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Engineering Education Excellence in 2005/2006

The University of Wyoming’s College of Engineering and Applied Science focuses on preparing our students with a strong background in engineering fundamentals, while offering opportunities to gain experience that goes beyond the regular curriculum in their chosen field of engineering. Small classes with research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students enhance their learning experience, while dedicated faculty and staff work to increase the students’ exposure to new industry ideas and trends. The College’s mission is as follows:

The College of Engineering and Applied Science strives for excellence in teaching, research and service. The faculty emphasizes lifelong learning and provides its graduates with problem solving skills needed to address situations relevant to technology and science and their relationship to societal issues. Excellence in instruction requires that faculty are actively engaged in research, in the practical application of research and/or in consultation. These extramural activities, when balanced with commensurate teaching responsibilities, translate into inspiration for students, resources for graduate education, and faculty development.

In support of the mission, the College’s primary goals are to:

Continuously improve all aspects of the undergraduate experience;
Enhance graduate education and research productivity;
Increase the visibility of the College locally, regionally and nationally; and
Create an environment that motivates the faculty to be engaged in the research, teaching, and service enterprises of the College.

To fully realize our mission requires high quality dedicated faculty and staff, qualified and eager students, support from the University and State, and contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. The College relies on these contributions to differentiate our programs from other schools, and we have been fortunate to be supported by a group of alumni, friends, corporations and foundations at levels that truly do enable excellence.

Opportunities to become involved in contributing during our current 2006 fiscal year are exciting, including support for new or enhanced programs, faculty positions, student support, and facility and technology enhancement. The focus areas are Energy, Materials, Mechanics, Structures, a Center for Excellence in Engineering Education, International Study and Internships, and a Business Certificate for Engineers.

The Wyoming Legislature has several initiatives on its fall agenda that relate directly to the areas of focus for the College of Engineering and Applied Science. The three key initiatives most relevant to the College and their potential effects on the College are as follows:

The Proposed Hathaway Scholarship Program

This Program would essentially enable any Wyoming high school student to attend the University of Wyoming by providing scholarships to all who meet certain basic merit requirements. Therefore, the College will strive to seek donors for scholarships that are focused on the non-tuition costs of higher education and that are available to out of state students. The College will also recommend that a portion of future donations that would be directed toward undergraduate scholarships, instead be applied to graduate student fellowships, endowed professorships and chairs, as well as, other College fundraising initiatives.
The Proposed School of Energy Science and Technology

In response to a request from the Wyoming Legislature, the University of Wyoming proposes to establish a School of Energy Science and Technology that would focus on energy-related education, research and statewide service. The intent is to build on existing energy expertise areas of the University to in the near term encompass oil, natural gas (including coalbed methane), coal, solar, wind, and the related fields of reclamation ecology, carbon sequestration, coal conversion , energy conservation, and electric power (uranium, hydrogen and other energy sources would be addressed longer term). The College of Engineering and Applied Science will be key to the success of this initiative, and several of the College’s focus areas support this Program.
Executive Training Institute

The Wyoming Legislature has asked the University of Wyoming to conduct a feasibility study on the potential development of a graduate business school (focused on executive training) that would be located in Jackson, Wyoming. While the College of Engineering and Applied Science is not a focal point for this initiative, the College recognizes the value of such an Institute for its alumni and for the potential to connect with engineers that have graduated from other universities that attend the Institute.

The College of Engineering and Applied Science has developed projects to support its focus areas that are potential opportunities for contribution by those who value a strong Engineering Program at the University of Wyoming. The following outlines the development projects for FY2006:

School of Energy Program
Business for Engineers Program
International Experience Programs
Named Interdisciplinary Center for Engineering Design and Teaching
Additional Chairs, Professorships, Graduate Fellowships and Scholarships

For additional information or to discuss alternative areas of interest, please contact:

Gus Plumb, Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Science, gplumb@uwyo.edu

Sherrie Merrow, Director of Development and Communications, 307-766-2619, smerrow@uwyo.edu