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Transportation Workforce Diversity Initiative at Kansas State University

Report # MATC-KSU: 162 Final Report

Mustaque Hossain, Ph.D., P.E.ProfessorDepartment of Civil EngineeringKansas State University

Robert W. Stokes, Ph.D.ProfessorDepartment of Civil EngineeringKansas State University

2014

A Coopertative Research Project sponsored by U.S. Department of Tranportation-Research, Innovation and Technology Innovation Administration

WBS: 25-1121-0003-162

NAME OF EDUCATION ACTIVITY:

Transportation Workforce Diversity Initiative at Kansas State University

Dates Held: 08/01/2012 - 9/30/2014

Location of the Activity: Kansas State University (KSU)

Audience Composition (e.g., professionals, students, etc.): graduate and undergraduate students

Estimated Audience Size: undergraduate: 7; graduate: 1.

Names of Co-Pi/Co-Authors/Researchers Involved:

Mustaque Hossain, Ph.D., P.E.

Robert W. Stokes, Ph.D.

1) Description of project and explanation of objective (conception and goals):

Due to the graying of our current work force, a pool of highly qualified transportation

professionals is required to plan, design, operate, and maintain our nation’s transportation

infrastructure, facilities, and services. There is a need for motivational and educational programs

designed for students and future transportation professionals who want to expand their

knowledge and skills through a program of internship for the undergraduate engineering students

and graduate study for professionals that is less extensive and different from a traditional

master’s program. The proposed internship program for the undergraduate students will provide

motivation to pursue a future career in transportation engineering. The transportation

engineering graduate certificate program will provide transportation professionals with the

opportunity to pursue a focused collection of courses that, when completed, allow the student to

receive recognition for their continued effort in the area of transportation engineering, or

accumulate credit hours toward their master’s degree.

2) Description of the Actual Event/Activity/Program (approach and implementation):

The initiative was taken to encourage the members of the underrepresented groups that are

students in engineering to come into the transportation engineering area. The plan was to recruit

summer or academic year interns from this group that will work in projects underway at either

KSU or at the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The Minority Engineering

Program (MEP) was contacted for awarding scholarships in this program. The scholarships were

awarded based on their recommendation.

3) Conclusion (results and benefits):

The project objectives were met well. The program supported seven undergraduate students and

partially supported a graduate student during the Fall 2014 semester. The breakdown of the

support is as follows:

Undergraduate interns (all except one in Civil Engineering):

Clare Drilling, Caucasian female; Saadia X. Coppedge, AFM female; Yadira A. Porras; Hispanic

female; Mersadez Tanner (MNE), Caucasian female; Hai T. Vo Le; Vietnamese-American male.

Graduate student (Civil Engineering):

Massoumeh Tavakol, female.

Scholarship recipients (all in Civil Engineering):

Perla Ramos, Hispanic female; Claudia Gonzalez, Hispanic female.