| Engineering in Maine: A Quiet
but Powerful Profession
Maine Science
and Technology Foundation
February 28, 2003
GORHAM, Maine – Forget
pocket protectors, Dilbert, and engineers who drive trains. Engineers, says Steve
Cole, president of S.W. Cole Engineering and a board member of the Maine
Engineering Promotion Council (MEPC), work in a "people-serving
profession" that receives little recognition for its achievements.
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Where
Can You Receive an Engineering Education in Maine?
University
of Maine College of Engineering
The
University of Maine, the state's only comprehensive engineering
school, offers 11 undergraduate, 7 master's degree, and 5
PhD programs in engineering, said Larryl Matthews, dean of
the College of Engineering. About 1,130 undergraduates and
150 graduate students are currently enrolled at the College.
The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department began
offering an online master's degree program in 2002.
The
College includes departments for biological engineering,
chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering,
electrical
and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, as well
as the School of Engineering Technology.
Roughly
60 percent of 2002 UMaine engineering graduates stayed in
Maine after graduation. Average starting salaries for the
class of 2002 was $47,000.
University
of Southern Maine School of Applied Science, Engineering,
and Technology
The
University of Southern Maine's electrical engineering program
typically graduates 8-12 people each year, said John Wright,
dean of the School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology.
The program doubled its usual intake this year by enrolling
40 new engineers. Attrition takes about half each year, but
Wright said the school currently educates about 50 electrical
engineering majors.
Around
90 percent of USM's engineering graduates stay in Maine.
They enjoy 100 percent job placement, primarily with semiconductor
companies in Greater Portland.
Wright
said "we aspire to grow," perhaps into a mechanical
engineering program. He stressed that USM wouldn't compete
with UMaine because the two universities attract different
students. The programs themselves would also differ, he said,
because USM would build on strengths and focus on electromechanics,
an area with local needs and markets.
Maine
Maritime Academy
Maine
Maritime Academy offers four engineering and engineering
technology programs: marine engineering operations, marine
engineering technology, marine systems engineering, and power
engineering technology.
Dave
Skaves, department chair, said the program should graduate
around 115 engineers in 2003. About half of MMA's 700 students
major in engineering. Although 68 percent of MMA's students
are from Maine, 20 percent come from other states and 8 percent
are from New England. About 4 percent come to Maine from
other countries, including South America and the Middle East.
Skaves
said MMA's three marine engineering programs require students
to pass U.S. Coast Guard licensing exams and receive a third
assistant engineer's license. |
Engineering's
contributions to modern society are broad, spanning from bridges that
connect populations,
to water and sewage treatment plants
that protect health, to the ubiquitous computer. "We solve problems
for society," said Larryl Matthews, dean of the University of Maine's
College of Engineering.
But engineering remains a quiet profession, despite thousands of Mainers
working in fields as diverse as civil and health engineering. Their workplaces
vary, too, ranging from one-person consultancies to multinational semiconductor
companies.
What engineers have
in common, said Cole, whose firm specializes in soils and groundwater-related
issues, is that engineering "is a profession,
not just a job."
Cole thinks one reason
for engineering's low profile is that "engineers
in general are not good at meeting the public." That's changing, thanks
to MEPC's annual Engineers Week campaigns, which discuss engineering achievements
and inform children about the profession, with the aim of increasing the
number of Maine high school seniors – currently around five percent – who
pursue engineering majors.
Choosing the
Engineering Profession and Maine
Although it's
not clear why, engineering enrollments increased in fall 2002 at UMaine,
the University of Southern
Maine (USM), and Maine Maritime
Academy (MMA). At UMaine, freshman
engineering enrollments were up 23 percent in fall 2002 compared with
a 10 percent increase overall at UMaine, said Matthews,
though he admitted the reasons are "difficult to put your finger on."
Good starting salaries – 2002 UMaine engineering graduates received
an average of $47,000 – may be one reason, believes Matthews. "I'm
sure that part of it is economics and folks realizing the opportunities
in engineering," he said, noting that engineering enjoys cyclical
popularity.
"Engineering's too important a field for it to keep going down," said
Matthews, adding that long-term employment prospects also help recruitment.
