[Approved through electronic discussion]
Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate
May 14, 2008
St. Mary’s 113 B; 12:00 PM
Present: D. Biers, D.
Darrow (presiding), G. Doyle, H. Gauder, R. Kearns, L. Laubach
Absent: P. Benson, J. Greenlee,
Guest: T. Eggemeier,
Roll Call:
Six out of twelve members of the committee were present. A quorum was established.
Prayer:
The meeting opened with D. Darrow offering a prayer.
Master’s Degree in Renewable and Clean Energy:
Tom Eggemeier and Ed Mykytka, representing the
I. The following points were made.
1. There
is a strong energy interest with businesses in the
2. The state government is pushing for more energy-related programs and endeavors.
3. This proposal is a collaboration between WSU and UD with AFIT participation. As a result DAGSI is an umbrella organization over the degree program.
4. Degrees will be granted by WSU and UD, but not AFIT
5. The number of scholarships available through DAGSI has dwindled over the years. Hopefully this new program will add more scholarship money.
6. The program calls for five required engineering courses, one math course, and two to three electives. For the UD program a thesis or a special project will also be required.
7. At least fifty percent of the courses must be taken at the host institution. The thesis must also be completed at the host institution.
8. At least one course must be taken at a non-host institution.
9. No new faculty are required to start the program, but there is a search to add one additional faculty to support the program.
10. Ten to twenty students are expected.
11. Hopefully foreign students will be attracted to the program.
12. The proposal was approved by the UD School of Engineering.
13. The Provost Council “blessed” it.
14. Since there
is minimal course requirement outside the
II. The following questions were raised.
1. Is UD expecting 10-20 students per year? Answer: probably 5 – 10 per year with 10 – 20 total in the program.
2. How will the students be advised? Answer: There is typically a graduate advisor in the department. If a student seeks to (or must) do a thesis, a professor with graduate advisory status will advise.
3. The program requires no new faculty or funds. But if a thesis, or special project, is required, additional faculty time will be required. How is this factored into the program? Answer: It is not.
4. With DAGSI involved who monitors the student’s programs? Answer: Programs are monitored by the host school.
5. Will MEE lose students to this new program and reduce the viability of the present program? Answer: Probably students will switch to the new program, but eventually new students will be attracted. The MEE program has more than enough graduate students to remain viable.
6. Approval across unit boundaries may be required. Has that been done? Answer: Not formally, but the Math department has been aware of this potential program and should be able to handle a few more students. Tom Eggemeier will check this out.
7. What
happens next after the UD Board of Trustees approves the proposal? Answer: The proposal will be reviewed by
other schools of engineering in
III. It was pointed out that ample library resources are available.
IV. Several points were made concerning the course specifics of the proposal.
1. While the degree is Renewable and Clean Energy, most of the course offerings are associated with alternative energy sources, many of which are not clean, e.g. nuclear, fuel cells, hydrocarbons, etc. In fact, there are no “clean” courses listed under Clean.
2. Based on the present listing of courses, it may be difficult to get the 3 required courses that deal specifically with renewable and clean energy. Students could be disappointed.
3. Three required courses seem too few. The present requirements in MEE for just a concentration in a particular field of mechanical engineering are four courses. Surely the course requirements for a degree in the specific area should be higher.
4. There are no courses that deal with the most ancient and prevalent clean and renewable energy – hydroelectric.
5. It is possible to earn the degree without taking any courses in Renewable and Clean Energies.
6. While the degree is offered as an engineering degree, the word engineering does not appear in the degree title.
7. Several of the above objections could be removed by simply calling the degree what it is: “Alternative Energies Engineering.” We should not offer a program which is largely not what it purports to be.
V. A vote to accept the Renewable and Clean Energies proposal was taken: 5 yes, 1 no, and 0 abstain.
Other Business
VI. ECAS members were urged to send their fall schedules to Paula Braley. Paula will
email the committee with a blank form. Members are asked to fill it out and return it
ASAP.
VII. Volunteers to do the post-tenure review policies were solicited. A couple names were
mentioned. Dave Biers will follow through. The review must be done by the beginning
of the fall semester.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 1:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
George R. Doyle, Jr., Secretary