THOMAS D. HIGGINS

PERSONAL DATA:

Birth Date: January 9, 1940

Addresses: Technology Program
Box 2266
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Texas 77341
Phone: 936-294-1204
FAX: 936-294-1193

2108 Avenue S
Huntsville, Texas 77340
Phone: 936-295-6850

Marital Status: Married - two children

EDUCATION:

1981 Ed.D. East Texas State University.
Major: College Teaching of Industrial and Technical Education.
Minor: Vocational and Technical Education.
Dissertation: "An Experimental Study of Safety Attitudes in Relation to Eye Protection Issuance Procedures."

1978 M.S. East Texas State University.
Major: Industrial Education
Thesis: "A Study to Determine Whether Secondary-level Industrial Safety Programs Teach the Needs of Industry."

1977 B.S. East Texas State University.
Major: Industry and Technology

1958 High School Diploma
Sulphur Springs High School
Sulphur Springs, Texas

SPECIALIZED TRAINING:

2000	Staff Training Course in Blackboard, web-based instructional program (replacement for Web Course in a Box). SHSU Computer Services, October 18, 2000.
1998	Staff Training Course in Netscape Composer, Creating Web Pages, SHSU Computer Services, January 18, 1998.
	Staff Training Course in Web Course in a Box, Innovative Ideas for Your Internet Course, SHSU Computer Services, Hosted by Dr. Tom Chasteen, January 21, 1998.
1997	Staff Training Course in Web Course in a Box, Become an Instructor: Upload Your Student , Create Your Class Web Sight, SHSU Computer Services, November 20, 1997
	Staff Training Course in Power Point 4.0, Enhancement: Design, Fonts, Headers, and Footers, SHSU Computer Services, November 17, 1997.
	Staff Training Course in Power Point 4.0, Getting Started: Editing Text and Adding Objects , SHSU Computer Services, November 10, 1997.
1993	Seminar in Microsoft Excel, Williams Computer Center, Houston, April 16, 1993.
1991	Writing across the curriculum seminar: improving student writing skills, Waterwood National Resort, February 22-23.
1990	"Hands-on Troubleshooting and Repair of PC's" American Institute, Dallas, May 25-27. Course consisted of 24 clock hours of troubleshooting and repair of the IBM personal computer.
1987	Attended Brazos Valley Industrial Arts Association workshop "Low Cost Method of Teaching Manufacturing & Automation," at Tomball.
1986	Completed CPR instructor course, American Red Cross, Huntsville
	Attended Texas Industrial Arts Essential Elements workshop, Houston.
1985	Completed CPR certification course, American Heart Association, Huntsville.
	Attended National Robotics Conference, Shreveport.
1984	Attended Two-day Robotics Seminar, Houston.
1974	Independent Business Management Training Course, Denver, Colorado. Course consisted of 80 clock hours of techniques designed for individuals entering small business as owners/operators. Topics included basic techniques in accounting, merchandising, customer relations, and employee management.
1968	Advanced Electronics Training Course. Chanute AFB, Illinois. Course consisted of 300 clock hours of advanced electronics and 500 hours of advanced study of government weather equipment such as tracking and data gathering equipment for upper air meteorological instruments, analog to digital conversion equipment for meteorological data, multiple ceiling cloud height radars, and doppler-based storm detection radars.
1963	Basic Electronics Training Course. Chanute AFB, Illinois. Course consisted of 570 clock hours of fundamental electronics and 360 hours study of electronic weather equipment and associated test equipment.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

1995 - present Chair and Associate Professor, Technology Program, College of Education and Applied Science, Sam Houston State University.

1998 - present Acting Chair, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Education and Applied Science, Sam Houston State University.

1982 - 1995 Associate Professor, Technology Program, College of Education and Applied Science, Sam Houston State University.

Electronics courses (DC, AC, Solid State Circuits, Computer Technology, Industrial Controls, Communications, and Digital); Industrial safety, Motion and Time Study, and Plant Layout/Material Handling.

