Mechanical Engineering Technology

Mission

The Mechanical Engineering Technology Bachelor of Science Program at Oregon Institute of Technology is an applied engineering program.  Its mission is to provide graduates the skills and knowledge for successful careers in mechanical and manufacturing engineering. 

Educational Objectives

The main objectives of the MET program are to:

• Prepare students with the applied engineering skills necessary to be successful in their chosen careers in industry, business, and government;
• Enable students to be effective communicators and life-long learners by assisting them in the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills, and ethical awareness;
• Provide a flexible and accessible educational opportunity to a wide range of students, and
• Develop partnerships with industry, business, and government to ensure quality programs that meet their needs.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

The Mechanical Engineering Technology program outcomes have been mapped to the ABET a-k outcomes listed below.

a) an appropriate mastery of the knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of their disciplines,
b) an ability to apply current knowledge and adapt to emerging applications of mathematics, science, engineering and technology,
c) an ability to conduct, analyze and interpret experiments and apply experimental results to improve processes,
d) an ability to apply creativity in the design of systems, components or processes appropriate to program objectives,
e) an ability to function effectively on teams,
f) an ability to identify, analyze and solve technical problems,
g) an ability to communicate effectively,
h) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning,
i) an ability to understand professional, ethical and social responsibilities,
j) a respect for diversity and a knowledge of contemporary professional, societal and global issues, and
k) a commitment to quality, timeliness, and continuous improvement.

In addition to the a-k outcomes above, the program included the following MET-specific outcome in 2007-08:

MET a)  Baccalaureate degree programs must demonstrate that graduates can apply specific program principles to the analysis, design, development, implementation, or oversight of more advanced mechanical systems or processes depending on program orientation and the needs of their constituents.

Curriculum Map

The curriculum map for the MET program can be found on the program's web page on the OIT web site.

Summary of Student Learning Outcomes

During the 2007-08 academic year, the program faculty formally assessed the student learning outcomes summarized below. Additional details can be found in the attached assessment report and in department assessment records.

The MET assessment plan was extensively rewritten this year, and a very ambitious overall program assessment was attempted during the 2007-2008 academic year.  The new plan was written with the hope of assessing all of our courses in all applicable areas.  There were many successes during this assessment cycle, and a few disappointments; these are discussed below.  One thing became evident during this year was that trying to assess almost every course for each pertinent SLO is not sustainable.  The results of this year's assessment activities will be used to update the MET Program assessment plan; with a goal of making it both thorough and sustainable. 

The areas that were successfully assessed (the outcome was assessed such that 80% of our students scored include the following:

• Outcome a: Graduates will have an appropriate mastery of the knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of their disciplines. Over 86% of the students scored at a good or better level, and 100% of the respondents to the exit survey rated themselves prepared or better.
• Outcome c: Graduates will have an ability to conduct, analyze and interpret experiments and apply experimental results to improve processes. Exactly 80% of our students scored at a good or better level; and 100% of the respondents to the exit survey rated themselves prepared or better.
• Outcome e: Graduates will have an ability to function effectively on teams. Over 96% of the students scored at a good or better level; however only 50% of the respondents to the exit survey rated themselves prepared or better.
• Objective f: Graduates will have an ability to identify, analyze and solve technical problems. Just over 80% of the students scored at a good or better level; and100% of the respondents to the exit survey rated themselves prepared or better.
• Outcome g: Graduates will have the ability to communicate effectively. Just over 80% of the students scored at a good or better level; however only 50% of the respondents to the exit survey rated themselves prepared or better.
• Outcome j: Graduates will have a respect for diversity and knowledge of contemporary professional, societal and global issues. Just over 83% of our students scored at a good or better level; and 100% of the respondents to the exit survey rated themselves prepared or better.

Areas identified as needing improvement include the following: 

• Outcome b: Graduates will be able to apply current knowledge and adapt to emerging applications of mathematics, science, engineering and technology. Only 55% of the students were scored at the good or better level for this outcome; although 100% of the respondents to the exit survey rated themselves prepared or better. Changes to the course content in some of our core engineering courses are being made, and this outcome will be reassessed next year to see if these changes improve our students' score for this outcome.
• Outcome d: Graduates will be able to apply creativity in the design of systems, components or processes. Overall, slightly less than 80% of our students scored at the good or better level for this outcome. Several small design projects will be placed throughout the curriculum next year to better prepare students. This outcome will be reassessed to see if these changes improve out students' knowledge in this area.

Finally, areas needing additional data in order to properly evaluate them include the following (at least one more rubric will be developed, and these areas will be reassessed next year):

• Outcome h: Graduates will see the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning.
• Outcome i: Graduates will be able to understand professional, ethical and social responsibilities.
• Outcome k: Graduates will have a commitment to quality, timeliness, and continuous improvement.
• MET a: Baccalaureate degree programs must demonstrate that graduates can apply specific program principles to the analysis, design, development, implementation, or oversight of more advanced mechanical systems or processes depending on program orientation and the needs of their constituents.