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Transportation Workforce Development Initiative

Report # MATC-KSU: 163 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: 25-1121-0003-163

NAME OF EDUCATION ACTIVITY:

Transportation Workforce Development Initiative

Dates Held: 08/1/2012 - 9/30/2014

Location of the Activity:

Academic year internship: Kansas State University

Graduate certificate program in Transportation Engineering: Kansas State University

Summer and Academic Year internship: Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)

Audience Composition (e.g., professionals, students, etc.): Graduate and undergraduate students

Estimated Audience Size: Undergraduate: 12; graduate: 6.

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 an internship program for 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 had a three-pronged approach. First support was provided to some undergraduate

and graduate students in Civil Engineering at Kansas State University (KSU) to work on projects

related to MATC’s theme during the academic year. One student was supported during 2012-

2103 academic year and two students were supported during 2013-2014 academic year. KSU

also participated in the summer internship program run by the Kansas Department of

Transportation (KDOT) with Kansas State University. For each KDOT Summer Intern from

KSU, MATC provided $2,000 of supplemental stipend. Nine interns were supported in the

summer of 2014. Additionally 6 graduate students were supported to participate in various

professional development activities. The details are given below:

Undergraduate Students:

2012-2013 AY Internship: Devin Jackson (Civil Engineering)

2013-2014 AY Internship: Austin Muck and Lucas Spaich (Civil Engineering)

2014 Summer Interns: Austin Jueneman; Yadira Porras; Sergio Venzuela; Seth Weber;

Ethan Peck; Derek Haug; Jerald Hulsing; Hojr Momeni; Dalton Funk; Johnson Rowland;

Benjamin Nye; and Braden Taylor

Graduate Students:

Name Event Location Date

Syeda Aziz 2014 KSPE Annual Meeting Manhattan, KS June 2014

Massoumeh Tavakol 2014 KSPE Annual Meeting Manhattan, KS June 2014

Ananna Ahmed 2014 KSPE Annual Meeting Manhattan, KS June 2014

Daniel Mealiff 2014 KSPE Annual Meeting Manhattan, KS June 2014

Milad Saghebafar 10th Intl. Confc. on Asphalt Pavements Raleigh, NC June 2014

Milad Saghebafar 2014 Pavement Friction Training State College, PA June 2014

Nassim Sabahfar 2nd ASCE T & DI Congress Orlando, FL June 2014

The project also supported travels of the Principal Investigator to two professional meetings

during June 2014.

Finally, MATC co-sponsored the Transportation Engineering Certificate program at KSU

(http://www.dce.k-state.edu/engineering/certificates/transportation/). This sponsorship was an

impetus for its approval by KSU since each certificate program needs a base budget to ensure

that it is active.

3) Conclusion (results and benefits):

The project objectives were met well. The internship program has become very high profile in

KDOT. The graduate certificate program is up and running.