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FAQ

What is EvMM?
The Environmental Manufacturing Management program at Clarkson is a new approach to graduate education. It is cross-disciplinary, team-based, and has strong industrial ties. It takes as its point of departure significant changes that have occurred in the way wastes are being managed by industry, from one based on regulatory command-and-control to a more market-based approach in which environmental expenditures are viewed by firms as investments (with an expected return). Such shifts present a rich base of information, and challenging new problems, for student research. EvMM graduates are prepared to lead environmental change in the 21st century.


What differentiates the EvMM graduate program from a traditional graduate program?
EvMM is different from conventional graduate studies in four important ways. First, research in EvMM is conducted within interdisciplinary student teams in which each member possesses special expertise that can be applied to a research area. EvMM also employs a multiple-mentoring model for advising involving faculty from across the university. Second, students participate in an industrial internship of two to three months' duration during which they learn about the manufacturing process, and waste management issues. Part of this time is spent developing a research area from which a thesis topic can be derived. Third, the EvMM research approach involves casting the research problem in a systems format. This entails defining the system, understanding its component parts and how they function together, physically or mathematically modeling the system, applying constraints (e.g., minimize waste production, maximize profits), and solving the problem. The final step is to make recommendations to the decision maker at the industrial location based upon the results. Fourth, the training received strongly reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the program, with an EvMM core of courses consisting of Environmental Systems Analysis and Design, Industrial Pollution Prevention, Risk Analysis and Communication, and Environmental Economics.

How does EvMM work if I don't necessarily want to be an environmental engineer or scientist.
EvMM is a "disciplinary plus" program. Students apply to and matriculate in any of Clarkson's doctoral or masters programs. In addition to required courses, the EvMM course core is also taken and research is conducted as described above. EvMM is not a program in environmental engineering. Instead, it envisions engineers, scientists and professionals with other backgrounds working together on research problems in which environmental management issues are present. EvMM sees environmental management as integrated with process design and operation: solutions depend upon how the system as a whole behaves.

Do the EvMM course requirements add significantly to my course load?
In most cases, no. A doctoral degree at Clarkson requires 90 semester credit hours past the baccalaureate, within which formal course minimums are typically 30-45 credits. There are no maximum course credit limits; the balance of the credits are either for seminar, for which an EvMM requirement exists, or research. All doctoral programs at Clarkson require out-of-department courses to be taken -- the EvMM core will, in most cases, count for these elective requirements. Most masters degrees at Clarkson require 30 semester hours, 18-24 of which are courses, but even here most programs have allowances for elective courses. In some instances it may be necessary for a masters student to take one additional course to satisfy all requirements.

How long is the industrial internship and what kinds of activities am I likely to become involved in?
The industrial internship is usually two to three months in duration and occurs during the first summer after enrollment in the program. During this time, four major activities take place: conducting interviews with key personnel involved in manufacturing and environmental management, learning about manufacturing processes and major waste management issues, working with industry personnel and Clarkson faculty to identify a research area, and identifying requirements for conducting the research.

What kinds of research can I become involved in?
The type of research can be quite varied and most certainly will involve the blending of knowledge from several disciplines. It may, for example, focus on the design of a cleaner manufacturing process, on producing a product from more environmentally benign materials, on various approaches to life cycle assessment, or it may involve the development and analysis of corporate environmental policy. The possibilities will depend to some extent on the industrial partner with whom you are affiliated. In all cases you can be assured that the research will be conducted on the cutting-edge of the knowledge front.

How does the multiple-mentoring approach to advising work?
The multiple mentoring model was initiated to maximize the cross-disciplinary opportunities in the EvMM program. Upon initial enrollment in a given departmental program, an advisor or advisory committee is assigned. This ensures that you will be properly advised during the first year or so of your studies -- taking the correct required courses and, if applicable, preparing you for your Ph.D. examinations, which normally take place within the first two years of study. After the industrial internship, when the research area has been defined, a transition to the EvMM mentors will take place. These are faculty members from across the university who will participate in the research because of their interest or expertise. Generally, faculty from the student's home department will be among this group, as well as one or more industry personnel. The student team meets collectively with its mentors at frequent intervals, with communication facilitated by electronic means. When desirable, smaller subgroups of students and mentors can pursue a particular idea or part of the research, but the direction and results are brought back to the entire group at appropriate intervals so that others can add their perspective, or use the results as a basis for new ideas or directions.

What kinds of resources are available at Clarkson for me to do my research?
Clarkson is a small technical school with a rich tradition in professionally oriented education. As such, a priority has been placed on the acquisition and maintenance of high-quality research facilities. At the center of these is the EvMM simulation laboratory, a 2,000 square feet pilot facility in which industrial processes can be investigated at a realistic scale. In addition, faculty in the EvMM program are internationally recognized for their scholarly accomplishments. A high priority is placed on accessibility to students and a personalized approach to education.

Can the EvMM program be tailored to fit my educational/research goals?
EvMM is a new kind of graduate program, one in which research and education are carefully integrated into a unique program of study. It is not for everyone; those who prefer the more traditional approach to graduate education would probably not be well served by EvMM (Clarkson does have a full array of high quality graduate programs administered within departments). Nevertheless, inherent within EvMM are varied and challenging research questions with real-world implications. The team setting for conduct of research mobilizes a substantial effort for tackling large problems, yet allows each individual the freedom to explore innovative solutions.

Is financial assistance available for EvMM?
The EvMM program has been initiated under a training grant from the National Science Foundation. This grant provides tuition, resources for supplies and travel, and a base stipend which is further augmented by university sources. NSF funds can only be used to support US citizens or permanent residents but other sources of support in the form of industrial fellowships and university assistantships are open to all students. All applicants to EvMM are considered for financial assistance.

Is there a strong job market for EvMM graduates?
EvMM is a program that has been designed in response to changes that are already well underway in the industrial marketplace. As such, the need for well-trained professionals who have the breadth to oversee innovative solutions to waste management problems, yet the depth to understand at a fundamental level how manufacturing systems work, are in strong demand. Ph.D. graduates will find an increasing number of available faculty positions in the area of pollution prevention and sustainability as the field of waste management continues to mature. MS students have equally strong placement opportunities in the private and public sectors. Finally, government agencies are continually looking for graduates knowledgeable about advanced approaches to waste management.

What kind of degree will I receive?
As a "disciplinary-plus" program, EvMM graduates are awarded the degree for which they have been accepted at Clarkson, for example chemical engineering, mathematics, management systems, etc., at either the doctoral or masters level. Of course EvMM is a research program, thus the research conducted is of the type outlined above.

How can I find out more information about EvMM?

To receive additional information contact us at:
Center for the Environment Phone: (315)268-3856
Box 5715 fax: (315)268-4291
Potsdam, NY 13699-5715 e-mail: environ@clarkson.edu

How do I apply?
Application can be made by filling out appropriate forms and mailing them to Clarkson, or by downloading application materials and sending them in. More information can be found at the graduate students web site.