|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
For Immediate Release March 22, 2004 |
Public Information Office 310 Owen Hall, Campus PO 1820 Asheville, NC 28804-8507 828/251-6526 - FAX: 828/251-6777 web: http://www.unca.edu/news e-mail: pubinfo@unca.edu |
UNC Asheville and North Carolina State Launch Joint Undergraduate Degree Program in Mechatronics EngineeringUNC Asheville and North Carolina State University formally announced on Monday, March 22, the establishment of a new Joint Bachelor of Science in Engineering Degree Program with a Concentration in Mechatronics. The progr am begins in Fall 2004 and graduates will hold a degree awarded by both institutions. It is the only such program in North Carolina.This initiative was developed through a cooperative effort involving the University of North Carolina-Office of the President, the North Carolina General Assembly, UNC Asheville, and North Carolina State University. Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field of engineering, combining aspects of electrical, computer and mechanical engineering. It is the source of many "smart machines," such as industrial and "bomb sniffing" robots, medical equipment for laser eye surgery, and automobile control systems for engine emissions, navigation and airbag deployment. Mechatronics is also employed in the development of movie special effects, modern commercial aircraft, household refrigerators and washer/dryers, and amusement park rides. The joint degree program provides students the best of both worlds - a strong foundation in the liberal arts from the fourth-ranked public liberal arts university in America and a rigorous engineering education from one of the nation's best engineering schools."We announce today a most powerful synergy, the union of two great traditions, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina Asheville," said UNC Asheville Chancellor Jim Mullen to community and campus members who gathered on campus for the announcement. "The engineer who graduates from this program will be prepared for the world he or she will inherit - technically strong, and with the ability to analyze complex data, to synthesize cogent arguments, to work in teams, to solve problems, to engage in new knowledge, and to lead. This program sets our two campuses in a forward position in the national movement to integrate engineering programs with the liberal arts"UNC Asheville and NCSU have a solid history of success with joint programs. The Two Plus Two Program, developed in 1982, allows students to complete their first two years of college at UNC Asheville and then transfer to NCSU for engineering. It has been one of NCSU's most successful joint programs, according to Nino Masnari, dean of NCSU's College of Engineering.UNC Asheville and NCSU have been piloting a mechatronics program since 1998. The new program will be jointly administered by NCSU and UNC Asheville. The core engineering courses will be taught by NCSU faculty at UNC Asheville; the core science, mathematics and general education courses will be taught by UNC Asheville faculty. The current pilot program, which awards graduates a degree from NCSU, has 16 graduates and 19 currently enrolled students. The universities will run two tracks, both new and old, until the students currently in the program graduate.Masnari, addressing the group, said it is through collaboration that this new program will move ahead and bring into existence graduates who have the expertise to address not only technological problems, but also problems that impact society in the broader sense. "The problems of today's society have to be solved through collaboration -- within a university between different disciplines and different departments, across universities, between industries and universities working together, with government being involved. We simply cannot compete and succeed on a global basis without that collaboration. We look forward to significant success and we're delighted to be partners with UNC Asheville." Richard Lutovsky, president and CEO of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, noted that the Chamber and the Buncombe County Economic Development Commission were instrumental in encouraging the development of a four-year engineering program in Asheville."Manufacturing is no longer about people working individually at routine assembly tasks; those jobs are moving. The manufacturing that is still thriving here is based upon complex projects and bringing innovations to market. Your program . . . will produce the workforce for our future," he said. "Your very fortunate students will have the resources and faculty expertise of two great institutions to draw upon, one known for the quality of its liberal arts foundation and the other for the quality of its technical education. Innovation, technical knowledge, and the ability to work effectively across disciplines - these are the qualities that will make your graduates pre-eminently marketable. If they choose to fill openings right here at home, as we hope they do, their presence in our workforce can only enhance the region's reputation as a place where creativity and technology meet in innovative manufacturing solutions."Asheville area industries have been generous in their support of the pilot mechatronics program. Square D Company donated funds to establish the Square D Teleconference Center at UNC Asheville, which allows NCSU to deliver engineering classes through distance learning. Eaton Corporation has donated funds to help outfit a laboratory and establish an endowed scholarship fund for mechatronics students. ArvinMeritor supports annual scholarships for mechatronics students.Media Contacts:
|
|
|
|
||
|
