Experiences with Remote Access to High Performance Computing Systems for Computer Engineering Technology

Abstract- The growth in computational power has resulted in a divergence in CPU design from clock acceleration to parallelization techniques (multi-core processors) to improve computation and energy performance. Lab-based learning of computer performance in multiple-processor systems is complicated when most labs are equipped with now nearly dated single-core machines. An alternative is to study multi-processor performance using high performance computing (HPC) clusters. Not all labs can afford their own HPC machine however. A lab-based course in Computer Architecture for Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology students has been offered for four semesters, including a high performance computing laboratory experience. Recently the course was offered at a satellite campus located roughly 120 miles from the main campus, and the HPC system. This paper documents early experiences with using HPC hardware and concepts in a laboratory environment to demonstrate multiprocessor performance dynamics. Combined with the topics of instruction pipelining, the memory hierarchy, and I/O performance modeling, students have initially reacted positively, gaining an appreciation of performance speedup and its limiting factors. Suggestions for similar HPC implementations on small and medium scales are also provided

A Redesigned Engagement and Recruitment Strategy forEngineering Technology Programs at a Regional Campus

While enrollment in engineering programs is generally strong nationwide, maintaining or increasing enrollment in Engineering Technology programs at smaller regional campuses can be challenging. The problem appears to be multi-faceted, with the rising cost of education and a strong regional job market two of the likely factors that are keeping students from pursuing a college education. This paper presents a summary of the initial work done at a Statewide location of a large national university to redesign how we engage and recruit students from our surrounding counties. Our eventual goal in redesigning the processes is to leverage our ability to connect directly with local high schools, prospective students, and the parents of prospective students. In the paper, we briefly describe our prior recruitment activities, provide an overview of our newly-developed recruitment model and the philosophy that underpins our redesigned strategy for outreach and recruitment as a whole, and present an initial review of data that are being collected for assessing the effectiveness of our efforts. The central element of this initial work is the redesigned recruitment event aimed at helping us better connect with prospective students. The event emphasizes the importance of campus visits by local high school students, informative hands-on activities, and relationship-building with local high school staff and administrators. The goal of this initial work is to test the approach of direct engagement and to gauge interest in our programs, our location, and overall interest in attending college for the students who participate in the events. This initial assessment will in turn inform us how to continue to improve the overall strategy over the next two to four years