CSUB faculty approve two new engineering degrees
By The Bakersfield Californian
Cal State Bakersfield's faculty has approved the creation of the university's second and third engineering degree programs, which are expected to start in the fall.
The CSUB Academic Senate, a governing group of faculty leaders, has OK'd bachelor degree programs in electrical engineering and engineering science. The programs now await the nod from President Horace Mitchell and the California State University Chancellor's Office.
The degree options are a big boost for CSUB's fairly new School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering, officials said.
"That is very exciting. Science faculty has worked very hard on this, and spent a lot of time and energy," Senate Chairwoman Vandana Kohli said. "We think these programs are important for proving more services to our local region and our students."
The new programs also mean CSUB will have to hire new faculty to teach courses -- four of them to be exact, Kohli said.
The new hires and the degree creation is being funded by a $870,000 grant CSUB received last September from the U.S. Department of Education. That grant is renewable for up to four more years.
That federal grant is aimed to enhance science, technology, engineering and math studies at the schools that enroll a high percentage of Hispanic students -- though students of all backgrounds will benefit from the grant.
CSUB in 2010 received a similar grant that established its first four-year engineering degree in computer engineering.
College officials expect the engineering programs will continue to be supported by external funding, and eventually be "self supported" by student enrollment.
-- Jorge Barrientos, Californian staff
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