October 1994 - Vol. 1 No. 1

Dr. Tom Fry Honored by Students, Fellow Faculty

Dr. Tom Fry, founding department chair, was awarded recognition by both students and faculty at the end of the 1993-94 academic year. The student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers selected Dr. Fry as the Outstanding Faculty Member at the senior banquet last May. He was selected by a vote of the students who cited his commitment to teaching as demonstrated his willingness to work with students and his ability to explain geotechnical concepts using examples from his experiences in engineering practice.

Brian Cagle, president of ASCE student chapter, presents
The Outstanding Faculty Award to Dr. Tom Fry.

The faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering unanimously voted to rename the annual department award given to the outstanding senior the Thomas S. Fry Award. This award is to be given to the senior who has achieved the highest academic distinction during his or her undergraduate career in the department. The resolution changing the award name recognized Dr. Fry's personal commitment to scholarship as an individual pursuit. Also recognized are his many contributions to the welfare and advancement of the department, its students, and its faculty since he came to Memphis State University as its first chairman. This award honoring Dr. Fry is one of three departmental awards honoring those faculty members who established and nurtured the department from its inception. The other awards are the Fred H. Kellogg Award established in recognition of the college's first dean and the T. S. Wu Design Award, named for Dr. Wu, the first structural engineering professor.

Chairman's Corner - Dr. Martin Lipinski

Articles in THE NEWSLETTER highlight accomplishments we are proud of and want to share with you. To name a few, the outstanding research record being established by the faculty, the strength of American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter, curriculum development and revision, and other news from the campus. While we enjoy telling our story, the primary goal of this publication is to establish two-way communications with you, the alumni, the engineering community, and students. In our next issue we would like to feature information items from you, our readers. Please take a minute to drop us a line highlighting your professional activities and other important events in your life. We are sure your former classmates and professors would like to hear from you.

As they say in the advertisement, "We are bullish, " on The University of Memphis and the future of Civil Engineering. We have a new dean, Richard C. Warder, who comes to us from the University of Missouri, Columbia bringing new ideas on improving the quality of our programs and increasing the funding base for the Herff College of Engineering. Enrollments in Civil Engineering are increasing, and the quality of incoming freshmen is outstanding. However, we still face some unmet needs. The department's operating budget, from state allocations, has not increased in the past three years. This limited funding has reduced our ability to maintain and upgrade quality undergraduate laboratory equipment. We are also seriously "crunched for space" as faculty expand their research programs. We may be calling on you for help and support in resolving some of these problems.

We hope you enjoy this first issue. Please let us know your reaction. We want to hear from you, our family.

Civil Engineering Leads University in Research Funding

The Department of Civil Engineering led all departments of the University during fiscal year 1993 in externally sponsored awards. In a report released by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, Civil Engineering had a total of $1,617,733 of sponsored research and public service in the year ending in June, 1993. The only other units with awards exceeding one million dollars were the Psychology Department, University Public Service activities, and the Center for Earthquake Research and Information.

The major part of the funding ($1,396,203) was support obtained by the Ground Water Institute, directed by Dr. John W. Smith. This funding was for both research and public service activity. The department is continuing to be a university research leader with several faculty obtaining substantial external funding. In addition to the continuing activity of Dr. J. Smith in the areas of environmental and ground water studies and Dr. O. E. Wheeler's continuing software engineering research for the Army Corps of Engineers, Dr. Shahram Pezeshk is receiving funding from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Dr. Pezeshk will research earthquake effects on bridges. Dr. Michael Racer of the Industrial System Engineering program within the department will be developing a geographic information system (GIS) for the Shelby County Assessor. Dr. Roger Smith will be performing stream analysis for the Waterways Experiment Station of the Corps of Engineers. Dr. Otto Helweg is investigating well hydraulics for the American Water Works Association, and Dr. Martin Lipinski will be conducting waterway and intermodal transportation studies for the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the U.S. Maritime Administration. Other faculty with research contracts pending are Dr. Larry Moore and Dr. Jerry Anderson.

Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers

The student chapter of ASCE finished the year in grand style competing in the southeastern regional conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and going on to the national steel bridge competition in San Diego, California. The regional conference brings together Civil Engineering students from over 26 universities who compete in engineering design projects ranging in complexity from a steel bridge to a concrete canoe.

Student Joe Jolie, Anish Talati, and Kandi Horne critique balsa wood bridges.

The U of M entry into the steel bridge competition won second place at Tuscaloosa and was in the top ten in the national competition in San Diego. At the regionals, the U of M surveying team took first place overall. The balsa wood bridge built by a U of M student placed third in the southeastern competition. While the concrete canoe, dubbed the "Thirsty Tiger", only placed 9th in the regional, the crew was not discouraged and competed in the Great Mississippi River Canoe Race as part of the Memphis in May festivities. It was featured prominently in local television coverage of the event.

The students selected Dr. Thomas S. Fry as the "Outstanding Teacher" of the year. The chapter is committed to entering the 94-95 academic year building on the success of 93-94 and striving for greater achievements. One of the keys to success in 93-94 was the support of the student chapter by the alumni. Improvement on this interaction is a major objective in 94-95. Dr. John Smith was the student chapter advisor last year. Dr. Roger Smith will be the chapter's advisor this year.

