Baker College: Problem solvers wanted in engineering, business

Students created this 2-foot-diameter quadcopter drone to follow a specific route to drop cargo, simulating real-world tasks for an annual contest organized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

FLINT — Two vocations that often rely on one another tend to attract peo­ple with a similar desire: To solve prob­lems benefiting their communities. The vocations are business and engineering.

Business turns to engineers to con­ceptualize and develop solutions to societal needs. Engineers depend on business leaders to overcome problems encountered in bringing these products to market.

That’s a key reason programs for these vocations at Baker College’s Flint campus focus on enhancing prob­lem solving skills by challenging stu­dents with real-world issues.

Engineering

“The field attracts inquisitive peo­ple who want to solve problems to make their world a better place,” said Pattabhi Sitaram, Ph.D., Baker College of Flint program director for engineer­ing.

Baker College offers bachelor’s degrees in mechanical, civil and electri­cal engineering.

The internship for Shyla Tailor as a student majoring in accounting at Baker College turned into a full-time position at a large automotive dealership in Grand Blanc.

Students gain theoretical knowledge in the classroom and tackle hands-on projects in the lab – individually, as a group or as a class project. Whether the project is a miniature race car created on a 3-D printer or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), also called a drone, it advances a student’s knowledge and skills of the problem-solving process.

Sitaram said that Baker College is for­tunate to work with many area employ­ers that provide real-world, prob­lem solving opportunities for students.

Working professionals in the industry are instructors. Others serve on Baker College advisory boards, helping keep curricula up to date. Area employers also mentor students as interns and hire graduates. For many years, 100 per­cent of engineering students have been employed upon graduation.

“The programs are rigorous, but with small classes – the average is about 20 –students get personalized instruction,” Sitaram said.

Business

“Business students look for ways to enhance the growth, efficiency and effectiveness of their organization,” said John Cote, Ph.D., Baker College of Flint director of business adminis­tration. “The ability to think creatively – outside the box – can help businesses succeed.”

Students analyzed the design and manufacturability of this 6-by-12-inch race car, produced by a Baker College instructor using a 3-D printer.

The Flint campus offers bachelor’s degrees in accounting, human resource management, management, marketing and business administration-accelerat­ed, and an associate’s degree in business administration.

Baker College’s high-tech Center for Business is located in a recently renovated wing of the Undergraduate Studies Building.

From the lightweight, mobile furni­ture that can be quickly reconfigured to meet classroom needs to the multiple interactive whiteboards with video con­ferencing capabilities in all classrooms, the center was designed to encourage collaboration and problem solving and to help students gain real-world business experience while earning their degrees.

“Student classrooms can connect with industry experts from around the world,” Cote said. “This opens minds and imaginations.”

Professional practitioners here also help drive curricula and serve as instructors, and company partnerships provide opportunity to students, engag­ing them to help solve real business issues.

“I was blessed to work with fantastic instructors at Baker College who are still actively employed in their profes­sion,” said Shyla Tailor, of Goodrich, who earned a bachelor’s in accounting June 2016. “I gained additional per­spective with an internship at Serra Automotive where the management staff has more than 225 years of com­bined experience in retail automotive management accounting.”

Her internship turned into a full-time career position.

For more information about Baker College career programs, contact the admissions office at 810-766-4000 or kevin.pnacek@baker.edu or visit www.baker.edu. On-ground classes begin Monday, Sept. 26; online courses start Thursday, Sept 22.