report # matc-ksu: 162 final report
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Transportation Workforce Diversity Initiative at Kansas State University
Report # MATC-KSU: 162 Final Report
Mustaque Hossain, Ph.D., P.E.ProfessorDepartment of Civil EngineeringKansas State University
Robert W. Stokes, Ph.D.ProfessorDepartment of Civil EngineeringKansas State University
2014
A Coopertative Research Project sponsored by U.S. Department of Tranportation-Research, Innovation and Technology Innovation Administration
WBS: 25-1121-0003-162
NAME OF EDUCATION ACTIVITY:
Transportation Workforce Diversity Initiative at Kansas State University
Dates Held: 08/01/2012 - 9/30/2014
Location of the Activity: Kansas State University (KSU)
Audience Composition (e.g., professionals, students, etc.): graduate and undergraduate students
Estimated Audience Size: undergraduate: 7; graduate: 1.
Names of Co-Pi/Co-Authors/Researchers Involved:
Mustaque Hossain, Ph.D., P.E.
Robert W. Stokes, Ph.D.
1) Description of project and explanation of objective (conception and goals):
Due to the graying of our current work force, a pool of highly qualified transportation
professionals is required to plan, design, operate, and maintain our nation’s transportation
infrastructure, facilities, and services. There is a need for motivational and educational programs
designed for students and future transportation professionals who want to expand their
knowledge and skills through a program of internship for the undergraduate engineering students
and graduate study for professionals that is less extensive and different from a traditional
master’s program. The proposed internship program for the undergraduate students will provide
motivation to pursue a future career in transportation engineering. The transportation
engineering graduate certificate program will provide transportation professionals with the
opportunity to pursue a focused collection of courses that, when completed, allow the student to
receive recognition for their continued effort in the area of transportation engineering, or
accumulate credit hours toward their master’s degree.
2) Description of the Actual Event/Activity/Program (approach and implementation):
The initiative was taken to encourage the members of the underrepresented groups that are
students in engineering to come into the transportation engineering area. The plan was to recruit
summer or academic year interns from this group that will work in projects underway at either
KSU or at the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The Minority Engineering
Program (MEP) was contacted for awarding scholarships in this program. The scholarships were
awarded based on their recommendation.
3) Conclusion (results and benefits):
The project objectives were met well. The program supported seven undergraduate students and
partially supported a graduate student during the Fall 2014 semester. The breakdown of the
support is as follows:
Undergraduate interns (all except one in Civil Engineering):
Clare Drilling, Caucasian female; Saadia X. Coppedge, AFM female; Yadira A. Porras; Hispanic
female; Mersadez Tanner (MNE), Caucasian female; Hai T. Vo Le; Vietnamese-American male.
Graduate student (Civil Engineering):
Massoumeh Tavakol, female.
Scholarship recipients (all in Civil Engineering):
Perla Ramos, Hispanic female; Claudia Gonzalez, Hispanic female.