NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract Session 1566 Development of an Extended Campus Mechanical Engineering Program Vincent R. Capece, William E. Murphy, G.T. Lineberry, and Bonita Lykins University of Kentucky Abstract The University of Kentucky College of Engineering is currently in the process of establishing mechanical and chemical engineering programs in the Purchase Area region of western Kentucky. These extended campus programs being developed are unique because they are located on a community college campus 255 miles from the main Lexington campus, and they are the direct responsibility of the Lexington campus College of Engineering dean. The motivation for developing these programs was to provide engineering graduates and further engineering educational opportunities for local industries in the area. The programs were initiated after Kentucky’s Council on Higher Education passed a resolution, based on a needs assessment, directing three educational institutions (University of Kentucky, Murray State University, and Paducah Community College) to cooperate in establishing ABET-accredited undergraduate programs in mechanical and chemical engineering in the western Kentucky region, with the University of Kentucky designated as the degree-granting institution. This paper will provide an overview of the development of the extended campus program in mechanical engineering, including a description of the extended campus concept, the role of distance learning, comparative programs state-wide and nationally, and efforts toward ABET accreditation. I. Introduction In November 1995 Kentucky’s Council on Higher Education passed a resolution directing three educational institutions to cooperate in establishing ABET-accredited undergraduate programs in mechanical and chemical engineering in the western Kentucky region. The University of Kentucky (UK) was designated to be the degree-granting institution, with Murray State University (MuSU) and the University of Kentucky responsible for the upper division courses, and the University of Kentucky, Murray State University, and Paducah Community College (PCC) responsible for the lower division instruction. MuSU is a western Kentucky university with an accredited engineering technology program. The locations of these institutions are illustrated in Figure 1, which presents a map of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The genesis of the resolution was based upon employers in the Purchase Area region, also illustrated in Figure 1, reporting difficulties in recruiting and retaining engineers. It was felt that one cause for these difficulties was inadequate opportunities for employees to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and continuing engineering education in the region. Hence, the proposed programs are designed to prepare students for the local employment market, which is strongly linked to chemical,

At the University of Kentucky, College of Engineering Extended Campus in Paducah, all mechanical engineering students are required to take a series of experimentation courses: Engineering Experimentation I (ME310) and Engineering Experimentation II (ME311). The Engineering Experimentation II is an advanced course dealing with principles of experimental design and analysis known as DOE. The DOE involves heavily combinatorial design and statistical analysis. The Design- Expert software has been integrated into this laboratory course and enhanced effectively the students' abilities to design and analyze experiments.

A Cogeneration analysis computer program called CELCAP was obtained from the Navy's Civil Engineering Laboratory. Hourly steam loads as well as hourly electrical loads were required to optimize the Cogeneration system. Other information required by CELCAP was the cost of natural gas, e l e c t r i c i t y , and operating and maintenance cost of the boilers. : CELCAP was run without a Cogeneration system to determine the base case c o s t s . Various types and sizes of Cogeneration systems were then run by CELCAP to determine the optimum system. Both simple payback and net present value (NPV) economic analyses were made. . Most of the input information required for the analysis was obtained from the CC Physical Plant personnel. Hourly steam and e l e c t r i c i t y loads (demands) were acquired for one working day and one nonworking day for each month. CC is currently paying $5.20 /MCF for natural gas and an average of 6.50

A Cogeneration analysis computer program called CELCAP was obtained from the Navy's Civil Engineering Laboratory. Hourly steam loads as well as hourly electrical loads were required to optimize the Cogeneration system. Other information required by CELCAP was the cost of natural gas, e l e c t r i c i t y , and operating and maintenance of the boilers. CELCAP was run without a Cogeneration system to determine the base case c o s t s . Various types and sizes of Cogeneration systems were then run by CELCAP to determine the optimum system. Both simple payback and net present value (NPV) economic analyses were made. Most of the input information required for the analysis was obtained from the TWU Physical Plant personnel. Hourly steam and electricity loads (demands) were acquired for one working day and one nonworking day for each month. TWU is currently paying $4.43/MCF for natural gas and electricity averages 6.20^/KWH.