Ground Water Institute

As the Herff College of Engineering Ground Water Institute (GWI) completes its third year of existence, the level of activity remains high. Funded by local water utilities and two industries, the activities of the GWI are focused in three main areas: maintenance of a comprehensive ground water data base managed by a geographic information system (GIS), seminars and workshops for technology transfer, and ground water related research.

Professor Jerry Anderson works with graduate student David Smith
in the Groundwater Institute GIS Laboratory

Graduate students (7 master, 2 doctoral) and undergraduate students (5) form the work force of the GWI with direction by Doctors John Smith, Jerry Anderson, and Charles Camp. Current research projects include defining the recharge area for the Memphis Sand aquifer, refining a computer model of the Memphis Sand aquifer, evaluating the fate/transport of organic materials in loess and sand/loess mixtures, and evaluating the potential impact of a proposed landfill on the Memphis Sand aquifer.

A major portion of the GWI's work effort is the development of well head protection plans for the City of Memphis, the City of Germantown, the City of Millington, and the Town of Collierville. In addition, the GWI has been instrumental in assisting the City of Germantown develop a GIS as well as converting the Shelby County Tax Assessor's data to a GIS. These are examples of research/service that have been initiated as a result of faculty and student exposure to the capabilities of the equipment housed in the GWI and being able to demonstrate the potential applications to prospective sponsors.

Faculty Provide Service to the Engineering Profession

Several Civil Engineering faculty hold positions of leadership in engineering professional organizations. Dr. John Smith was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners. He is one of three engineers on the Board. Dr. Smith is also the professional engineering member of the Ground Water Quality Board for Shelby County, serving in his sixth year. A number of faculty members hold positions of leadership within the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Three faculty members are on executive committees of technical divisions, Dr. Otto J. Helweg with the Irrigation and Drainage Division, Dr. Jerry Anderson with the Water Resources Planning and Management Division, and Dr. Martin Lipinski with the Highway Division. Other active faculty are Dr. Roger Smith with the Urban Water Resources Committee in the Water Resources Planning and Management Division, Dr. Shahram Pezeshk with the Optimal Structural Design Committee, and Dr. Howard Hwang with the Safety of Buildings Committee. Dr. Charles Camp is a member of the Board of Directors of the Memphis Branch, ASCE.

Dr. Larry Moore is doing workshops for the Environmental Pollution Control Federation. Dr. Helweg was the keynote speaker and sole representative from the United States at the international conference on water quality in Medallin, Columbia, last November. Dr Hwang was one of five delegates from the United States to participate in the R.O.C. - U.S. Cooperative Workshop on Natural Hazard Reduction in Tainan, Taiwan.

Promotion and Tenure

Three civil Engineering faculty members recently received tenure and promotion. They are Doctors Charles Camp, Shahram Pezeshk, and Michael Racer. Dr. Camp and Dr. Pezeshk are both in the structures and mechanics area, and Dr. Racer heads up the Industrial and Systems Engineering graduate program. All three were promoted from Assistant to Associate Professor.

Temporary Faculty

Mr. Paul Palazolo, a former student in the Civil Engineering Department, has a temporary teaching appointment. Paul, whose area is environmental engineering, received his B.S.C.E. and M.S.C.E. from the University of Memphis and is in the process of finishing up his dissertation for a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech.

Undergraduate Curriculum Workshop

In February, the Department hosted a visit by two leading Civil Engineering educators to discuss issues and trends in undergraduate civil engineering education. Dr. Peter Hoadley of Vanderbilt University and Dr. Larry Feeser of Rennseler Polytechnical Institute, were brought to the Campus with faculty enrichment funds to share their perceptions and experiences with the faculty. Both individuals are leaders in the American Society of Civil Engineers educational committees and have served as program evaluators for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Dr. Hoadley is chair of the ASCE Education Division and is on the ABET board. Dr. Feeser serves on several prominent ASCE committees and regularly serves on ABET evaluation teams.

At the informal workshop, the visitors summarized the changes in ABET evaluation criteria, including the emphasis to be placed on design experiences throughout the curriculum - from freshman to senior level. They shared their knowledge of the programs at other universities and the issues being debated at national meetings. They also reviewed the University of Memphis program and they made suggestions regarding modifications the faculty might consider to improve the curriculum.

Graduate Program Evaluation

A review of the Civil Engineering graduate program was held in March. This evaluation is required by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) on a periodic basis. The last department review was in 1988. The purpose of the external review is to assess program quality in many areas: curriculum, faculty, finances and facilities, students, and administration. The two consultants performing the evaluation were Dr. Neil S. Grigg, Chair of the Civil Engineering Department at Colorado State University and Dr. Ralph Richards, Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona. They reported that the department met all the required program standards set by THEC. In their narrative summary they indicated that the department offers a quality program and is poised to meet the needs of the urban area it serves. They suggested that the department conduct a strategic planning exercise to delineate future areas of emphasis and to develop the means to increase the flow of resources, i.e., graduate stipends, laboratory equipment, etc.

EIT Results

Civil engineering students set a new standard for the EIT exam last Fall - 100 percent passed! Preliminary results for the spring semester examination indicate that 75 percent of the civil engineers passed. These results are very encouraging as the passing percentages have been significantly lower in recent years. The department has made a concerted effort to help prepare students for the examination and to encourage them to take this first step toward registration.