The Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program (CGEP)
Program Overview
Background of the Program
Contacts
Future of the Program
Program Overview
Background of the Program
Contacts
Future of the Program
This program effort is in response to one of the State Council of Higher Education's objectives to expand technical education opportunities for Virginians. The primary intent is to provide engineers and other qualified individuals with strong backgrounds in the sciences an opportunity to pursue a program in graduate studies leading to a master's degree in engineering. However, courses may also be taken on a non-degree, continuing education basis. At the University of Virginia, CGEP students are treated just like students enrolled on-grounds in Charlottesville and the degree obtained is the same as one earned on-grounds. Thereby, these students have certain responsibilities, including adhering to the University of Virginia Honor Code.
Beginning with the Fall semester of 1984, courses in the
following engineering disciplines were offered each semester:
Chemical; Materials Science, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and
Systems Engineering. Also, several industrial classrooms became
operational, receiving both the UVa and VPI broadcasts via instructional
television fixed service (ITFS) transmitters in the host institutions'
regions. In addition, the Telestar facility (UVa Continuing Education
in Falls Church, Virginia) became operational in the Spring semester, 1985.
In the 1985-86 semester, our courses could be received by 16 off-grounds
locations.
Starting in Fall 1986, our courses were offered
via satellite. Our broadcasts could now reach all regions of Virginia
and locations out-of-state as well. The course offerings were also
expanded from six courses per semester to eight. The Fall 1986
semester began with 22 off-grounds receive sites operating; two of
these sites were out-of-state, with one in Maryland and one in
Pennsylvania. Sites in Tennessee and New York were added in 1987.
Since 1987, the UVa Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
degree has provided an emphasis on our Manufacturing Systems specialty.
Nuclear Engineering, added in the Fall of 1988, was the seventh graduate
engineering degree to be offered by the University of Virginia on television.
However, in 1997 it was decided to phase out the Nuclear program and
concentrate on offering additional courses to round out our Mechanical
and Aerospace Program. In 1994 we changed our satellite transmission
from an analog to a digital signal; and in Fall 1998 we have been delivering
classes using a videoconferencing format via Net.Work.Virginia and ISDN lines.
At the University of Virginia, we look forward to serving more
students with this versatile and exciting program.
Background of the Program
The Program began in the Fall semester of 1983 with the
UVA broadcasts being extended to a single receiving site located
in the Cabell Library at VCU. During this initial year,
two courses in Materials Science and two courses in
Civil Engineering were offered. This initiation provided the
necessary learning experience in the operation of all the
associated equipment and provided the experiment from
which data on the success of this extended classroom concept
could be obtained. Although certain minimal problems were
encountered, the overall program was met with much enthusiasm and
was considered quite successful.Contacts
Respective points of contact, who provide regional support in
terms of personal contacts and administration as well as offering
selected supporting courses, are listed here:
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The Future of the Program
We hope that this program will continue to expand with more
and more industries establishing on-site classrooms for
participation in courses offered by both the University of
Virginia and Virginia Tech. This could also lead to an increased
activity in specialized continuing education programming designed
specifically to industrial needs but outside that of the degree
programs. Future utilization of the state-wide facilities for
seminars, workshops, and short courses is also a possibility.
How the
Program Works
Return to:
Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program Home Page.
Mail comments to
rfk2u@virginia.edu
Last modified: May 14, 2003