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A numbers problem for Engineering School

By Jesse Rangel

Monday, August 17, 2009

Despite increased budget cuts, the Kansas Board of Regents has asked the University to find a way to increase the number of students educated in the School of Engineering.

Stuart Bell, dean of the School of Engineering, said he expected the demand for qualified engineers growing in the coming years, despite the school’s inability to fulfill that demand.

“Kansas legislative and business leaders have asked the Regents to increase the number of engineering students we educate,” then-interim chancellor Barbara Atkinson said in her comments to the state legislature July 28. “However, budget cuts mean we are unable to sustain growth in our School of Engineering.”

Bell said Kansas manufacturing was less visible in a state more closely identified with agricultural production.

But because of a 40 percent retirement rate in the aircraft industry during the next five years, he said, the demand for engineers in that field would increase.

aHe said if Kansas schools were not able to meet the demands of that field, the industry would look to other places for employees, which would hurt Kansans in the long run.

“We’re already not able to meet the demand,” Bell said.

But despite budget cuts, Kansas Senate President Stephen Morris (R-Hugoton) will continue to push for increased recruitment, retention and facilities for engineering programs.

Morris said his initiative, which would promote engineering in K-12 education, was important to help boost the economy.

“Even with the budget crunch, I still think it’s important to move forward with engineering,” Morris said.

Bell said he worked with Morris and the two other engineering schools in the state — Kansas State University and Wichita State University — to add to staff and building capacity.

“I think that clearly it’s a great plan that we’ve put forward,” Bell said. “But these are challenging times. Challenging times call for having to make really tough and hard decisions.”

Anthony Frei, Lawrence junior and president of Engineering Student Council, said the dean asked the council to cut back about 5 percent of its budget. Frei said he understood why the cutbacks were necessary, but said he still wanted to see events aimed at engineering students to continue.

“It helps people stay motivated and build social connections,” Frei said. “You’re sitting here as a student and you’re working hard throughout the week, and if you’re able to go to an event once in a while that can help you blow off some steam, that’s really important.”

Morris said he hoped private companies in Kansas would help to contribute funding down the road.

“This is important because jobs are needed now,” Morris said. “We need significant input and help from the private sector to be successful with this.”

— Edited by Megan Morriss

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