Educational Excellence in Engineering
The J.B. Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville
Educational excellence is a key goal of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering's Strategic Plan and the primary mission of the Department of Engineering Fundamentals. One teaching focus is the newly designed first year sequence: Engineering Methods, Tools and Practice I and II, (ENGR 110/111.) ENGR 111 culminates in a “hands-on” project where students work in a “maker-space” called the Engineering Garage. This is part of Speed’s Institute for Product Realization (IPR) which also houses an Additive Manufacturing Center that trains professionals.
The IPR is contiguous with GE’s FirstBuild Microfactory. In this authentic engineering environment students will work in teams using 3D printers, tools and Arduinos to
build a small scale power plant. The faculty team works closely with the Student Success and Cooperative Internship teams managed by the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs. As a result, students will attend advisor-developed workshops on time-management and self-efficacy, and attend panel discussions with prospective cooperative internship employers.