I very much appreciate the interest in The Cooper Union that led to the article, "Man on a Mission" in the
September 2000 issue of Prism. The analysis captured many of the extraordinary attributes of the institution, which is, indeed, "legendary;" however, readers were profoundly misled in a couple of areas.
The almost parenthetical suggestion that our engineering curriculum is outdated couldn't be further from the truth. Always ranked among the top three undergraduate engineering colleges in the nation, The Albert
Nerken School of Engineering at Cooper Union offers state-of-the-art laboratories and studio classrooms, a trailblazing project-based learning environment, cutting-edge undergraduate research
opportunities, entrepreneurship training, and acclaimed international programs. Over the decade of the 1990s, 42 percent of our graduates have gone directly into graduate programs at top tier institutions.
We would not be able to attract a freshman class with average SAT scores above 1400 year after year with either a curriculum or a faculty that is less than extraordinary.
Of course we're faced with enormous challenges maintaining a leadership profile in all areas of a rapidly advancing computer and information technology environment, but on that score we're no different
from other institutions of the first rank. One of our "aging" buildings, constructed in 1859 and designated a national historic landmark in 1962, has since undergone a total interior renovation designed by one of
America's great 20th century architects, John Hejduk. The Foundation Building, recently referred to in the New York Times as one of New York's grand monuments, is now in the final stages of a $12 million
restoration of its exterior. With respect to our financials, the writer is correct in noting a recent operating deficit and the need to increase our fundraising efforts to realize our ambitious plans for the
future. However, the complete story shows that, taking into account our real estate holdings, The Cooper Union has exceptional financial strength, with a AAA bond rating and an effective endowment of
more than $300,000 per student. A Matter of Degrees I would like to comment on Frank Huband's "Tackling Big Issues" column in the March 2000 issue of
Prism. Having received a Dipl.-Ing. from a university in Germany and a Ph.D. from a university in the United States, I would like to point out that a simplified comparison of the time to completion is
misleading.Germans graduate from a gymnasium before entering universities. The last two years at the gymnasium are roughly equivalent to the first two years of college in the U.S. The German Dipl.-Ing. is
at the same level as an M.S. in the United States, if the Dipl.-Ing is awarded by a Universitaet. The Dipl.-Ing. degree is longer and more intense than the B.S. degree, and must be compared to the
master's degree, not the bachelor's.
Where the Women Aren't? I just finished reading the September issue of Prism. I must admit that I was disappointed to see your photo display of the ASEE 2000 conference. Why?
Although engineering is a male-dominated field, there were women in one session: WIED. That is where my presentation, which concerned female engineering students, was accepted. Although this session drew over
70 people, I see virtually no evidence of any female speakers in your pictures.Please show us, too--and not just in photos at the zoo.
It's All How You Look at It Your item in September's Briefings on how many full professors teach undergraduate courses ("Full
Loads for Full Profs,") reminded me of why one should only own mutts for dogs. With purebred dogs there is an expectation of performance, while with mutts there is none. If a mutt shows any positive
attribute, it is unexpected and therefore praiseworthy. If you start with a low enough standard there is always plenty of room to brag.
If your standard for full professors is that none of them would be expected to teach undergraduate courses, then indeed the news that 61 percent of them do is praiseworthy. But is that not the wrong
standard? Should we not expect that all full professors, who get their pay either from tuition dollars or publicly-sponsored research, be required to teach undergraduates? Instead of crowing about this sorry
state of affairs, your headline should have blared "39 percent of full profs never teach undergraduates!"
More on Cooper Union
George Campbell
The Cooper Union
Markus Klausner
Robert Bosch Corp. 
Susan Haag
Arizona State University
P. Aarne Vesilind
Bucknell University
What do You Think?
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