<!–There has never been a more exciting, yet challenging, time to be in the field of engineering. Nothing exemplifies this more than the National Academy of Engineering’s fourteen Grand Challenges. These challenges are formidable and solutions will require that engineers work in a multidisciplinary way with other professions, as these challenges will require the engineering profession to work and interface with public policy, business, law, ethics, and social and human behavior.–>
The Honors Engineering Leadership Minor (HELM) provides a unique opportunity for honors students to add courses and experiences to their plan of engineering study that will provide the context and depth necessary to be a well-rounded engineering leader approaching the challenges of the new century. HELM is open to students in the Chancellor’s Honors, Haslam Scholars, or Cook Grand Challenge Honors programs.
HELM is an innovative partnership between the Tickle College of Engineering, the Haslam College of Business, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the College of Education, Health, and Human Services, and the Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy.
The objective of HELM is to help engineering students learn the leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills necessary to apply their technical skills in professional situations. Through a combination of coursework and projects, students learn to develop their own leadership style and skills to become effective and influential engineers.
Elements of the minor include entrepreneurial basics, leadership and communication skill development, organizational and social psychology, service learning, and a capstone leadership experience.
a) Required Courses
- EF 337 Developing Leadership Skills or Management 331
- ENT 350 Introduction to Entrepreneurship
b) Select one course
- UNHO 267 – Honors: Special Topics in the Social Sciences * (Service Learning)
- EF 327
- Any 3-credit course that carries the S service learning designation
b) Elective Courses (students take three of the following five courses):
- CMST 442—Organizational Communication Processes
- ENT 410S – Leadership in Nonprofits and Social Entrepreneurship
- ENT 451—New Venture Planning
- ENT460—Leading Innovation and Change
- Philosophy 244—Professional Responsibility
- Psychology 440—Organizational Psychology
- 3 combined hours of 300 and/or 400 level ELPS (Educational Leadership and Policy Studies coursework)
c) College Leadership Capstone
HELM Students are expected to demonstrate leadership by assuming leadership positions at the college and university levels. This requirement has two parts:
- Contribute service to the college or university through holding a selected or elected leadership position. Examples of acceptable positions are college ambassador, co-op ambassador, officer of student technical society, orientation leader, resident assistant for the Engage Living and Learning residential community, or other positions approved by the HELM director.
- Demonstrate technical project leadership, normally by a) serving as team leader for senior design or other departmental project course, or b) competing in the Haslam College of Business’ Business Plan competition to commercialize a new product. The HELM director could approve other experiences for this requirement.
HELM also requires:
- Application and registration to participate with the HELM director. Confirmation of honors status and current academic record reviewed.
- A plan of study for curricular elements developed in conjunction with the HELM director and the college advising staff.
- Yearly update and review of plan of study with HELM director.
- Maintaining participation and standards of the participating honors programs.
Registration indicates interest in HELM and willingness to be contacted about informational/advising meeting.
Many students interested in HELM will also be interested in its companion program, the Grand Challenge Scholars Program.
Tom Graves
Director of Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Haslam College of Business
tgrave10@utk.edu
Bob Kronick
Service Learning Studies
Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling
College of Education, Health, and Human Services
rkronick@utk.edu
