Engineering Biology Bachelor of Science Proposal

2.  University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction

March 21, 2007

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Senate Steering Committee

FROM:            Susan Awbrey, Ph.D.
                        Chair of University Committee on Undergraduate Instruction

RE:                   Engineering Biology Program

After initial discussion of the proposal for creation of an Engineering Biology Program, UCUI made a request that the academic units involved address the following:

• Substantiate the need for the program by showing job opportunities
• Substantiate the need for the program by showing that students are lost from OU by not having such a program
• Clarify if admissions criteria is the same as for other SECS students
• Define the terms bioengineering, biomedical and engineering biology, and discuss why the title engineering biology was chosen for the program
• Discuss how the program is synthesized (i.e., note what courses synthesize the curriculum)
• Add a library report

All of these areas were addressed.  At the second reading UCUI members suggested that

• A few minor grammatical errors be corrected
• The paragraph on the library be rewritten to reflect the addition of the library report
• That the titles of general education areas on page 13 be changed to titles used in the new general education.
• That employer letters and/or the completed survey be added to strengthen the proposal

UCUI members voted to support the proposal with the above changes.  Members of the committee expressed support for the program and awareness that there is a student audience that is excited about completing this program and waiting for it to be implemented.

3.  Senate Budget Review Committee Report

TO:                  Susan Awbrey, Chair, UCUI

FROM:            Austin Murphy, Chair, Senate Budget Review Committee

RE:                   Bachelor of Science in Engineering Biology Program

DATE:             3/20/07

The committee found the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Biology Program proposal very good and the budget to be very solid. Most importantly, the proposal seemed to use true incremental students and revenues in the budget. They apparently are projecting (long-term) 60 of 75-120 total majors (pages 19 and 21) to be new students to OU, which seems reasonable (the survey on page 9 provides useful information on a non-trivial number of existing OU students even considering leaving OU without the program).

However, if the program ends in mere cannibalization of existing OU students in biology/engineering, etc., then the need for extra faculty might also dissipate. Perhaps, it could be stated that, if that scenario unfolds, they might be willing to forego the additional faculty that is projected after the first year? Regardless, the program and budget looks pretty sound as is.

5. Assessment Committee Report

From:     Frank Lepkowski, Chair

               University Assessment Committee

 Subject:  Response to Assessment Plan in the Proposal for a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Biology

 The University Assessment Committee (UAC) has reviewed and accepted the assessment plan for the proposed Bachelor of Science in Engineering Biology.

cc:          Virinder Moudgil, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

               Ronald A. Sudol, Acting Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

               Pieter Frick, Dean, School of Engineering and Computer Science

               Arik Dvir, Biology

               Darrin Hanna, Computer Science and Engineering

               UAC files

Last updated:4/12/07
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