Didn't Plan That!

Many of us live by our planners; we have all the details of our day mapped out – don’t get in our way we have an agenda to keep! But how do you handle sudden unexpected changes? Have you set up room in your detailed schedule for those bumps? Can you go with the flow? It took me a long time to learn to go with the flow, but I’m a master at it now. Like this morning for example. I typically leave my house at 5:45 (yes, 5:45 a.m.) for the gym. To do so I have to have everything prepped the night before. But I got wrapped up in my homework & forgot to pack my lunch last night. So this morning I could have skipped the gym but instead I lived life outside my agenda …. I explored uncharted territory and took my dog for a 30 minute walk at 5:45 a.m.  When Bodie and I got back to the house we could smell it in the air - fall is coming.

Snow is actually Bodie's favorite season.

Not only is fall coming our way, but so is team-work season!  With that in mind I have a few tips for working in teams. Most teams funnel through four stages: forming, storming, norming and finally performing. If your team finds yourselves in the storming stage please take time to restart by:

• Clearly defining purpose and setting measurable goals

• Come to a shared vision

• Establish rules of conduct and how discussions will be made

• Define roles

• Provide structure and reward systems

• Failure to take the time to restart can and will set your team back; often to a point of no return. Don’t be that team.

More about team work later.

https://youtu.be/jj92ak9Tfc0

MEPS News

Meeting tonight @ 6pm in 114 Holden

Topics for tonight: Scholarships, Design Competitions, Internships, Elevator Speeches for Engineering Expo, Leadership Opportunities, AND MUCH MORE

Senior News

Run your DARS

Important Dates

10/2, Last day to Drop a course

Helpful Tools

Student Success Center, Fall 2015 Program Schedule

http://www.studentsuccess.vt.edu/Academic_Success/seminarseries.html

• Time Management Bootcamp

• Effective Study Strategies

• Reading and Note-taking for Comprehension and Retention

• Successful Test-taking

• How to Master Online and Technology-Based Classes

• Don’t Be A Pokie Hokie: Overcoming Procrastination

Random 

A Georgia Tech student was accidentally sent 2 enrollment forms; he filled out both, creating a fictional man named George P. Burdell. The student did work for George and George graduated with a mechanical engineering degree. Today, Burdell is one of Georgia Tech's most celebrated alums. He even has a page on Facebook, where he keeps in touch with more than 4,000 "friends."

Ut Prosim  / Words To Live By / Ted Talk

What you do today can improve all your tomorrows. – Ralph Marston

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-415. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

An Easier Way

There is a trend in our society to compare ourselves to others. The media is the best example – see something and we come to feel that we should be like that.  This is not only true of things we see in the media but it is true of our classmates. When test grades are posted you guys always look at the average grade to see how you compared, how far you are from the highest grade.

Life will become so much easier when you stop comparing yourself to others. It is hard to do, but you must try. I have said this many times, and I will say it again…. The only person you have to be better than is the person you were yesterday.

MSE Advising

First I need to remind everyone of our required meeting schedule.

Seniors… I will come to your recitation class, so sit tight.

Juniors, you must schedule your first meeting with me by September 30.

Sophomores – please wait until after I come to your Professional Development Class to schedule your meeting.

If you have not yet come to check out the MSE Advising space you need to come – it is amazing. We have created a nice area for advising and quiet study / homework / tutoring. For just hanging out, please be patient as the lounge should be ready near the end of September. 

Senior News

Senior pictures will be taken on October 8 & 9. Will you class be the second to make a complete senior composite? (There is only one answer to that question!)

Important Dates

9/2, MSE Welcome Back Picnic and MSE Games

9/7, VT closed

10/2, Last day to Drop a course

Helpful Tools

Resume Sit-Down and Interview Boot-Camp are coming your way – more information soon.  

Random 

Many hamsters only blink one eye at a time.

Words To Live By

Look to the future, because that is where you’ll spend the rest of your life. – George Buns

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-415. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

Art at the Picnic

So, unless you are in class you will be at the picnic, wright? “Yes, Michelle,” is the only acceptable answer! I know I keep going on and on, but you really must RSVP and come. Yes, we are going to have a great time meeting and getting to know each other. In addition to that we will have competitive games. I was saving this for the picnic, but I guess I have to tell you now… the winning team gets to design the art work for my office. For those of you who have visited my office you know that my office is filled with my art. And I need one more piece to make it complete.

Now, something I don’t like to dwell upon. Some of you may have heard or read the news this morning about the local news journalists who were killed. I’m not going to review the actions or spend time contemplating why. What I want to convey now and always is that each and every one of you is important.

SUPER IMPORTANT
If you took MSE 2034 you must complete MSE 2014 this semester to complete the MSE 2044 requirement for graduation. MSE 2014 will NOT be offered again after this semester.

From the Faculty

Our annual laboratory safety seminar from the university's Environmental Health & Safety office will occur next week on two dates as follows:

• Monday, August 31, 5:30 PM in 118C Surge Building
• Tuesday, September 1, 5:30 PM in 3100 Torgersen Hall

All graduate, sophomore & juniors must attend one of these two sessions to maintain laboratory access.  Failure to attend one of these two session will lead to a hold on your account until you have completed the online safety course with a formal quiz.

