/ Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board
College of Engineering and Computer Science

Jacaranda (Engineering) Room 4513Mail CodePhone: 818.677.2187

E-mail: 8348Fax: 818.677.7062

Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board MinutesApril 12, 2006Page 1

Minutes of April 12, 2006 Board Meeting

Introductions – Bill Sullivan was formally introduced by Tom Brown as his alternate prior to the usual self introductionstothe start of the meeting.

Design night – Nhut Ho described the format and purpose of designnight. 200letters have gone out to schools (high schools and community colleges) and 230 letters will be sent to industrymembers on 4-13-06. Letters to Advisory Board members are going out before the end of the week. The design night has been moved to May 10. Nhut will send out flyers to publicize the event. Students will have resumes for distribution to industry representatives. Tony asked what the follow on would be. In response, the group decided to move the Advisory Board meeting originally scheduled for May 10 to May 17. At that meeting the Boardand faculty could review what we learned from the event and what we should donext. A suggestion was made to get resumes in electronic form. Nhut discussed publicity; there is a problem in getting out press interest without a real story. Tim volunteered to help Nhutget thestory out. In response to a question, Nhut said that there has been no decision about a kickoff speakerwhich could be the Dean of Engineering or a Company Speaker. Tony asked what faculty needed from people in the room. Nhut suggested some financial support to make items (like a yo-yo or a metal CSUN decal) for all students who attend; he also suggested a Stirling engine model. Nhut thought that he would need $2000 to $3000. Tom Brown suggested that the Department get donations of things that can be raffled off. Several people commented that four weeks is probably too short a time to get funds. Sid said that it is important to make it look good. There will be a display in the breezeway and tours of the labs. There will also be presentations in the DASL lab.

Minutes of March 1, 2006Board Meeting – A motion was passed to approve the revised minutes of the March meeting (motion by Caretto seconded by fox.)

Group reports

  • Practical Engineering

Eric reported on the Medtronic tour that it seemed to be a good success. Interested in doing it next year. Get a game plan about research projects, but that is still floating. Looking for what department is looking for in types of projects and what are the general logistics. What specific things would we belooking for? Ask companies what they are looking for versus having an idea of faculty interest to sell to industry. Shoeleh is one contact. Narisa Chu is the appropriate contact for CECS. Larry will try to get her in contact with Eric and his group. Discussion of senior design projects with industry was inconclusive. Some have been done in the past with success, but most current projects are design competitions. Sid – graduate students may be more effective in industry related projects. Tim – recalls previous LM cooperation with CSUCO. Can companieslike Medtronic do something like this? Eric likes idea and will report back on this at the next meeting.

  • Curriculum

Chris discussed the group’s efforts in getting out a process for gathering information about emerging trends that would be fed into an ongoing curriculum review process. He will have a full report at the next Advisory Board meeting.

  • Laboratory

Tom Brown and Tim Fox will follow up on this item from last month’s meeting to meet with Scott M from ITI.

  • Funding

Sid reported that Brian Tausig was planning to attend this meeting, but had to cancel. Sid will meet with him to see about getting funding for the department’s efforts to implement CDIO. Tom Oatway asked if we could tie this into the group doing practical design experience.

New Board Members – Tom Brown has contacted The Gas Company and LADWP, but has not heard back from them. Tom plans to ask two others in person when he sees them. Sid has not contacted companies because of his work with the design night. Stewart contacted Easton, but they are moving their engineering out of state. Sid is working with Tammy on the list of companies. Sid will talk to Paul Gill at Rocketdyne. Tom Brown will ask Mary Johnson from Siemens Controls. Larry will get IAB paperwork on vision, goals, etc. to Tony.

Next meeting –Wednesday, May 17, 2006, in the same meeting room as tonight. Agenda will include reports from groups, follow-up discussion of design night, and status of getting new Board members.

Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 pm upon a motion by Tim Fox, seconded by Chris Vreeman.

Roster and attendance list for April 12, 2005

Name / Organization / Phone Number / E-mail Address / Attended
Aram Khatchatourians / CSUN / (818) 677-2187 /
Arlen Petrossian / Dukes / (818) 998-9811 /
Bill Lyons / CSUN / (661) 255-3396 /
Bob Ryan / CSUN / (818) 677-4555 / / X
C.T. Lin / CSUN / (818) 677-2760 /
Chris Vreeman / Capstone / (818) 734-5105 / / X
Colin Chong / Medtronic /
Nhut Ho / CSUN / (818) 677-3889 / / X
Eric Lorenzen / Medtronic / / X
John Carroll / Rocketdyne / (818) 586-7191 /
Larry Caretto / CSUN / (818) 677-6448 / / X
Mike Kabo / CSUN / (818) 677-2183 /
Paul Gill / Boeing / (818) 586-0553 /
Shoeleh DiJulio / CSUN / (818) 677-2496 /
Sid Schwartz / CSUN / (818) 677-3884 / / X
Stewart Prince / CSUN / (818) 677-3514 / / X
Sue Beatty / CSUN/Boeing / (818) 586-1945 /
Tim Fox / CSUN / (818) 677-2197 / / X
Tom Brown / CSUN / (818) 677-2325 / / X
Tom Mincer / CSUN / (818) 677-2078 /
Tom Oatway / Lockheed / (661) 263-9778 / / X
Tony Rubino / Edwards AFB / (661) 275-9550 / / X
Nuran Deyirmencian / Shell Solar / (805) 388-6223 / / X
Don Ahern / Sierracin Corp
Bill Sullivan / CSUN / (818) 677-5787 / / X