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Transportation Workforce Development Initiative
Report # MATC-KSU: 163 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: 25-1121-0003-163
NAME OF EDUCATION ACTIVITY:
Transportation Workforce Development Initiative
Dates Held: 08/1/2012 - 9/30/2014
Location of the Activity:
Academic year internship: Kansas State University
Graduate certificate program in Transportation Engineering: Kansas State University
Summer and Academic Year internship: Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)
Audience Composition (e.g., professionals, students, etc.): Graduate and undergraduate students
Estimated Audience Size: Undergraduate: 12; graduate: 6.
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 an internship program for 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 had a three-pronged approach. First support was provided to some undergraduate
and graduate students in Civil Engineering at Kansas State University (KSU) to work on projects
related to MATC’s theme during the academic year. One student was supported during 2012-
2103 academic year and two students were supported during 2013-2014 academic year. KSU
also participated in the summer internship program run by the Kansas Department of
Transportation (KDOT) with Kansas State University. For each KDOT Summer Intern from
KSU, MATC provided $2,000 of supplemental stipend. Nine interns were supported in the
summer of 2014. Additionally 6 graduate students were supported to participate in various
professional development activities. The details are given below:
Undergraduate Students:
2012-2013 AY Internship: Devin Jackson (Civil Engineering)
2013-2014 AY Internship: Austin Muck and Lucas Spaich (Civil Engineering)
2014 Summer Interns: Austin Jueneman; Yadira Porras; Sergio Venzuela; Seth Weber;
Ethan Peck; Derek Haug; Jerald Hulsing; Hojr Momeni; Dalton Funk; Johnson Rowland;
Benjamin Nye; and Braden Taylor
Graduate Students:
Name Event Location Date
Syeda Aziz 2014 KSPE Annual Meeting Manhattan, KS June 2014
Massoumeh Tavakol 2014 KSPE Annual Meeting Manhattan, KS June 2014
Ananna Ahmed 2014 KSPE Annual Meeting Manhattan, KS June 2014
Daniel Mealiff 2014 KSPE Annual Meeting Manhattan, KS June 2014
Milad Saghebafar 10th Intl. Confc. on Asphalt Pavements Raleigh, NC June 2014
Milad Saghebafar 2014 Pavement Friction Training State College, PA June 2014
Nassim Sabahfar 2nd ASCE T & DI Congress Orlando, FL June 2014
The project also supported travels of the Principal Investigator to two professional meetings
during June 2014.
Finally, MATC co-sponsored the Transportation Engineering Certificate program at KSU
(http://www.dce.k-state.edu/engineering/certificates/transportation/). This sponsorship was an
impetus for its approval by KSU since each certificate program needs a base budget to ensure
that it is active.
3) Conclusion (results and benefits):
The project objectives were met well. The internship program has become very high profile in
KDOT. The graduate certificate program is up and running.
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