Never Too Old To Learn: A Report On The Experiences In Boeing’s Welliver Faculty Fellowship Program

This paper outlines my experiences in the Welliver Faculty Fellowship Program sponsored by The Boeing Company for the summer of 2009. The experience is traced from first learning of the Welliver Program, the application process, acceptance, actual time spent at Boeing, and what happens post Welliver. From the first contact, Boeing personnel were extremely professional and the Welliver program achieved its overall goals: “to provide faculty with a better understanding of the practical industry application of engineering, manufacturing, information technology and business skills, to help faculty enhance the content of undergraduate education in ways that will better prepare tomorrow's graduates for careers in a global environment and, to have faculty observe the Boeing environments, processes, and procedures with ‘fresh perspectives.’ Faculty will use their expertise to help identify areas for possible improvements and document their observations at Boeing.” Overall, the program was very valuable for me professionally. Boeing also received valued feedback on their operations. Some of the Fellows’ observations led to constructive suggestions offered to help the Welliver program process improve. The paper will also outline how the Welliver program has impacted my teaching in my subsequent courses and how I am able to share my experiences with the faculty and students at my institution. The Welliver Faculty Fellowship Program is something for which Boeing should be commended and remain committed.