1980 Instructor, Industrial Technology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University.

Electricity and Electronics, Occupational Analysis, Motion and Time Study, and Quality Control

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE:

1980-1982 Production Supervision, E-Systems aircraft overhaul and modification, Greenville, Texas.

Supervised production employees in the manufacture and installation of parts for aircraft electronics systems.

1974-1975 Retail Management, Service station owner/operator.

Duties included customer relations, employee supervision, records maintenance, and mechanical repairs.

1962-1974 Electronics Repair Supervision, Air Weather Service, United States Air Force.

Duties included electronics work center supervisor, electronics repair, and staff duties in electronics training, safety, and quality control

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Publications:
"Industrial Hygiene: Tuned in to WII-FM (What's In It For Me?)," Journal of Industrial Technology: Winter, 1992-93.

"Tornadoes: Are you Prepared?", a column published by Country World , a weekly publication serving farmers, ranchers, and rural citizens throughout the state of Texas, May 10, 2001.

"Take Safety Measures, Even With Family", a column published by Country World, May 24, 2001.

"Serious as a Heat Stroke: Safety Expert offers 'Hot' Seasonal Advice", a column published by Country World, August 16, 2001

" A Rash of Poison Ivy: Avoid Those Three-Leaf Vines", a column published by Country World, August 16, 2001

Acquisitions:
Instrumental in securing Construction Management scholarships from The National Association of Home Builders and the Greater Houston Builders Associations.

Affiliations:
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT)
International Technology Education Association (ITEA)
Association of Texas Technology Education (ATTE)
Texas Council of Technology Educators (TCTE)
Brazos Valley Technology Education Association (BVTEA)

Participation:

2000 Directed workshop for local teachers on computerized grade program to enhance faculty/student correspondence through weekly grade updates via email.

1998 Developed IT 472 Industrial Safety, A Web-Based Course. First semester content consisted of twelve web-based and three on-campus lectures, 500 student-posted safety summaries, 936 student-researched responses to weekly questions, 39 research projects, and two interviews involving industry safety directors.

1998 Coordinated with Greater Houston Builders Association in establishing a scholarship for the Department's Construction Management Degree Program.

1997 Developed degree program in Construction Management. Since inception has grown to largest single major in the department.

1997 Represented the University and the Technology Program at the Fall Meeting of the Texas Council of Technology Educators, Abilene Christian University, October 31, 1997.

1998-2001 Sponsor to student chapter of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/

1995-1999 Sponsor to Student Chapter of National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT).

1982-2001 Served as host of Brazos Valley Technology Education Association (BVTEA) student competition.

1995 Evaluated the electronics programs of Lee College at three Texas Department of Justice prison system units. Identified areas of need and suggested improvement methods. 1995.

1994 Mentor for Physics research: "A Comparison of the Performance and Longevity of Lamps Powered by Alternating Current and Lamps Powered by Rectified Current." Huntsville High School Physics Department. 1993-94.

1993 Authored article "Industrial Hygiene: Tuned in to WII-FM (What's In It For Me?), Journal of Industrial Technology: Winter, 1993.

1987 Paper presented at Brazos Valley Technology Education Association entitled "Introducing Robotics Concepts Without a High-Priced Robot."

1987 Hosted open forum discussion with the Texas Council of Technology Supervisors (TCTS) and the Texas Council of Technology Educators (TCTE) at the Association of Texas Technology Education conference.

1983-1987 Electronics project judge for Association of Texas Technology Education student competition.

RECOGNITION:

1993-1999 Recognized as a Certified Senior Industrial Technologist by the National Association of Industrial Technology.

1976-1977 President's honor roll, East Texas State University.

1969 Electronics Technician of the Year, United States Air Force Air Weather Service.

1969 Maintenance Technician of the Year, United States Air Force Military Airlift Command.