Would-be CEOs should consider engineering because the Fortune 500 list
shows that engineering degrees are more helpful than business degrees.
Matthews said 18 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs hold a bachelor's degree in
engineering, making it the most common CEO degree. Business and liberal
arts followed, tying at 15 percent each.
Another positive factor for UMaine enrollments, thinks Matthews, is a
campaign led by UMaine's executive director of outreach activities, Chet
Rock. Although Rock wants little credit for raising engineering's profile
among Maine high school students, David Skaves, engineering department
chair at MMA, and John Wright, dean of the School of Applied Science, Engineering,
and Technology (ASET) at USM, both cited Rock as a force in their increased
enrollments.
"Enrollments
go up and down," said
Skaves, but all four Maine Maritime Academy engineering programs increased
their ranks in fall 2002, with marine systems
engineering taking on 26 new students, compared to the usual 10. Skaves
expects similar increases for 2003-04.
USM also saw huge increases – 40 new engineers enrolled in electrical
engineering in the fall, doubling the usual 20. Wright believes at least
three factors contributed. Beyond Rock's work, he said a new director of
students at ASET provides program information, and a new engineering facility
with modern equipment "shows very well" during prospective student
tours.
Although USM loses
about half its engineering students to attrition -- many switch to computer
science – Wright said USM engineers are very
serious, albeit "a lot of fun." Wright emphasized that engineers
are also well-rounded students who take liberal arts courses, so "there's
another side."
Job Placements
USM's
serious engineers face serious opportunities when they graduate. Wright
said roughly 90 percent live and work in Maine, and USM students
have 100 percent job placement upon graduation because Fairchild Semiconductor
hires about 75 percent, and National Semiconductor employs the remainder.
That's no accident: Wright said USM's microelectronics-focused program "was
born of the semiconductor industry," making it more practical than
theoretical. MMA also tends to place students in very specific industries. Skaves said
marine engineering operations, marine engineering technology, marine systems
technology, and power engineering technology programs train students for
work in industries such as shipping, pulp and paper, and power generation.
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What's
What in Engineering?
Who's
a scientist and who's an engineer? Here's a description from
UMaine's Department of Mechanical Engineering that sums up
the differences:
"Although
many engineers, particularly those in academia and government
research, become involved in theory and analysis, the practicing
engineer applies proven scientific principles to the design
activity. An author has noted that science is the study of
what is; engineering is the creation of what is to be."
What
is engineering technology? UMaine's School of Engineering
Technology defines engineering technology as "the profession
in which a knowledge of mathematics and natural sciences
gained by higher education, experience, and practice is devoted
primarily to the implementation and extension of existing
technology for the benefit of humanity. Engineering technology
education focuses primarily on the applied aspects of sciences
and engineering aimed at preparing graduates for practice
in that portion of the technological spectrum closest to
product improvement, industrial processes, and engineering
operational functions."
For
a graphical interpretation of the differences between engineering
and engineering technology, visit UMaine's
School of Engineering Technology Web site.
Ever
wondered what makes certain engineers civil and others mechanical?
Visit this Glossary
of Engineering Disciplines to learn about the differences
between engineering fields.
For
more detail on engineering fields and potential careers,
visit the sites of departments at UMaine's College of Engineering.
The
Maine Maritime Academy Web site provides descriptions
of marine engineering programs. |
Skaves said MMA's engineering
faculty of 20 are qualified by industrial experience, professional engineering
licenses, and academic degrees, enabling
students to "find answers to questions one way or another… it's
kind of a different group than you'd find at most schools." Skaves
holds a bachelor's degree in engineering, an MBA, plus several professional
licenses.
Mixing practical
and theoretical learning, believes Skaves, helps students become valuable
assets to employers thanks to skills relevant at non-marine
companies like Verizon, which employs two alumni. Skaves said it's difficult
to track MMA graduates because many live in Maine but work in the merchant
marine for companies in other states or countries.
Maine retained about
60 percent of UMaine's 2002 engineering graduates, said Matthews. Although
Matthews believes that number isn't bad, "we'd
like to have more of course." Mechanical and civil engineers, said
Matthews, are most likely to leave.