Please put either date on your schedule and plan to attend!

Senior News

Have you run your DARs yet?

You will get your picture taken on October 8 or 9 for the senior composite.

Important Dates

8/29, Last day to Add a course

9/2, MSE Welcome Back Picnic

9/7, VT closed

10/2, Last day to Drop a course

Helpful Tools

Get your semester off to the best start possible by signing up for a workshop offered by the Student Success Center. http://www.studentsuccess.vt.edu/Academic_Success/seminarseries.html

Workshops include: Time Management Bootcamp, Effective Study Strategies, Reading & Note-taking for Comprehension and Retention, Successful Test-taking, and Don’t Be a Pokie Hokie

Voice of experience: a former student reported that after taking the Test-taking workshop her test grade went up an entire letter grade.

Random 

Armadillos are the only animal besides humans that can get leprosy.

Words To Live By

The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters. – Audrey Hepburn

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Today I decided we will try something new this year …. Walk-in on Monday, Tuesday – Friday appointments are suggested but you can walk-in if I’m not with someone else.

As always, schedule your appointment on Scholar.

Moved and Ready

How was your summer? Ours was super busy sorting, recycling, packing, recycling and moving. Yes, we recycled a lot of stuff! I’m happy to report the MSE Advising Office has completely moved to our new location at 142 Randolph Hall. I’ll let you know when we are settled in sometime next year.

I have great news to share with everyone. I am taking grad classes to build upon my advising skills. Make you a deal …. I don’t skip class or homework and you can’t either! 

Even better news, I adopted two little boys this summer. They were only 3 weeks old when I brought them home, making them about 4 months now. We think they are twins, but if they aren’t twins they are definitely uncle / nephew.  Their names are Grimm and Cooper; say hi.

Important Dates

8/12 – 8/19, COE Change of Major Application is Open

8/24, First day of Fall classes

8/28, Last day to Add a course

9/2, MSE Welcome Back Picnic

9/7, VT Closed

10/2, Last day to Drop a course

Senior News

Run your DARs then email me with your concerns. 

10/8 & 10/9, senior pictures

Helpful Tools

Use a paper planner. I know many of you have converted to an electronic calendar and planner or never used real paper. To you I suggest you give paper a try. It won’t fail you.

• The act of writing down assignments, tests dates, meetings and plans help you recall them
• Your planner can serve as a journal
• You can see everything at once – in one location
• It doesn’t run on batteries
• No one is going to steal your planner!
• A paper planner doesn’t rely on the internet
• You can’t dismissed or cancel a paper reminder!

Random 

Coughing can cause air to move through your windpipe faster than the speed of sound – over a thousand feet per second.

Sharing Info

I have been contacted by several people asking me to share important, useful and interesting information with you. Please take time to review these announcements – some could be helpful and interesting.

• Philip Brown, a PhD candidate in Engineering Education here at Virginia Tech, is conducting research on career goals in engineering students. Below is a link to a survey that is designed to gather information about your career goals, and how you use them to make decisions. The survey has taken other students between 5 and 8 minutes to complete. Your participation will help Phil and his fellow researchers in testing this survey instrument and advance the goals of his study. Note that participation in this research is entirely voluntary and refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. If you choose to participate, it will be greatly appreciated! Survey link: https://virginiatech.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25mdvvubsKpOP7n
• Two students are needed in the Extreme Lab in Goodwin 406 to assist in corrosion research. This will consist of a brief literature review of sensitization and corrosion related processes of metals, particularly 5XXX-series Aluminum. Students will assist in specimen preparation steps such as sectioning and mounting samples, polishing, etching, and utilizing a microscope to gain insight on microstructures. Corrosion experiments will be performed and assistance will be needed in corrosion experiment setup and post corrosion characterization techniques. Mechanical testing will occur throughout the semester on these alloys and the undergraduate researchers will assist in data interpretation and statistical analysis. At the end of the semester, a brief presentation will be given by students related to these research areas and on their own independent experiments. 
• Undergraduates interested in this research should contact Robert Mills as rjmills@vt.edu. The research mentioned above will counts as 3 credit hours of undergraduate research. 

• The introductory conjoint course on polymer physics is formally approved and will be offered in Fall 2015 in Department of Physics at Virginia Tech. The targeted audience is upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. This course will provide an systematic introduction to the main physical models, concepts, and ideas used to understand polymer structure and dynamics. The class will offer a foundation for students to take more advanced classes later on polymer physical chemistry, rheology, viscoelasticity, crystallization, and interfacial/surface properties.Please visit https://scholar.vt.edu/portal/site/polymer_physics_2015 to see more information and please circulate this announcement to any people who might be interested in this class. Please do not hesitate to contact the instructor (Shengfeng Cheng, Email: chengsf@vt.edu) if you have any questions regarding the class. 

• MSE 4984, Undergrad Characterization Course Description: Fundamentals and application of major instrumental characterization techniques to examine materials and things.  Emphasis is on understanding and problem solving.  Electron and optical microscopies, surface analysis, diffraction and more.  Application to metals, polymers, semiconductors, ceramics, and student interests. 

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available on Scholar.