Engineering at Central

A tidal wave is about to hit Iowa colleges, says Jeff Weld — a flood of young students with passions for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Weld, executive director of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, said the Council has spent years getting Pre-K-12 students interested in STEM. “Sooner or later, we’re going to have this tsunami of interest, and I think it’s starting to happen,” Weld says. “Kids are going to come out of our high schools insistent on additional, exemplary STEM opportunities at the post-secondary level.”

This surge of interest is promising, says Central College President Mark Putnam, because career opportunities abound for college graduates in STEM fields. For Central graduates, 98 percent who completed STEM degrees in the last three years were employed or in graduate school six months after graduation.

Now is the perfect time, Putnam says, for Central to seize a unique opportunity — this spring, the college announced a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering program.

“It extends a long tradition of excellence in science, technology, engineering and math education at the college,” says Putnam. “STEM education has come to the forefront because of the advance of technology in society — and all kinds of things that are driving the economy in the U.S. Engineers who have seen the breadth of liberal arts disciplines will enrich our society.”

Why add Engineering?

When Cory McCleary ’18 came to Central last fall, he already had plans to leave. McCleary, of Linwood, Kan., wanted to study engineering. He had declared a physics major and planned to graduate early, moving on to an engineering graduate program.

“I love to invent things,” McCleary says. “My father owned his own machine shop, so as a kid I was able to build things like an aluminum race car similar to those that run at Knoxville. In high school, I created a working prototype for a tool that could help bus mechanics save time changing the brakes. I would like to patent my idea and sell it to a manufacturer.”

Now that Central has launched the new major, McCleary plans to be one of the college’s first B.S. graduates. “An engineering degree was my one passion,” McCleary says. “Now I can just do engineering all in one sweep.”

For many years, Central graduates have completed master’s degrees in engineering — or landed jobs with major companies like Pella Corp., Musco Lighting, Fisher Controls, Epic Systems Corp., Burns & McDonnell, Johnson Controls and Rockwell Collins.

Viktor Martisovits, associate professor of physics, said graduate school will, of course, remain an option for Central engineering students who are interested — but the B.S. degree will enable many more to secure engineering jobs immediately after graduation.

“I’m really excited that this new option is going to open doors,” Martisovits says, “and make it easier for students straight out of Central to get many, many, many more engineering jobs with a variety of companies.”

What’s in the Program?

The engineering major includes coursework in electronics, thermodynamics, materials and dynamic systems, physics and mathematics. The program culminates with a two-semester Capstone Design course. Students will be able to complete the degree in four years, like every Central program, and gain practical experience through summer internships and co-ops.

Engineering graduates will have a strong foundation in physics and the basic sciences which, coupled with the Central College core curriculum, will prepare students broadly for careers or graduate school — and long-term success in mechanical and electrical engineering. Before adding engineering, Central has built a record of success in closely related programs like physics and mathematics. This strong science background will serve graduates well, Martisovits says, helping them adapt as engineering jobs change throughout their careers.

On campus, students have access to advanced technology in the Vermeer Science Center. Classrooms and laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation to support coursework, independent studies and research projects with faculty.

In addition, engineering students will be strongly encouraged and supported to complete internships and/or co-ops in engineering at local, national and international locations. Students interested in study abroad are able to complete international internships during a semester or summer around the globe.

The design of Central’s program is guided by ABET, a nonprofit organization that accredits college and university engineering programs. Central can only receive accreditation after its first engineering students graduate, but Martisovits says approval for the program should be straightforward.

“We are in excellent shape,” says Martisovits. “We are fortunate to be able to work with a very experienced consultant since the beginning. That’s the reason that we are very optimistic that this program is indeed going to be accredited.”

Our partners

Three international corporations headquartered in Pella — Vermeer Corp., Pella Corp. and Precision Pulley & Idler (PPI) — have partnered to support the new engineering program. Putnam and Vermeer CEO Mary Andringa announced the new program at the Statewide STEM Summit in Des Moines and the iExplore STEM festival on Central’s campus this spring.

Close proximity to these companies gives Central a unique opportunity to unite its liberal arts academic core, talented faculty in natural and engineering sciences, and the expertise of local, practicing engineers. Partnerships will include teaching, funding, shared equipment, real-world projects, internships, coops and career opportunities.

Pat Meyer, CEO of Pella Corp., says Central’s commitment to innovative and exceptional higher education is critical to the success of Pella and its business community.

“We, at Pella Corporation, are pleased to be a part of that,” Meyer says. “Central has a real opportunity to educate engineers in a unique way with strong corporate partnerships, personalized attention from faculty and engineering professionals, and focused preparation and skill sets that are adaptable over a lifetime.”

