Dear TSM Supporters: Department Chair: Sue Nokes, Ph.D., P.E. 859-218-4328 Engineer Associate for Academics: Alicia Modenbach, Ph.D. 859-257-1265 Industry Contact: Karin Pekarchik 859-218-4322 General Inquiries and Correspondence: 128 C.E. Barnhart Building Lexington, KY 40546-0276 Voice: 859-257-3000 Fax: 859-257-5671
As the spring semester starts, we wanted to update you on the progress of the Technical Systems Management (TSM) Program and suggest meaningful ways for you and your company to collaborate. ENROLLMENT: The program continues to grow, with 18 students enrolled and more taking TSM classes. TSM MINOR: When the first two Community of Practice meetings were held this summer, paperwork had been submitted for university approval of the TSM minor. The minor has been approved by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee at the University level, and now needs to be approved by the Senate Council, and then the Senate, before it will become “official.” We are hopeful those approvals will occur this semester. WORK-BASED LEARNING: Last semester, two TSM students completed work-based learning courses at Big Ass Solutions and Aquatic Resources; other students remained employed at Keeneland and Winchester Dairy. NEW COURSES: Several students completed Dr. Day’s skills class, TSM 201 Fundamentals of Work-based Learning, and Alex Fogle’s TSM 203 Basic Principles of Surveying. SUMMER INTERNSHIP: ADM recruited a TSM student for a summer position in its competitive Ag Services Operations Management (ASOM) program. He’s headed to ADM’s training program in May. Scholarships: ADM has generously renewed its sponsorship of two $1,000 scholarships, open to all College of Agriculture students.
The TSM Community of Practice is funded by a Kentucky NSF EPSCoR grant for Education, Outreach and Communication Award.
What Our Students Say Stefan Fink: Big Ass Solutions
I am lucky to have been given this opportunity because it is part of agriculture, which is something I really care a lot about, and it’s the chance for me to prove myself at Big Ass Solutions. It is nice to work at a place that sees potential in you and allows you to make autonomous decisions on your own. You don’t have to be afraid to not know something because anyone is willing to sit down and help you understand something better or if they don’t know, willing to help you find the answers you need. Brittany [Adam] has been very supportive and always willing to teach me new things. She has helped me begin thinking about the possibility of going to graduate school in something dealing with greenhouses with the help from BAS financially, with a research project and finding a good school and professor. I will be meeting with her on Friday of finals week to discuss a timeline and create a plan. I could not be more excited and can’t wait to see what the future holds for me.
Shelby Grinnan: Aquatic Resources Management
There are some great learning experiences that I will take away from this semester. One big one would have to be the maintenance on the mass spec [spectrometer]. I knew more about certain aspects of the instrument than the maintenance guys, which was a bit of a confidence booster, but I was also able to learn things from their work too. I’ve also learned from mistakes. [My boss] Jamie works them out with me and walks me through what needs to happen so I don’t have any repeat offenses. One thing I didn’t expect to do [when I started] this job is train other people. It makes me feel like I know what I am doing when I can explain and teach someone else how to do it. It is even more rewarding when they are also successful. Each day is a learning experience. I enjoy constantly keeping busy and working through problem-solving. More than anything else, I look forward to becoming a full-time employee with the lab once I graduate.
WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN TSM • • • •
Host a site visit for TSM 102 Intro to Work-based Learning this spring. Hire a work-based learning student. Spread the word. Call or email us to learn more.