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The Center for Spartan Engineering

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Learning resources

Our mission Is to provide a safe and productive environment.

Maximum number of students during extended hours 10-15.

Hours and Extended hours.

Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 8:00 am - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am - 5:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Safety Training - As of July 1, 2013 all students will be required to take safety training before they can work in the MTL. This training will cover the lab safety rules and the safe and proper use of the equipment.

Faculty are also invited to attend. If you have Grad students or undergrads that need to use the lab for research projects, please advise them to attend. This training will be offered spring and fall.

Safety Rules

Safety Glasses (properly fitted) must be worn at all times in the Lab. Some operations and equipment may require additional personal protective equipment. Glasses need Z-87 designation with side shields.

Proper Attire

  • No loose clothing may be worn in the shop, including scarves, ties and loose sleeves.
  • No tank-tops or half shirts.
  • No hooded sweatshirts with strings.
  • No skirts or kilts.
  • No open toed or open heeled shoes. No sandals, no flip flops, and no Crocs.
  • No shorts.
  • Gloves cannot be worn while operating machinery. (lathe, mill, drill press, saws, belt sander, and including all tools with rotating spindles.)
  • Gloves can be worn when handling sheet metal or raw materials.
  • Remove jewelry before beginning work, including rings, necklaces, bracelets and watches.
  • Long hair must be pulled back and secured and contained; long beards must also be contained.
  • Only one person operates one machine.
  • All graduate students must sign in upon arrival.
  • Cell phones, head phones, other personal electronic devices must not be used when working in the lab.
  • No food and drinks are permitted.
  • Compressed air must not be used to clean machinery, skin or clothing. Students are required to clean up using vacuums, brooms and dust pans.
  • Never work alone. A supervisor or student personnel must be present at all times.
  • Damaged equipment, or equipment that does not appear to be operating normally, must not be used. Immediately report the issue to the supervisor or student personnel.
  • Clean up starts 15 min prior to the closing time of the Lab. All students are required to clean up their work area and put away all materials and tools.

Supervisors and Student Personnel have full authority over the lab and its safe use, and the authority to prohibit the unsafe use of machinery, power tools and hand tools for the safety of an individual, others in the Lab, or the equipment.

Students not following the safety rules will not be allowed to use the lab.

No personal projects are allowed in the MTL.

Graduate Students may have limited access to the lab during scheduled class times.

Emergencies:
911 Emergency Dispatch
Inform them if this is a Mg Powder Fire

Location:
428 S. Shaw Lane 1240 and B-250
East Lansing, MI 48824
MSU Police and Public Safety
(517) 355-2221
EHS (previously O.R.C.B.S.)
(517) 355-0153
Research/Instructional Tech: Jon Daman (517) 355-3251 
Shop Supervisor, Mike K.

Mechanical Engineering Main Office
(517) 355-5131

The ME Learning Center is a tutoring and mentoring center to assist ME undergraduate students in targeted courses – namely ME 201: Thermodynamics, ME 222: Mechanics of Deformable Solids and ME 361: Dynamics.

The Center’s goal is to strengthen students’ understanding of key concepts, assist with challenging homework problems, and prepare students for exams.

The ME Learning Center is in person this semester on Sunday through Thursday nights from 6pm-10pm in 1237 Engineering. Tutoring/mentoring services are provided for ME 201, ME 222, and ME 361.


 

Scholarships

The MSU Department of Mechanical Engineering offers more than 50 scholarships to undergraduate mechanical engineering students each year for a total of approximately $110,000 in amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000. There are separate selection processes for obtaining scholarships for incoming freshmen, transfer students, and current mechanical engineering students.

Incoming freshmen scholarships of $1,000 - $1,500 are offered on a one-year basis to high achieving students. There is no scholarship application process, as students are automatically considered upon submission of their MSU admission application.

Transfer students are eligible for the $1000 DREAMS scholarships. There is no scholarship application process, as students are automatically considered upon submission of their MSU admission application.

First year and transfer students should contact Drew Kim, Director of Recruiting and K-12 Outreach at (517) 353-7282 or kima@egr.msu.edu for further information.

For scholarship deadlines and applications, visit the College of Engineering Undergraduate Studies Office scholarships and financial resources page.  

Current mechanical engineering students become eligible for department scholarships by completing one scholarship application annually. Applications are available in November at the College of Engineering Undergraduate Studies Office scholarships page and are due by the end of February. Mechanical engineering scholarship awards are made by the Department’s representative to the College’s Awards and Financial Aid Committee. The current representative is Dr.Geoffery Recktenwald (gdr@egr.msu.edu). Decisions are made at the end of each spring semester, and awarded the following academic year.

The scholarship application process for 2020-2021 returning students has closed. The next scholarship cycle for 2021-2022 will open in January of 2021.

Department of Mechanical Engineering scholarships are funded through gifts from alumni and friends. Corporate friends include General Motors, Boeing, and Ford. The Department has several named scholarships. Please click on the account numbers to be taken directly to giving options.

Somerton Family Scholarship - A30611 The Melvin and Geraldine Somerton Undergraduate Scholarship endowment was established to honor the parents of Diana and Craig Somerton. They recognized that the contributions of their parents to their careers in engineering, education, and to the profession itself could be continued for generations to come through the support it would provide to junior and senior mechanical engineering students with strong academic records and participation in extracurricular activities.

Craig W. Somerton Scholarship - A306271 The Craig W. Somerton Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the work and contributions made by Craig W. Somerton. During his almost 30 years of service to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MSU, Dr. Somerton was always at the forefront of engineering education. He served as advisor to the American Society of Mechanical Engineering for over 20 years and was the advisor to the BAJA team. He championed student causes and was known for his door always being open.

Gary Cloud Scholarship - A300502 Established to honor Gary Cloud, longtime faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and equally longtime adviser to the SAE Formula team.

Charles St.Clair Scholarship - A30004 St. Clair Scholarship is supported by an endowment fund established to honor former ME professor Charles St. Clair who is endearingly remembered by his former students and colleagues as a man who cared about his students and was committed to them. Students receiving the St. Clair scholarship demonstrate outstanding academic abilities and strong participation in extracurricular activities. Professor St. Clair served as Head of Mechanical Engineering for 20 years.

Charles and Mary Jane Spalding Scholarship - A3005121 Spalding Scholarship is supported by an annual gift from ME Alumni David Spalding (BSME ’67) in honor of his parents Charles (BSME ‘40) and Mary Jane, provides for five $5,000 scholarships that recognize mechanical engineering students with outstanding academic performance who have financial need. Mr. Spalding is founder of American Hydrotech, Inc., a recognized leader in the development, production, and distribution of premium waterproofing and roofing products.


Education abroad

The College of Engineering offers a broad selection of education abroad programs specifically designed for selected majors in order to assure academic success. Once you are admitted to the university, connect with your engineering advisor to talk through your academic plan and education abroad options.

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Research opportunities

It’s your time to find your passions and new areas of interest. Visit undergraduate research for more information on getting started.


 

Student groups

There are many student organizations active in the department and the college. Participation is a great way to extend your education and to meet fellow students outside the regular class mode. A partial list of primary interest to ME students is provided below:

Visit the College of Engineering student groups page and the MSU Registered Student Groups page to learn about opportunities to engage.