Greetings!

Dear Alumni and Friends,

The first day in kindergarten, junior and high school graduation, the first day of college, university commencement, and the first job are all pivotal life-changing events. The faculty and staff here at the Bagley College of Engineering (BCoE) witness and help students transition through some of these transforming events at least three times each year. In the story, “Making the transition,” Dr. Donna Reese, associate dean, and Robert Green, undergraduate coordinator for the BCoE, inform us that student attitudes, work ethic, parental involvement, and a willingness to reach out are all key elements in determining if students will make successful transitions to the university.

Mississippi State is reporting a record enrollment of 17,824 students, up more than 4 percent from last year. Plus, the university is reporting the highest-ever retention rate. With the Bagley College of Engineering being one of the largest academic units on campus, I’d like to think our undergraduate recruiting and retention efforts contributed to the overall enrollment and retention success story.

Our second success story comes in the form of research and grants. For the fiscal year of 2008 the Office of Research and Economic Development is reporting that the university received $151.4 million in new grants and contracts. Forty-five percent of those dollars are being used to fund innovative research projects headed by BCoE faculty. Consequently, graduate and undergraduate students, as well as Mississippi industries, are reaping the benefits, as depicted in the story “Sharing green knowledge.”

In closing, I encourage you to read the story about how our international students from India are closing the cultural gap and sharing their country’s traditions by introducing their famous sport of cricket.

My best,

Sarah A. Rajala, Ph.D.
Dean of the Bagley College of Engineering
Earnest W. & Mary Ann Deavenport Jr. Chair
President, American Society for Engineering Education

Making the transition

The last items of their personal belongings are finally moved into their dorm room, the family shares a good meal, while the inevitable moments, the hugs of good-bye draw ever closer. Driving off the college’s campus there is the planned last glance at your now college freshman walking away and promises that these will really be the last waves of goodbye. Although this is the first step in the separation process for a child to become a healthy young adult, it doesn’t seem as easy as the experts touted. Well, congratulations, it isn’t easy and rest assured many parents who are sending their kids off to college for the first time are experiencing the same feelings, and they are all normal emotions. Click here to read more.

Students 'jump' into cultural opportunity

Mentioning cricket to any native Mississippian conjures up thoughts of a small, jumpy insect that makes a dandy fishing lure and serenades the countryside on summer nights. However, for one group of international students at Mississippi State, that same word is associated with a different group of sights and sounds—the roar of a crowd, the crack of a bat and a familiar feeling of camaraderie.

These students are part of Mississippi State University’s Cricket Club (MSUCC) and through their passion for a sport unfamiliar to this part of the world, they are helping bridge the gaps between students from around the globe. Click here to read more.

Sharing 'green' knowledge

In unison with this month’s launch of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) “What’s Your Excuse” energy campaign, designed to educate tweens, teens and their parents about the importance of energy efficiency, experts from the Bagley College of Engineering (BCoE) wanted to see if college students are practicing energy-efficient habits in dorm rooms. Chris Emplaincourt, an instructor in mechanical engineering and assistant director of the Mississippi State DOE Industrial Assessment Center (IAC), and Ben Wright, a research engineer with the mechanical engineering department, assist Mississippi’s small- and medium-sized manufacturing facilities to operate more efficiently by identifying ways to reduce energy use. The IAC team, under the direction of Dr. Keith Hodge, has over the last 14 years saved Mississippi industry more than $8 million annually and has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Their efforts have helped the DOE reduce CO2 emissions across the nation by 6.3 million metric tons—the equivalent of taking more than one million cars off the road.Click here to read more.

BCoE responds to readers' comments

This past month we have enjoyed reviewing the responses generated by our Reader Opinion Survey. This was the first reader survey conducted by the Bagley College of Engineering (BCoE) and the number of respondents was very encouraging. Since many of you took the time to type out thoughtful responses, we wanted to take this opportunity to address a number of your questions and comments, while introducing you to some new online features.Click here to read more.

Spotlight: Alumnus brings experience back to Mississippi

College opens up a world of opportunities for graduates. Literally, Bagley College of Engineering alumni often find themselves in exotic locations far away from their Mississippi homes. While these ventures mark important stages in budding careers, it is imperative to the future of the state that these professionals remember their roots. The fact is, Mississippi doesn’t just help nurture exceptional engineers, it also benefits from their expertise. It’s for this reason that Jason Corder, a 2000 civil engineering graduate, made the decision to return to the Magnolia State. Click here to read more.