ASEE ChED Newsletter – January 2024

Hello, all my ChED friends!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break, are refreshed, and aren’t TOO stressed with the start of the semester for many of us. As your out-going Director (but soon to be in-coming Program Chair), I wanted to write the introduction to this newsletter to highlight two major announcements in this newsletter.

Chris Barr
cjbarr@umich.edu

I’d like to strongly encourage everyone to consider nominating yourself (or others) for candidates for leadership of the division. Being one of the Directors for the past two years has given me the opportunity to see and assist in the operations of the division. I’ve been able to help with minor projects, some not-so-minor projects (revising the website… I’m always looking for suggestions for content), and help with award judging at the conferences. It’s been a very rewarding two years that I’m hopefully going to continue as the Communications Co-chair for the website and for the program chair for the 2025 conference.

Secondly, I’d also recommend nominating your colleagues for the division awards. One of my favorite parts of the ASEE ChE Division is the community and being able to celebrate people’s successes as well as awarding them for these successes to assist in their professional careers at their home institution is a great opportunity.

Chris Barr


To submit announcements to future newsletters: Please send announcements to ched.ASEE.newsletter@gmail.com. Moving forward, we will be sending newsletters mid-month, so try to submit announcements by the 10th of the month. Thank you!


Summary of Announcements

  1. Nominations for Division Awards Are Open!
  2. ASEE ChED is Seeking Candidates for Elected Leadership Roles
  3. Interested in Hosting ASEE/AIChE Summer School in 2027?
  4. Teaching Professor Position at Northeastern University
  5. Instructional Consultant Position at University of Michigan

Detailed Announcements

Nominations for Division Awards Are Open! 

Email completed packet to awards co-chair Ashlee Ford Versypt (ashleefv@buffalo.edu) and the most complete version of each award description, criteria, and nomination materials please see: http://ched.asee.org/awards/ and http://ched.asee.org/awards/

Awards with a nomination deadline of January 16:

The Thomas and Donna Edgar CACHE Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering Education

This award, sponsored by the CACHE Corporation, is presented for significant contributions in the development of computer aids for chemical engineering education.

Ray W. Fahien Award

This award is given in honor of Ray Fahien, who was editor of Chemical Engineering Education from 1967-1995, and who was effectively the founding father of the journal, establishing it as a premier publication vehicle in the field of chemical engineering education. The award is given annually to an educator who has shown evidence of vision and contribution to chemical engineering education. Educators who have been faculty members for not more than ten years as of July 1st in the year of the award are eligible.

The Donald R. Woods Lectureship Award for Lifetime Achievement in Chemical Engineering Pedagogy

This award is presented to a distinguished engineering educator to recognize and to encourage outstanding achievement. This award will normally be given for lifetime achievement, recognizing a sustained career of contributions to pedagogical practice, scholarship, and mentoring that not only caused innovative and substantial changes, but also inspired other educators to new behaviors that benefit students in Chemical Engineering. The recipient will be obligated to present a lecture at the ASEE annual conference. 

Award with a nomination deadline of February 1:

ChE Division “Engineering Education” Mentoring Grant

All chemical engineering or chemistry faculty who have not attended an ASEE Annual Conference in the past five years are eligible for this grant. The grant will be a ticket to the ChE Division Banquet. The grant winner(s) will be provided with a ChE Division mentor (an individual determined by the ASEE CHED executive committee) who will meet with the grant winner for both formal and informal interactions during the meeting.

For contact info and the most complete version of each award description, criteria, and nomination materials please see: http://ched.asee.org/awards/ and http://ched.asee.org/awards/

Non-nominated Awards include:

The Gamry Instruments Sponsored Joseph J. Martin Best Paper Award in the ASEE Chemical Engineering Division, the Best Poster Award, and the William H. Corcoran Award for the best paper in Chemical Engineering Education. 


ASEE ChED is Seeking Candidates for Elected Leadership Roles

The ASEE Chemical Engineering Division is seeking candidates for elected leadership roles in the Division:

  • Division Chair Elect
  • Secretary-Treasurer
  • Director

The full description of responsibilities for each office are posted on the Division website http://ched.asee.org/about/officers/officer-resources/. Nominations are being accepted by the current Past Chair, David Silverstein, at david.silverstein@uky.edu). Self-nominations are encouraged, as are nominees for Director and Secretary-Treasurer who are fairly new to the Division and looking for a way to meaningfully contribute. Nominations are requested as soon as practical but will be accepted through February 29, 2024. Questions about the offices may be sent to the same email address as nominations.


Interested in Hosting ASEE/AIChE Summer School in 2027?

Planning for the 18th ASEE/AIChE Summer School for Chemical Engineering Faculty, to be held in 2027 is underway. The Summer School provides an opportunity for new faculty to develop knowledge and skills in both teaching and scholarship, and for almost a century has been vital to strengthening our community of chemical engineering educators. For now, we are seeking proposals for host sites.

Historically, Summer Schools have been held both on university campuses and, though less frequently, in resort-style retreats. Please consider whether your institution or a nearby location might be a welcoming and enjoyable venue for the next Summer School. 

The site proposal questionnaire (linked below) addresses the criteria that will be considered in choosing the site. Please do not hesitate to reach out (cwwest@southalabama.edu) if you have any questions.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10-AqQEXSsX6qMqb1tQirMKBEK-TN5_gh/view


Teaching Professor Position at Northeastern University.

The Northeastern chemical engineering student body includes approximately 400 undergraduate and 100 Masters and PhD students. Candidates would join a department of 25 tenure-track and 4 non-tenure-track teaching faculty, as well as several affiliated and visiting faculty. Northeastern University teaching professor faculty have opportunities for educational impact in both the university and their broader professional field. The main responsibility of the Chemical Engineering teaching faculty is high-quality student-centered teaching, including course preparation, delivery, and assessment. The annual course responsibility is six courses. The Assistant/Associate/Full Teaching Professor also participates in department, university, and professional service activities and will be engaged in a modest level of scholarship for their own professional development around education and pedagogy. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until through November. Applications can be submitted at https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/Boston-MA-Main-Campus/Assistant-Associate-Full-Teaching-Professor—Chemical-Engineering_R113747

Instructional Consultant Position at University of Michigan.

The Center for Research on Learning and Teaching in Engineering (CRLT-Engin) at the University of Michigan seeks a colleague to join our vibrant, collaborative team as an instructional consultant and make a significant impact on advancing equitable educational environments.  Our Center is a key partner in the College’s efforts to support instructors with in-person, online, and hybrid learning, ensuring a pre-eminent engineering education that is innovative, equitable, and accessible regardless of modality.

Applicants with extensive experience will be considered for an assistant director title. Candidates from groups historically underrepresented in faculty development are strongly encouraged to apply.  Full position descriptions can be found on the University of Michigan: https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/243244/instructional-consultant-technology-informed-pedagogy

For more information about the search process, working at U-M, and life in the Ann Arbor area, please visit the CRLT-Engin Careers website.