Jobs
Before Graduation
UMaine maintains
strong ties with industry, and collaborative grants often employ students,
exposing them to R&D
and Maine companies early in their careers. Research also makes UMaine
appealing to prospective students,
said Chet Rock. High school seniors visiting Orono ask about undergraduate
research opportunities, tour the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites
Center, and learn about flexible jobs within engineering departments. The new Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC), a joint project with USM,
will enhance opportunities even more by providing students opportunities
to reinforce theory and build resumes through work with manufacturing companies.
The AMC, said Rock,
will "provide assistance to Maine manufacturers
to help them develop new products and improve old products." With
technology changing rapidly, Rock said Maine manufacturers need help determining
if, for example, a new product idea can actually be manufactured. Rock
also praised partner USM for its growth in science and engineering capabilities,
which he said few people recognize.
Small Engineering
Companies
Initiatives
like the AMC help Maine's engineering community face one of its biggest
challenges: trying to keep high-tech jobs despite
economic
difficulties. "We've seen one type of industry after another decline," said
Matthews. Although he cited progress in biotechnology, he believes certain
types of manufacturing could play greater roles, particularly if partnered
with engineers. Matthews said the multiplier for a new engineering job is four, meaning
that it creates four other jobs. He hopes to see more engineers start their
own businesses. Several Maine companies, including Applied Thermal Sciences,
Sensor Research and Development, and Biode spun off from UMaine and continue
to collaborate on products and services based on university research.
Those three companies -- and dozens more throughout the state -- offer
products or services rooted in engineering and have won grants and awards
from funders including the Maine Technology Institute and federal agencies
participating in the Small Business Innovation Research program.
Wayne Duffett, president of TEC Associates, a civil engineering company
that works primarily in the railroad industry, has pursued a different
entrepreneurial path. TEC Associates employs three engineers, one technician,
and a secretary who work on projects throughout New England, New York,
Pennsylvania, Quebec, and Ontario.
Duffett said his company
has difficulty keeping up with demand for services, though it gains clients
only through word of mouth. His office isn't the
only one. "Everybody is busy," he said, listing construction
engineers, architects, and contractors.
|
Data
on Engineering
Data
from the Maine
Innovation Index 2002 from the Maine Science & Technology
Foundation
- In
Maine in 1998, 266 degrees were awarded in engineering. They
were 6.6 percent of the total number of science and engineering
degrees awarded.
More
data on science and engineering degrees awarded in Maine
Data
from Science
and Engineering Indicators 2002 from the National Science
Board:
- In
1999 1.37 million engineers occupied 39 percent of science and
engineering positions. About one-fourth of them (362,000) were
electrical engineers.
- The
National Science Board predicted that between 2000-2010 the greatest
gains in demand for engineers will be in environmental engineering,
where they expect an increase of 27 percent. They also see the
potential for 25 percent more computer hardware engineers. For
all engineering occupations, they foresee an increase of less
than 10 percent.
More
data from the National Science Board |
Duffett isn't sure
if the busyness is caused by an engineer shortage, a lack of interest
in engineering, or other factors. Hiring new employees
is troublesome in small companies, said Duffett, because "a person
has to be a real go-getter to succeed in a little company." He sees "a
shortage of motivated people," and suspects engineering struggles
to attract students because they perceive engineering as difficult during
years when they'd prefer to balance study with fun.
Fun, however, is often part of Duffett's job. Although most people pay
to rock climb or SCUBA dive, Duffett's bridge inspection assignments often
earn him fees for the same experience.
Engineering
Supply and Demand
Despite Maine's
busy engineers, it's difficult to determine whether there's an engineer
shortage. Data from the Maine Department
of Labor that might
answer the question aren't currently available, and anecdotal evidence
from the field varies wildly. Overall economic conditions
have created what a representative of one staffing company called a "brake hold" on
engineering hires since late 2002. She cited layoffs at engineering consulting
firm AEP Proserve
and semiconductor companies as signs of difficulty for the field and said
that her firm doesn't see enough demand to justify expanding operations
into engineering.
