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BUILDING T0 \/\/UFILD CLASS
i he question is: How does UK sion as inclusive of all qualified aspi- of the need for graduates with under-
I stack up with the best engineer- rants as possible. And, while it was standing of technical issues to evaluate
ing programs nationally? once accepted that engineering grad- emerging investment opportunities in
I Kentucky Gov. Brereton uates were schooled primarily in the a bewildering array of technologies
jones was interviewed last October mathematics and sciences, more is and small high-tech companies.
I during halftime at a football game. now expected. Graduates must under- It also is an indication that corpora-
During the interview, he said, “we’ve stand the broader societal implica— tions, including the financial commu-
got to develop a world-class engineer- tions of their profession, including the nity, value the analytical skills of
ing school here at UK. " Later, a ethical, economic and environmental engineering graduates for many non-
gubernatorial task force recommend- consequences of their professional technical positions. There is a growing
y ed tojones that he proceed with plans decisions. Increasingly, more atten— movement to create synergistic pro-
  to make this goal a reality. tion is being paid to these topics, both grams between engineering colleges
There are three attributes to a individually, and as part of technical and business schools because of this
“world-class" college of engineering. course work. demand.
First, it pays continuous attention to The challenge to the engineering Second, a "world-class" college of
curricular and instructional innovation education profession is to incorporate engineering provides long-term
in order for its graduates to have the adequate coverage of these essential impact on state, regional, and nation-
needed skills and educational back- items in a curriculum that is already al economies through its graduates,
ground to succeed in the widest possi— over-burdened with technical topics and job creation associated with entrepre-
ble variety of occupations and career maintain a curriculum that fits within neurial activities and technology trans-
I opportunities. james L. Duderstadt, approximately four academic years. fer. Several studies highlight the
y president of the University of Michigan These new demands on engineer- impact that two of the nation’s pre-
  and himselfa noted engineer, has stat- ing education are occurring at a time mier engineering colleges have had
ed "in programs that work, faculty when there is upheaval in the engi- on the economic vitality of their
I members pay continuous attention to neering job market. Many large cor- states, Massachusetts and Minnesota.
I what we teach, how we teach, and who porations are downsizing. Growth is in Studies show that 636 companies in
we teach.” While it was once acceptable small companies and in areas where Massachusetts were founded by MIT
for only half of the entering students in engineering graduates have not tradi— graduates — in 1988 these companies
I engineering to eventually graduate in tionally been in demand. had worldwide sales of 3539.7 billion
engineering, we as a society no longer According to a recent issue of US. and employed 192,000 people. A
tolerate the waste of economic and News and World Report, more than 40 report of the University of Minneso-
‘ human resources when technical chal- percent of the on-campus interviews ta’s economic impact on that state
lenges abound. for MIT graduates last year were con- shows that 271 Minnesota companies,
While it was once accepted that ducted by brokerage firms, pension and more than 400 worldwide, were
I engineering was a profession of white and insurance companies, and banks. started by graduates of the Institute of
g males, today we must make the profes- This demand for engineers is because Technology, which includes the col-
Spring 1994