Message from the Dean

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Leo Hanifin

Impact, Winter 2002

Leo E. Hanifin, M.E., D.E. has focused his teaching and research in the area of manufacturing efficiencies, processes and modeling. Hanifin has also held engineering and management positions in the automotive, aerospace, and computer industries. He has received the LEAD and Outstanding Young Engineer awards from SME, and the Outstanding Engineering Alumnus of the Year award from UDM. He holds B.M.E., M.E., and D.E. degrees from the University of Detroit. He joined the UDM College of Engineering & Science as dean in 1991.

We need you now!

Great things are happening at the College of Engineering and Science!

• The College has raised over $8 million in commitments striving towards our $10 million goal; every gift, large and small, counts. Corporate Detroit has stepped forward with over 12 major grants for the College of Engineering and Science Legacy Campaign, totaling over $4 million. Ten alumni have stretched for large contributions, ranging from $100,000 to over $600,000. Foundations and government agencies have provided another ten major grants totaling over $1 million. All of these contributions will result in the creation of exciting new facilities and equipment, better programs and more scholarships for our students.
  
• In Fall 2002, engineering freshman enrollments at UDM rose 18%. Enrollments are projected to grow even more next year. So far, freshman applications for next year (Fall 2003) are running 27% higher for engineering and 81% higher for science than they were this year (Fall 2002), . . . and over 87% (engineering) and 130% (science) above their rates for last year (Fall 2001)!
  
• The faculty and programs continue to be widely recognized for their excellence. Two electrical engineering faculty members received IEEE’s 2002 award for the best engineering education paper in the world. Our director of manufacturing engineering was just inducted as the president of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Now it’s time for you as alumni to step forward and do your part in assuring the future of your college and future UDM students. There are many reasons why you should contribute to the E&S Legacy Campaign:

• Giving back for what others gave to you: Others before you made your education possible. Because of alumni contributions, many of our students receive assistance to defray the cost of their education. We, as alumni, need to do for current and future students what others did for us.
  
• The UDM Challenge Grant. The University is offering a special challenge grant to assist in completing The Legacy Campaign. All gifts that are either new or upgraded from previous years will be matched dollar for dollar.
  
• Securing the future for our institution, our region, our nation and the world. UDM is a major force in the communities that it serves. In E&S, we educate future engineers, scientists and medical professionals who are responsible stewards of God’s world and God’s people. Our graduates strengthen the corporations of Southeast Michigan as technological competitors, safeguard the environment, work for social justice and behave ethically in all that they do. Our society needs the kinds of engineering and science graduates that we produce.
  
• Giving is easy and highly leveraged: With current deductions and credits available for state and federal taxes, the benefit to E&S is far greater than the cost to you. In addition, many of you have corporate gift matching programs available through your company. Together, these can provide two or three or even 4X multipliers when comparing the after-tax cost with the funds received by UDM. By making a gift by December 31st, you can also take advantage of current year tax deductions.
  
• University rankings: One of the factors that are "scored" in national rankings is the percent of alumni who give each year. While we are already in the top tier of midwestern master’s universities (by US News and World Report) academically, our alumni-giving ranking is considerably lower. . . we need more of our alumni to contribute.

Please consider your resources and, if possible, make a significant contribution to the E&S Legacy Campaign. I know that you all have worked very hard for all you have . . . but the future generation still needs you to give back. While great investments have already been made, we still have about 10 labs and six classrooms that need to be renovated, and there are ongoing needs for computers, lab instruments and scholarships.

Please, in this season of giving, give back to your alma mater and to our students. If you would like to support E&S by making a gift or discuss a more specific use for your gift or pledge, call Marc Melamed, the College’s Director of Development at (313) 993-1510.

Our students and I thank you for your consideration and your generosity.

Dr. Leo E. Hanifin (’69, ’72, GR ’75)
Dean