Inspire, Spring 2002

Inspire 5 P ending Ohio Board of Regents’ approval, Cedarville University will begin to offer a computer engineering program leading to a bachelor of science in computer engineering (BSCpE) degree in the Fall 2002 semester. The new degree joins Cedarville’s currently offered and ABET-accredited bachelor of science degrees in electrical engineering (BSEE) and mechanical engineering (BSME). Cedarville has long had a strong computer and digital elective track in its BSEE degree program. “Growth projections, both in jobs available and employers’ future needs, are still high throughout the engineering specialties,” said Dr. Larry Zavodney, chairman of the Elmer W. Engstrom Department of Engineering, “but they are the greatest in computer engineering.” “We have been considering this additional program for several years,” he explained, “but we held off until the change to semesters in 2002 would occur and until we had all of the program resources in place. We will bring two new engineering laboratories on line this fall and another when this fall’s entering freshmen begin their senior design classes in 2005. Although two of our electrical engineering faculty have Ph.D. degrees in computer engineering, we will also hire a third computer engineering professor this fall. More will be added later.” Cedarville also offers a computer science degree. “Although computer engineers take some computer science classes, and computer science students take some computer engineering classes, there is a difference,” Dr. Zavodney said. “The difference between computer science and the new computer engineering program is in their emphases. The computer science curriculum is aimed primarily at producing expertise and proficiency in software programming and development. The computer engineering curriculum is more hardware and computer systems design-related.” Cedarville’s engineering programs have developed rapidly and impressively. “We began our program in 1990 and graduated 24 students in 1994,” Dr. Zavodney said. “Today, we have 300 students. Engineering and computer science are the fastest growing programs on the campus. Adding computer engineering will cause another significant growth spurt.” “Our students compete exceptionally well in national and international design competitions. In 2000,” Dr. Zavodney related, “our students placed first in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International Supermileage Competition, and came home with 8 of 11 trophies in SAE’s Micro Baja Competition. Last spring,” he continued, “out of 16 engineering schools with ABET-accredited programs in the state of Ohio, Cedarville was one of only two schools whose graduates achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination. In fact,” he emphasized, “Cedarville is the only school that has twice had a 100 percent passing rate in the last four years. Our graduates have consistently out-performed the average pass rates for the FE exam in the state, and the state has consistently outperformed the nation.” I nterviews with nationally- known figures such as Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris or Lisa Beamer, widow of Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer, probably aren’t in the average journalist’s appointment book. But Cedarville University senior Charlie Shifflett found them in his. Charlie snagged these interviews and others through his studies at the 2001 WORLD Journalism Institute (WJI), an intensive training school for Christian journalists who want to be the best they can be for Christ. As one of 20 students selected from around the U.S. to participate, Charlie spent one month at the Institute’s Asheville, North Carolina campus taking theology, philosophy, and journalism classes. He spent another five months completing reading and writing assignments, which, on the national level, included talking with Katherine Harris about her bid for a congressional seat and Lisa Beamer about her life without Todd. He also found himself covering events of a more local nature, such as September 11 blood drives, the social climate of post-riot Cincinnati, and the retirement announcement of Dr. Dixon. A comprehensive Bible major with minors in Greek, English, and creative writing, Charlie applied to WJI’s rigorous summer program because he desires to use his writing skills for Christ. He remarked, “I hope to eventually write in the secular arena, presenting a biblical perspective in whatever I write and being diligent in whatever I do. I want to be able to write something that non-Christians will read and not necessarily agree with, but hopefully respect.” He hopes that the respect he earns as a competent writer will lead to opportunities to share the gospel. Charlie noted that his four years at Cedarville have been foundational. Taking a Cedarville journalism class and writing for the campus newspaper were the experiences which turned his attention towards writing. In fact, it was Charlie’s journalism professor, Dr. Scott Calhoun ’95, who encouraged him to apply for WJI’s “journalism boot camp.” “I’m a totally different person than when I came [to Cedarville] as a freshman,” the Tallahassee, Florida native concluded. “My writing has changed, and my classes have challenged me to live my faith in whatever God calls me to do.” In the WORLD of Journalism for Christ Cedarville University Plans to Offer Computer Engineering