Sources: Sue Maes, 785-532-5493, scmaes@k-state.edu;
and Mo Hosni, 785-532-5610, hosni@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/iaa/
http://www.mne.ksu.edu/big12ne
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007
BIG 12 ENGINEERING CONSORTIUM MOVING AHEAD WITH ENROLLMENT AND DECEMBER MEETING OF DEANS
MANHATTAN -- The Big 12 Engineering Consortium is laying the groundwork for a long-term academic partnership among the Big 12 Conference schools. Students can enroll on their own campuses to take fully online nuclear engineering courses from Kansas State University, Texas A&M University, University of Missouri and University of Texas.
"During the spring 2008 semester, students across the Big 12 will have access to exceptional courses," said Mo Hosni, head of the department of mechanical and nuclear engineering at K-State. "Topics range from introductory nuclear concepts to utilization of nuclear technologies, and foundations of nuclear engineering to radiation protection and shielding." Using these courses, Iowa State and Texas Tech universities are both planning to offer a minor in nuclear engineering. Other participating Big 12 schools are Baylor, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
"It's encouraging that the online nuclear courses have drawn immediate student interest," said John Gutteridge, director of university programs with the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, U.S. Department of Energy. "The industry is clamoring for engineers who 'speak nuclear,' who understand the concepts that drive the design of nuclear power plants, and who can further radiological research."
Operating on a grant of more than $600,000 from the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the three-year project builds on the efforts of K-State's Institute for Academic Alliances and the Big 12 Colleges of Engineering to form an academic alliance across the Big 12 Conference.
At a summit Sept. 13-14, Big 12 engineering deans, financial officers, registrars and nuclear engineering education representatives began forming the policy and practice infrastructure of the consortium. The group was supported by representatives from the Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska higher education governing boards, the North Central and South Central accrediting bodies, regional postsecondary commissions, and the national higher education executive officers organization.
"The Big 12 is in a prime position to graduate engineers who are ready to step into leadership positions in the nuclear industry," said John English, dean of the College of Engineering at K-State. "Few institutions can offer students a premier nuclear program with the opportunity to train with nationally recognized experts. K-State, Missouri, Texas A&M and Texas will reach out to students beyond our institutions so they too can, for example, have the opportunity to prepare for the work force by working in a world-class nuclear reactor."
The Big 12 deans of engineering will serve as the consortial leadership and will convene in early December to start cementing agreements. The upcoming meeting will establish long-range plans for how the consortium expects to boost regional economies through an improved work force. The deans will also move forward with the appointment of campus and faculty coordinators for each institution and the designation of an official name for the consortium.
"We must first maneuver through hurdles of traditional finance and registration practice," said Pam Eibeck, dean of engineering at Texas Tech. "By establishing a financial agreement for tuition and fees and enabling the seamless exchange of student information, we will ensure this consortium benefits students. And this is just the beginning. Nuclear engineering is the first of many areas in which we can partner to enhance our students' experiences and meet societal needs."
Further information on the Big 12 Engineering Consortium is available at http://www.mne.ksu.edu/big12ne