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Message from the Associate Dean


Welcome Graduate Students.

I’m pleased that you’ve chosen to attend the University of Kansas School of Engineering. You’ve made an excellent choice that will serve you well.

If you are not familiar with KU, the School of Engineering, or Lawrence, here are a few facts:

Eaton Hall Eaton Hall opened in fall 2003 and houses the administrative offices of the School of Engineering, as well as the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Engineering Career Center. The 80,000 square-foot building — named for Robert Eaton, a 1963 mechanical engineering alumnus and chairman emeritus of DaimlerChrysler AG — also houses several computer classrooms, laboratories, the Self Computing Commons and the state-of-the-art Spahr Engineering Classroom.
  • Research funding in engineering has doubled in the last 5 years.
  • Lawrence is the “opening destination” in Google Earth, in part because Google’s engineering director – Brian McClendon is a KU engineering graduate.
  • Lawrence is a thriving community of over 88,000 in northeast Kansas, about 30 miles west of Kansas City. It is a true college town with a vitality and diversity uniquely its own. The city is home to two universities: KU and Haskell Indian Nations University; and, it boasts one of the most beautiful downtowns in the country that is home to shopping, restaurants, music venues, and coffee shops.
  • Lawrence ranks highly on multiple "best" list: Forbes Magazine, MSNBC, and the American Institute for Economic Research all cite Lawrence in their rankings of cities and college towns. 
  • The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) is a research partner with faculty on the main campus; KUMC is located in the nearby Kansas City metropolis.

If the list above isn’t enough to get you thinking about how to spend your time as an engineering graduate student at KU, here’s some more information:

Lisa Friis Congressional staff, left, listen, as Lisa Friis, right, associate professor of mechanical engineering, explains how a device provides valuable information about her research. Friis has developed a spine analog that can be used in a variety of research applications.

The University of Kansas is a major research university with a long and successful record of research collaboration promoted through independent and multidisciplinary research centers that focus on common themes. I encourage you to think about your research interests early and begin talking with faculty members in these areas.

The School offers travel funds for you to present your research at professional conferences; and, you should be able to take advantage of these opportunities several times as your research interests are translated into publications.

It is also helpful to know your research interests as you complete your Plan of Study, which should be completed by the beginning of your second semester. Your Plan of Study serves as a record of your intentions, an indicator of the likely time-to-degree, and as an official acknowledgement of the adviser's and committee members' approval of your plan to fulfill degree requirements. In general, engineering graduate students earn degrees in a very timely fashion. In fact, engineering doctorate students, on average, earned degrees faster than any other program at KU between 2004 and 2006. Our number one goal is to make sure that you graduate, and ideally, that you graduate in a timely manner. Although you contribute knowledge to the School as a student, you contribute even more to the engineering profession as a graduate with an advanced degree.

Daniel Fokum Daniel Fokum, PhD student in computer science, discusses his research with faculty judge, Michael Detamore, assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, during the Fall 2007 GEA Poster Competition.

The Graduate Engineering Association (GEA) also serves to help you develop professional skills. I encourage you to become involved with GEA and attend the many workshops and events offered throughout the year.

Ultimately, you are responsible for making sure that you take the appropriate steps needed to graduate; however, organizations, such as GEA, and staff members in the School are here to help. We have a vested interest in your success – it’s not just about adding credentials behind your name. Please feel free to contact me or any member of my staff during your tenure here.

I wish you the best of luck.

Arvin Agah
Associate Dean
Research and Graduate Programs