The meeting began at 12:20 when Dr. Estus introduced two new members of the Board, Eric Waldron, Director of the Worcester Regional Airport, and Ms. Maura Ducharme, ITS Analyst, Intelligent Transportation Systems Section of the Wisconsin DOT. Minutes of the 30 March 2001 meeting were accepted. They are to be published on our website.

Events of Note

Dr. Estus called attention to the upcoming dates of our lecture series, "When a Road Runs Through It: An Examination of the Impact of the Interstate Highway System on American Communities", October 30, 2001, and a companion lecture on April 4, 2002, — a look at how highway planning dollars have been used to enhance community life, namely, Quinsigamond Village and MassHighway’s Route 146 project. Orville noted that Rhode Island is actively building bike paths along the railroad beds, and that 3 miles will be completed shortly. The railroad is relocating tracks so the highway can be redesigned and the bike path is being continued into Massachusetts along the Blackstone, into Quinsigamond Village and on to Union Station.

Dr. Estus reminded the Board that they should be on the look out for the Call for Research Proposals on November 1st.

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Board Meeting Follow-up

In response to Michael Creasey’s suggestion at our last meeting, Sr. Kathy reported that she found the “Green Survey” inappropriate for a college setting. She is currently working with students to develop a similar survey form to use on campus. Sr. Kathy went on to report that she is advising two groups of students, one of which is interested in recycling, transportation and the environment. She is trying to get all the groups together to focus on what we can do. Recycling is being done in some dorms. Students want to have a campus-wide recycling program. As Deb Cary suggested at our last meeting, it is time to get Building and Grounds involved to see what we can do working with them. Currently, only white paper is being recycled on campus.

In answer to questions about the number of visitors to our website and about resource room utilization, Sr. Kathy noted that there are two counters on our website, one visible, and one other that is not. The counter will discriminate between a "hit" from an outside visitor and one from office use. Our website is currently being redesigned to make it easier for teachers and students to access information. The Educational Resource Room in the Kennedy building utilizes cards to keep track of use there and of our resources kept there as well. That system is cumbersome as people try to get resources out of the Resource Library for student/teacher use. Materials more recently acquired are in the UTC office resource shelves and it is easier to check out these resources under our supervision because we want them to be available to everyone for use as needed.

Charles reported that with DOT’s approval we have created the book fund for the d’Alzon Library to support departmental purchases of books related to our theme and for use in college courses. The library’s director has designed a bookplate with our logo and acknowledging the UTC’s contribution to the library’s collection. Requests for book purchases will come to the UTC director who will, as departmental chairpersons now do, review such requests for final approval. Although the library cannot create a special section on transportation, a “transportation” category will be added to the library’s search engine for easy access to these specific materials.

In response to Michael Creasey’s suggestion at our last meeting we are exploring the development of travel kits or “trunks” that contain theme-related resources for classroom use. When completed, the trunks will be available for teachers to borrow and use in their classrooms.

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Report on the Financial Status of the Center

At our last Board meeting, Guy Jones raised the question regarding our financial state. Dr. Estus stated that TEA-21 created seventeen centers and gave each funding for their first four years. However, the fifth and sixth years are to be funded on a competitive basis with grants of one million dollars for each of their fifth and sixth years awarded to only ten of the seventeen. We are actively preparing to compete for these funds. The proposal is due in Washington on November 16. On December 3, we will go to Washington for a presentation to the review panel. The decision will be handed down by February 2002. It is very difficult for RSPA to find a set of principles upon which to base the competition; each center has a different program, a different mission justified in its own right. Sante Esposito has suggested that we take an alternative route and make the competition unnecessary by funding all seventeen with the up-coming appropriations bill. With several others, Sante is working with congressional staff to try to achieve that goal. Sante reports that the development of support is going well, but nevertheless, we should prepare ourselves for the competition.

Dr. Estus reported the on-going difficulty in obtaining matching funds. We are on a dollar-for-dollar match with our federal grant. Up to this point it is only Assumption that has provided the matching funds that have released grant monies. Several grant applications have been rejected and it is difficult to find grant sources that appreciate the unique nature of our mission.

