Name of Academic Department: Civil Engineering

Degree(s) or Program(s) covered by this report:    Doctor of Engineering

Date Submitted: June 30, 2006

Submitted by (Departmental Assessment Representative): Robert Yuan, Xing Fang, Jerry Lin

For each outcome identified in your IE Plan, describe the assessments used to gather data, summarize the results (data gathered), describe how the results have been reviewed, and describe actions (changes or improvements) planned or accomplished to improve student learning or program effectiveness:

 Outcome 1- Student learning

State the outcome: 

An ability to pass (a) Qualifying Exam (b) Comprehensive Exam

                                                                 (c) Dissertation Defense Exam

Assessment(s) conducted:

 For the Qualifying Exam, the doctoral students are evaluated on their undergraduate and

graduate course works in order to satisfy the requirement of entering the DE program.

The exams are administered in both written and oral, and the student are given grade on each

of specialty area examined. The students become officially a DE candidate after passing the

qualifying exam. For Comprehensive Exam, the DE candidates need to submit dissertation proposal

to be evaluated, and to prepare answering questions on research “tools” to be used to perform the

proposed research. For Dissertation Defense Exam, the DE candidates need to present the research

results to DE degree committee members and public for critiques and suggestions.

Actual results (data gathered):

Currently the Department of Civil Engineering has 15 DE students and candidates. 85% of DE

Students pass the Qualifying Exam, 90% of DE candidates pass the Comprehensive Exam, and

About 100% pass the Dissertation Defense Exam.

How review of results was conducted:

The review of results was conducted by the DE students’ and

Candidates’ advising committee which is comprised of 5 faculty members from the College of Engineering. The committee has a chair person who is supervise the student’s  research work,

and the committee members help the supervisor to evaluate the student’s independent study

ability and performance.

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

The current plan seems working very well, except that we need more faculty members to strengthen

the DE degree program and eventually to gain an approval to offer Ph.D. degree in the Department. 

Outcome 2- Student learning

State the outcome:

An ability to conduct research independently and be able to write a technical paper for presentation

and for publication.

Assessment(s) conducted:

The outcome assessment is conducted by looking into the technical papers presentation and the journal and proceedings publications.

Actual results (data gathered):

In the year 2005 to 2006, there were 14 papers have been presented and/or published by our doctoral

students with their faculty supervisors. for example, in April 21, 2006, at the American Society of Civil Engineering Texas Annual Spring Conference, there were 7 papers presented and published by LU

CE doctoral students and faculty; 2 in Environmental, 2 in Construction Engineering, 2 in Hydraulics and Water Resources, and 1 in Structures. The results can be considered good research accomplishment.

How review of results was conducted:

The review of results was conducted from the conference program in the Civil Engineering Magazine

published in February, 2006.

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

We encourage our faculty and DE students continuously to present their research and investigation at the national and international technical meetings.

Outcome 3-Student learning

State the outcome:

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

Outcome 4 (optional)

State the outcome:

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

Outcome 5 (optional)

State the outcome:

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement

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