Quality of Life 2017-2018
The Mechanical Engineering Graduate Association (MEGA) administered its second annual quality of life survey from March 7th, 2018 to March 23rd, 2018. MEGA received 79 responses from 42 doctoral ME students, 22 masters ME students, 1 doctoral BME student, 2 doctoral alumni and 12 masters alumni. The responses represent 55% of current Doctoral ME students and 22% of current Masters ME students.
Results
For the full report, click here.
Based on the results of the survey, MEGA identified several key issues to address with the department on behalf of the student body. The requests cover the highest priority and most widespread problems uncovered by the survey that cannot be corrected by MEGA alone. The key issues are listed below.
- Request
- Update the department's website.
- Description
- The website has out-of-date and misleading content. Academic policies should be clearly communicated through the website.
- Request
- Improve the experience of TAs.
- Description
- TAs are given no formal training and are not matched well with the courses they teach.
- Request
- Continue improvements to TA room.
- Description
- The room echoes and does not have easily accessible power. It's not currently possible to project or display a computer.
- Request
- Improve communication.
- Description
- The department does not announce changes in staffing, or changes to staff job responsibilities.
- Request
- Restart seminars.
- Description
- Very few seminars were offered in the spring directly by the department. Seminars in the fall lacked a variety of topics.
- Request
- Improve alumni relations.
- Description
- Current students and alumni are not satisfied with the current levels of engagement with one another.
Updates:
9/24/2018
The department has started the process of updating older videos on their website. The newest video can now be viewed here.
9/10/2018
The department sent an email to students welcoming Milko Milkov to the department explaining his duties.
8/28/2018
After soliciting the student body for nominations, MEGA invited two speakers to deliver seminars this school year. On October 5th, Professor Aaswath Raman will give a seminar on his experience as a researcher and founder of a start up. In the spring, Brian Douglas will give a seminar on his work in industry, founding an engineering consulting firm, and scientific communication.
8/23/2018
New carpet was installed in the TA room. It will reducing echoing and make the space a more inviting, and less sterile place to work and study.
7/19/2018
The department sent an email to students welcoming Aixa Rosado to the department explaining her duties.
7/16/2018
In the TA room, power strips were added to each table to provide three-prong and USB outlets at table level. Additionally, a 55" TV with HDMI cable was added to allow TAs to project their laptops to their students.
In the ME lobby, a 65" TV replaced the old plasma screen TV. This new TV will be used to showcase news in the department, including student news and achievements.
On the department's website, the doctoral program page was revamped with a more useful layout which highlights all necessary requirements, including major milestones.
5/30/2018
MEGA met with Graduate Chair, Professor Hod Lipson, to discuss results of quality of life survey and follow up on comments made at the department's town hall meeting for graduate students. Professor Lipson agreed to the proposed improvements to the TA room and orders will be placed shortly for power strips to provide table-level power and a TV to project laptops. Additionally, plans were set in place to make improvements to the department's website.