Engineering to reexamine undergrad curriculum

Technology changes rapidly, and the Engineering School is trying to keep up. By next month, the school will have three separate committees in place, each charged with evaluating a different aspect of Engineering's undergraduate program, including its curriculum and the use of technology. "We are beginning the process of reinventing ourselves," Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington said this week. The committees will include engineering faculty and students, according to Farrington. Alumni, professionals and representatives from other parts of the University may also be appointed to the committees. Engineering Professor John Lepore, chairperson of one of the committees, said his group will determine the goals of the undergraduate curriculum and "how to structure the curriculum to meet these goals." Another committee, led by Engineering Professor John Bassani, will explore the role of technology in education. They will consider what and how students will be taught in labs, Farrington said. Farrington said he wants the committee to answer the question, "How will computers change instruction in the classroom and in general?" The third committee, chaired by Engineering Professor Dwight Jaggard, will evaluate Engineering's relationship with the University and the engineering industry. Farrington said the committee will examine the feasibility of offering engineering courses for students outside of the Engineering School. Because he has not yet received a charge for the committee, Jaggard said he did not want to discuss the plans for his panel. Farrington said that he will encourage the committees to consult with and visit other engineering schools such as Duke and Cornell universities and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "We want as much outreach as possible," Farrington said. Farrington and Associate Dean John Keenan have not yet completed writing a charge for the committees, but Farrington hopes to receive a preliminary report from the committees in the spring and a final report next fall. The Engineering Student Activities Council submitted a list of possible student representatives, but students have not been selected yet. The department chairpersons have already selected faculty members for the committees.

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