Institutional Background

The University of Houston is the most ethnically diverse research university in the nation. Houston, the nation's fourth largest city, is both an ethnically and a culturally diverse city that provides ample opportunities to educate both typical as well as atypical students. In fact, our urban environment and traditional commitment to part-time students adds a unique feature to the undergraduate population, both in terms of age and background experience. Enrollment at the University of Houston for the Fall 2007 semester totaled 34,766 students of which more than 26,000 were undergraduates. Last year, over 35% of the University's graduating class indicated they were first-generation-in-college students. Since African American and Hispanic populations are still under-represented in the Engineering and Engineering Technology (E&ET) areas, motivating and attracting minority students and women to E&ET programs is an important reason that the REU SITE program was set up. An added value under the program is that students from other institutions will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the culturally diverse environment that UH has to offer.

Engineering Technology

The Engineering Technology Department of the College of Technology has 25 faculty and staff, more than 800 students and offers TAC/ABET accredited Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in Computer Engineering Technology, Electrical Power Technology, and Mechanical Technology. A new baccalaureate program in Biotechnology has begun as of Fall 2007. Additionally, the Engineering Technology department is sponsoring three students from the Rajiv Gandi Technological University in India to conduct research under the supervision of participating faculty.

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering Department of the Cullen College of Engineering has over 25 faculty members and offers an EAC/ABET accredited BS degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering. The department has a leading education and research agenda and invests a great deal of energy to the senior capstone design experience across a multitude of fields, including: biomedical; aerospace; energy conversion; design of mechanical components and systems; product design, reliability and safety; materials; instrumentation and control processes. The Department’s combined laboratory facilities offer a wealth of opportunities in a multitude of engineering and engineering technology fields. The participating faculty have been eager to establish the REU SITE program.