Newsletter Archives; Fall 1997

In October 1996, the ME Chair appointed a Focus Committee to develop a five-year strategic plan for the Department. The committee's first priority was to develop a faculty hiring plan to improve the competitive position of the Department while filling vacancies created by five recent retirements.

Named to the committee were Associate Professors Duane Storti, Chair, Dale Calkins, and Brian Fabien, and Professor James Riley. The committee identified technical focus areas in which the Department, building upon existing faculty expertise, could establish and maintain a significant leadership position. Criteria used to evaluate possible focus areas included the ability to build on natural advantages such as strong local industries, possibilities for collaboration with other departments and with industry, number of interested faculty, and the ability to attract funding. The entire faculty was involved in this process, and nine proposed focus areas were submitted to the committee for consideration.

Following much discussion involving all faculty members, the list of technical focus areas was narrowed to three. In May 1997, the Focus Committee recommended that faculty recruiting be in the following areas: Electronic Packaging/Smart Materials; Environmental Mechanical Engineering; and Health Care Product Technology.

The committee concluded that the Department has the capability to achieve technical leadership in each of these areas which will enhance its educational and research programs. Recruiting outstanding faculty in these areas will complement and enhance existing expertise and programs and allow us to advance the frontiers of engineering science and technology. The faculty approved the recommendation that the Department seek authority to hire one new faculty member in each of the three technical focus areas mentioned above.

The Focus Committee continues to develop the Department's five-year strategic plan. Much work remains to be done, but the committee's recommendations to date chart a path that will enhance the Department's teaching and research programs and ensure we accomplish our mission of contributing to the advancement and well-being of society, and producing teaching, research, graduates and expertise which are widely sought.