A re-engineering of the engineering program
Archived article from Oct 1, 1999
By Stacey B. Hersh
It didn't take long for Michael T. Klein to become fully immersed in his new job as dean of engineering. "I don't think I fully anticipated how interesting and how much fun this job would be," he said.
To begin with, Klein helped bring about the recent name change from "College" to "School of Engineering" for the program that began as Rutgers Scientific School in 1864 and became the College of Engineering in 1914. The new name, said Klein, sends "a clear message that we are a professional school that fully integrates its undergraduate, graduate, teaching and research programs."
Creating a new identity for the school is only part of the plan. Other innovations include:
--A new engineering co-op program that offers students a chance to gain experience at major companies such as Lucent Technologies, Allied Signal and Kraft. Students earn six credits and are paid $12 to $17 an hour while enrolled in the optional two-semester program.
--A broadcast e-mail system that reaches all 2,200 engineering students. The system provides a monthly update and allows students to raise problems that aren't being resolved in other ways.
---A new design, simulation and visualization laboratory that functions as a "smart" classroom offering audio, video and Internet capabilities. The $600,000 lab features 60 360-megahertz Sun Microsystem Ultra 10 workstations with 3-D graphics capabilities, and smartboard technology that allows whiteboard notes to be published directly to the Internet.
--The first Center for Advanced Research in Enterprise Solutions, part of a new Unisys Corporation university outreach and research program. Unisys donated approximately $350,000 worth of software, management support services and equipment, including two 4 Processor 450-megahertz Pentium II Microsoft Windows NT servers and a four-seat, 450-megahertz Pentium II laboratory.
--A new bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering, the first such accredited program at a public college in the Northeast.
--The appointment of Associate Professor Helen Buettner to the new position of associate dean for graduate education and research.
--The creation of a School of Engineering advisory board.
Other plans for the school include a digital engineering library link, a student lounge/study area with computer workstations and a major overhaul of the computer infrastructure.
"We are right on track with the school's strategic plan," stated Klein. "We have exceeded our enrollment goals this year, 10 faculty searches are under way, sponsored research continues to grow with funding now topping $35 million, and we are developing and implementing programs that will enhance engineering education -- all of which advance us toward our goal of becoming one of the top 10 engineering schools in the country."
Klein is quick to credit the hard work, leadership and support of faculty and central administration for the progress made over the past year.
"This represents a very real campus commitment to engineering," he concluded.
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