Still, despite
talk of layoffs and hiring freezes, Woodard and Curran, one of Maine's
largest engineering firms, struggles to hire qualified experienced
engineers, said Human Resources Manager Nancy Kittredge. Kittredge said
civil and chemical engineers with two or three years of experience rarely
seem
to
seek new jobs, forcing the environmental consulting firm to hire new graduates.
UMaine engineers with
R&D experience and good grades are a bright
spot for recruitment, though, said Kittredge. She believes that very high
high-tech salaries may have drawn students from engineering for several
years. Increased engineering enrollments may be a sign of the end of that
trend, brought on by deflation in information technology companies.
Cole said his company
also sometimes experiences difficulty matching people and jobs, though "we've generally been able to find the professionals
for engineering and science" jobs. S.W. Cole employs 90 people, he
said, including 10 engineers, 14 scientists, and 45 technicians. His largest
problem is in finding enough technicians to test construction materials;
Kittredge is having similar trouble filling a technician position.
Leaving Maine
Despite
Maine's diverse and entrepreneurial engineering community, David Dunning,
an MEPC board member who works at S.W. Cole, believes that most
Maine engineers leave for opportunities unavailable here. That establishes
a vicious circle because companies won't come to Maine to grow or expand
if they can't find skilled employees. Cole agreed, mentioning that
clusters of high-tech companies build on each other's skills and attract
new companies. "Out-of-state opportunities" often
translates to higher salaries, agreed several engineers, but despite
the allure of money, Cole said he's
noticed that engineers try to return to Maine after 5-10 years away because
they miss Maine's lifestyle.
Others start
returning to Maine as students, said Rock, estimating that about 30 engineering
majors who graduated from Maine high schools transfer
to UMaine from out-of-state institutions each year. Rock emphasized, too,
that engineering job opportunities differ depending on industry or engineering
field. Many Maine companies do well, he said, because "Maine is an
attractive place to want to work" and many companies locate here because
of a high-quality workforce.
Cole noted, too, that
engineering companies change to meet demand. His client base – and his company –evolved
during the last decade, thanks to struggles in the forest products and
paper industries, and Cole
has moved more of its operations to southern Maine.
Attracting
New Engineers
One big plus
for Maine's engineering community, believes USM's John Wright, would
be additional continuing education programs,
perhaps even a general
master's degree. Although Wright cited numerous successful Maine companies
involved with engineering and technology – including Hussey Seating,
Nichols, and semiconductor fabricators – he believes that Maine
suffers because technology education is not taken seriously enough. Wright is disappointed
that a state commission delayed for three years the learning results
standard for technological literacy. "If we're
trying to build an economy" and draw companies to Maine, said Wright,
technological literacy at an early age should be a primary interest.
One initiative to help
fill the gap is Maine Engineers Week, an annual celebration of engineering
that includes events -- a banquet and an expo – as
well as television ads, newspaper inserts, and an Internet site. About
20-25 engineers work year-round planning E-Week activities, and MEPC taps
Maine engineering groups to ensure diversity of exhibits and plenty of
attendees.
The E-Week Expo focuses
on grades 5-8, the age when Wright, who earned his doctorate in technology
education, said students should begin learning
about technology. It's also the age when Duffett took to engineering. Although "I
always liked the railroads," said Duffett, meeting a bridge and building
supervisor from Maine Central as a junior high school student led him to
UMaine for civil engineering.
Dunning said MEPC hopes to attract about 1,000 people to the expo for
hands-on activities that kids can pick and choose. He and Cole said their
own children and grandchildren enjoyed last year's expo, where favorites
included UMaine, Maine Space Grant Consortium, and computer-based bridge
design exhibits. Pre-school children and high school seniors found activities
in the variety, too, Cole said.
The biggest challenge
for the expo, said Cole, is for exhibitors to "remember
the audience" -- children yearning for interactive activities that
present unique challenges. Teachers also participate by bringing engineering
problems, and Cole said many home-schooling families attended last year.
Cole said E-Week enthusiasm helps students gain a better picture of engineering,
build their excitement for the field, and encourage them to focus on math
and science so they can achieve their engineering goals.
"It's a good field to go into if you want to make a difference," said
Matthews.
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