The Technical Communication Program

The Technical Communication Program (TCP) in the School of Engineering is designed to improve undergraduate students’ proficiency in the skills of communication and information literacy by supporting these skills in SEAS undergraduate classes.  The goal is for every SEAS undergraduate to participate in at least three Engineering courses (including the Senior Design Project) in which development of communication and library research skills is a focus.  

In targeted courses in each academic department, students receive instruction on writing clearly and concisely in various technical-communication contexts, and they practice technical writing as they complete assignments for the courses. Students also learn how to access authoritative information sources and to critically evaluate the quality of these sources as well as those freely available on the Internet. TCP support for Senior Design courses includes a focus on oral presentations and poster sessions, in addition to the information-literacy and writing components of these courses. The goals and learning outcomes of the Technical Communication Program are measured using various assessment tools and strategies, as part of the courses’ overall assessment activities or in conjunction with them.

An important part of the Technical Communication Program is the employment of Communication Fellows.  These undergraduate and graduate engineering students are trained by, and work under the supervision of, the TCP Director.  In addition to working closely with students in the designated writing-intensive classes, Fellows participate in the ongoing development of technical communication modules in identified engineering courses.  

TCP Staff

Mary Westervelt
Director, Technical Communication Program
Lecturer in Engineering Communication

Communication Fellows 2007-2008

• Philip Asare (EE'10)
• Hyo Jin Chung (CIS '10)
• Vipul Devluk (SSE '08)
• Amira Fawcett (CBE/COL '09)
• Alex Greer (MEAM '09)
• Julianne Huegel (BE '08)
• Jonathan Landau (MSE '09)
• Sean O'Hara (SSE '09)
• Chris Prairie (MEAM '10)
• Timothy Potens (SSE '09)
• Elizabeth Schmutter (CSE '09)
• Pam Tsing (BE '09)

Oversight Committee

The work of the Technical Communication Program is overseen by a committee of faculty members, Engineering Library personnel, and Dean’s office personnel. Current Oversight Committee members are

• Vijay Kumar, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, and Associate Dean, SEAS

• Thomas A.V. Cassel, Professor of Practice and Director, Engineering Entrepreneurship Program

• Mark Yim, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Chair, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

• Joseph S. Sun, Director of Academic Affairs, SEAS

• Douglas McGee, Assistant Director for Engineering and Physical Sciences Libraries, and Coordinator, Engineering Information Literacy Initiative

• Mary A. Westervelt (Ex officio), Director, Technical Communication Program and Lecturer in Engineering Communication

All curricular matters are vetted by the school’s Undergraduate Affairs Committee, which is comprised of Undergraduate Chairs from each of the school’s academic departments.