Discussion followed, and Maura asked if there are any other UTCs in New England. Dr. Estus stated there are two, one at MIT, and one at the University of Rhode Island. Maura stated that the Wisconsin UTC has changed direction from its original mission. It was observed that the UTC program is unique here at Assumption; it is difficult for people to comprehend what we are about. Eric Waldron asked if a group could change, or add to it's charter. Dr. Estus explained that no change is possible; we received our grant based on our theme. Our focus is on education, it is our "raison d'etre". We can get kids interested in transportation and intermodal transportation. We can do that within our courses, but not change focus entirely. Eric asked if we could train professionals, or train teachers to train professionals, for example, "Security". Could we train people in security? In view of current events, security is a high priority. Could we have seminars? Dr. Estus stated that we have an option to create a program in continuing education, but we lost our provost who was supporting such exploration and the Management Group thought it better to work on development on interdisciplinary courses at the undergraduate level. Prudence is the name of the game for just this little while. Caution. If we are re-funded, then possibilities are there for expansion.

Regarding matching funds, Eric asked if we have the ability to tap into the funds. Where are our assets? If you have the ability to put on seminars, you have the ability to generate profits. Maura stated that Marquette sponsored seminars for people who work with the DOT in Wisconsin. Eric informed the members that over $120,000 had been generated through professional airport group at his alma mater. Kevin said we could go outside, and bring in experts to put on a seminar for a fee. Eric said they never paid a fee for a presenter, just travel expenses. However, there was a 150 - 200 AAAE known membership base. Kevin stated that here, we would be building a base from scratch. It was agreed that the suggestion had merit, but difficult to find someone to follow up on it. Eric said networking was very helpful in the seminars. He noted that the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission put out broad directives for all airports in the commonwealth. They backed off and came up with recommendations for implementation. UTC has some credibility so something along those lines in the future might be possible (seminar about security). Discussion continued. Kevin, Joan McCallion, and Eric thought something of that nature could be done. Hal Welch noted that security is one focus, however preservation is another focus.

Dr. Estus then turned the discussion to the new science building, reminding the members that 59% of the UTC budget is committed to that construction. He discussed the plot plan for the new building, including the UTC office and resource room suite at ground level to the left of the south entrance to the building. The new science center will be the flagship building for the campus. It is hoped that in the spring of 2002 there will be a ground breaking for the $18.7 million project.

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Program Report from the Directors

Sr. Kathy informed the board that two additional faculty members from the education department were asked to join the management group, professors Danker and Tauer. It is expected that they will introduce our themes into their courses as well as consult on ways to make theme-related courses in other departments attractive to education students. Prof. Jed Watters is teaching a course for undergraduates on the history of U.S. transportation; he is also offering the course in the continuing education program to some 15-20 students.

Our summer Institute has been published on the website. Most recently we have money in our current budget to support faculty in planning a core interdisciplinary course based on our theme, and there is a brainstorming meeting set up this month with faculty from eight departments. Kevin reminded the members that the number of faculty available limits the choice of disciplines represented in any interdisciplinary CORE courses.

Dr. Al Klyberg, director of Providence’s Heritage Harbor Museum dedicated to the people and history of Rhode Island, has asked our help in creating an interactive exhibit on the development of the Providence & Worcester railroad and suburban lines in the Blackstone River Valley. The exhibit is planned as an interactive feature that can be used by teachers and their students as part of their studies. The intention is for us to host a gathering of teachers to discuss the project with Dr. Klyberg, to help him understand the qualities of such an exhibit that would draw teachers from this area to visit with their students.

Sr. Kathy reported that the Interdisciplinary Environmental Association conference was an opportunity for good exchange. Both she and Drew Cummings attended the San Francisco meeting. Drew presented his curricular project at Bancroft school. It was a good opportunity for a sixth-grade teacher to exchange with university faculty and environmental professionals. Conference attendees learned more about and came away with a greater appreciation of Assumption’s UTC program.

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Student of the Year Award

Dr. Estus turned the members’ attention to the two high school students nominated for the Outstanding Student of the Year Award. Discussion of their letters of nomination followed. All were agreed that the designation be given to Ping Tai. Her work clearly supports the theme of our program and has far reaching effects for research in her future. Kevin Hickey asked how we solicited nominations? Is there a form? Charles said we asked for nominations, but having a form is an excellent idea. We should develop such a form and encourage nominations for those who have merit.

Closing Announcements

The date for the next meeting of the Advisory Board will be the first Friday in April, 5 April 2002. The awards presentation will be in May. Charles encouraged the board members to interact through our list, utcbds@assumption.edu, to share agenda items.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Respectively submitted,

Mona Heffernan
Administrative Assistant