.edu/icorps Biology Department
Dr. Randall Mitchell
Field Methods Course
Students visited the University of Akron’s Panzer Wetland Wildlife Reserve to get hands-­‐on experience in invasive species control. Students learned methods, purpose, and the principles of land management.
Zips Aero Design Team
Student Elizabeth Hammel
SAE Aero Design West 2015
Van Nuys, CA
The Design Team built a homemade RC cargo aircraft for the SAE Collegiate Design Series. After designing, testing, and competing, the Zips went home with 1st place overall in Advanced Class, and 3rd place overall in Regular Class.
Polymer Science
Brinda Mehta Graduate Student
Industrial Assistantship
Mehta is working through the University’s industrial assistantship program to collaborate with an Akron company. The company, S3DS, is developing smart shoe insoles to prevent running injuries. Mehta is using technology from UA’s mechanical engineering labs to work on the project.
Students Luke Avsec and Daniel Wyrock met at Startup Weekend at UA, where they worked with other students on a software solution to enhance audience participation. The Quail web portal and app allow event organizers to engage more audience members and control which questions get asked. EXL has used Quail at events to facilitate audience participation.
Request a demo at [email protected]