Too many Cal Poly engineering students failed this class, so professors changed the way they taught it

Three Cal Poly Pomona professors have received a Cal State University Faculty Innovation Award for their work redesigning a required upper division engineering course in fluid mechanics and improving the pass rate from 66 percent to 89 percent.
From 2007 to 2014, 34 percent of the more than 3,000 students who enrolled in the university’s fluid mechanics class failed, received a D or withdrew. The class was taught in a traditional lecture format and was required for all mechanical and civil engineering majors.
Hoping to find a better way, Professor Paul Nissenson enlisted professors Juliana Fuqua and Faye Wachs in the psychology and sociology department to measure student understanding and confidence as he tried different teaching methods.

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Comfort Systems USA Announces Acquisition

Business Wire | February 01, 2024

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. today announced that it has closed its previously announced transaction to acquire Summit Industrial Construction, LLC (“Summit”) headquartered in Houston, Texas. As previously disclosed, Summit is a specialty industrial mechanical contractor offering engineering, design-assist and turnkey, direct hire construction services of modular systems serving the advanced technology, power, and industrial sectors. Summit’s capabilities encompass a wide range of modular and site-based construction, including process piping, equipment setting, large pipe rack trestles, and related steel erection and specialty concrete work. Summit is a trusted supplier to some of the world’s largest advanced technology, power and industrial companies and is currently deployed on several major chip fabrication projects. Initially, Summit is expected to contribute annualized revenues of approximately $375 million to $400 million, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $35 million to $40 million. In light of the amortization expense, Summit is expected to make a neutral to slightly accretive contribution to earnings per share in 2024 and 2025. Brian Lane, Comfort Systems USA’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are delighted to announce the closing of our agreement to acquire Summit, an extremely capable provider of modular and other complex mechanical services. Summit brings a stellar reputation as a modular technology leader in growing end markets, including multiple ongoing and large semiconductor projects. We are happy to welcome Summit’s wonderful leadership team and excellent production and craft workers across many states, and we are confident Summit will continue to innovate and grow as a part of our network of world-class contracting companies. We are grateful that Summit has chosen to become part of Comfort Systems USA.”

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