Andringa, also chair of the board at Vermeer, says a successful future depends on leaders arming today’s students with the right skills for tomorrow’s workforce.

“I applaud Central College for introducing an engineering degree — and the opportunities it will provide to their future graduates and our workforce needs as a whole,” Andringa says. “With only one qualified job seeker for every 3.4 STEM jobs today, and nearly a third of manufacturers citing insufficient reading, writing and communication skills in the workplace, a well-rounded education is one obvious solution to these growing, critical needs.”

Roger Brown, president and CEO of PPI, said the partnership with Central will benefit everyone involved. “It’s exciting to team up with a college community full of young and talented minds, who are eager to make a difference in the world,” Brown says. “We look forward to the opportunities to teach, learn and work with students and faculty while connecting the classroom to the corporate setting.”

Engineering is a practical discipline, Martisovits says, and practical experience is essential. By partnering with local engineers, Central will offer opportunities for students to participate in real-world projects and experiences. “It’s going to make the program very strong,” Martisovits says. “Students will be able to see what exactly is happening in real life — and not just to learn about it, but actually experience it.”

What about the liberal arts?

Central’s commitment to liberal arts education hasn’t diminished with the creation of an engineering degree. Rather, Martisovits says being grounded in the liberal arts makes the engineering program stronger — and Central engineering graduates more desirable.

“In addition to high-level technical skills, they also will have excellent background in writing, reading, public speaking,” Martisovits says, “which are very important in engineering these days.”

“We’re doing it differently than most, and that’s because we are seeking to develop a liberally educated engineer,” says Putnam. “No engineering work is done in isolation. It’s connecting all parts of our society. STEM training in the absence of a liberal education isolates students intellectually. With a liberal arts education, they can be better citizens.”

According to Weld, interdisciplinary skills are essential across the world, but an engineering program that emphasizes them is unique.

“Woven into a liberal arts scaffold, Central’s engineering degree will answer the clamor for critical and creative thinkers to drive our 21st-century economy,” Weld says.

“An engineer that comes out of this institution is going to be a well-rounded citizen — a logical, humanistic, historically perspective graduate with some engineering know-how. That’s the kind of people I want building my bridges and my cities.”

Andringa agrees — that is the kind of candidate needed in the engineering work force. “To have individuals who are interested in the skills of engineering but also have a sense of the global world and communication skills will be a fantastic fit,” she says.

All STEM majors at Central have unique opportunities for undergraduates. Many students conduct original research with Central faculty, present at national conferences and publish research findings.

“When I talk to my high school buddies who attend large schools, they tell me how full their classes are and how they can hardly see or hear their professors in the lecture halls,” says McCleary. “At Central, I feel I am receiving an amazing education — I can see and hear my professors, and I can even go talk to them one-onone as many times as I need.”

In the engineering program, Martisovits says classes should average 15-20 students, making it possible for professors to give every student one-on-one attention. Students will also be able to pursue specialized, in-depth projects that support their career goals.

Engineering Faculty

Viktor Martisovits, associate professor of physics
Ph.D. in physics, Ohio State University
M.S. in physics, Ohio State University
RNDr. in physics, Comenius University (Slovakia)

Alexey Pronin, associate professor of physics
Ph.D. in physics, Virginia Tech
M.S. in physics, Saint-Petersburg State University (Russia)
B.S. in physics, Saint-Petersburg State University (Russia)

Elizabeth A. Golovatski, assistant professor of physics
Ph.D. in condensed matter physics, University of Iowa
B.S. in physics, St. Ambrose University

Chong Wang, assistant professor of physics
Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, University of California, Irvine
M.S. in mechanical engineering, Peking University (China)
B.S. in aerospace engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (China)

Top-Notch Technology

Engineering students will take advantage of high-tech tools on campus.

A lab for the electronics course allows students to experiment with a variety of analog and digital circuits, and even build microcomputers. The advanced labs support a large variety of experiments including cloud chamber, Cavendish balance, laser optics, bomb calorimeter, Compton Effect, photoelectric effect, radioisotopes, Michelson interferometer and optical pyrometer. The engineering program is also supported by a mechanical shop with a mill, lathe and welding equipment.

The Central physics department is licensed by the state of Iowa to own and use a plutonium-beryllium neutron source and a cesium gamma-ray source for experiments in atomic and nuclear physics. The on-campus observatory with an 11-inch reflector telescope allows students to observe planets, stars and other celestial objects.

Students can use an X-ray diffractometer and a high-vacuum system with a mass spectrometer to conduct additional research projects.