Michigan Tech Board of Trustees Approves Nine New Degrees

Nine new degree programs--most of them in computer engineering and business--were approved today by the Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees at its regular meeting in Houghton.

The board’s action included final approval for a Master of Science and a PhD in Computer Engineering, which were initially approved at the Board’s March meeting and sent to the State Academic Affairs Office for review and endorsement. Computer engineering is a hybrid discipline born of computer science and electrical engineering.

One of the seven new degree program proposals approved to advance to the State Academic Affairs Office is a Master of Science and PhD in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors.

Applied cognitive science applies the principles of cognitive psychology to develop practical solutions for real-world problems such as effective teaching methods.

Human factors is a multi-disciplinary science within the framework of cognitive science that focuses on human needs in the design of products, work processes and technological systems. It is an emerging discipline critical to technological advancement.

The six remaining new degree proposals are all for bachelor of science degrees with majors in various business disciplines, including accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing, and operations and systems management.

The new BS degrees replace the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with concentrations in specialty areas, which the School of Business and Economics now offers. The BS adds recognition to the degree and should help increase the job placement rates at graduation.

"These new degree programs will enable Michigan Tech to remain ahead of the curve, academically and in terms of preparing students for a changing job market," said President Glenn D. Mroz.

In other business, the Board

* approved a process for continuing to move ahead with the student apartment project. Bids are expected in about a week.

* approved appointments to professor with tenure for Ronald L. Strickland, Humanities, and K. Michael Gibson, Biological Sciences.

* approved promotions to professor with tenure for Sonia Goltz, School of Business; Ann Maclean and Andrew Storer, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; Bruce Mork, Electrical and Computer Engineering; John Gierke, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences; and Roger Held, Visual and Performing Arts.

* approved appointment to associate professor with tenure for Beatrice B. Smith, Humanities, and Nancy Auer, Biological Sciences.

* approved promotions to associate professor with tenure for Ramakrishna Wusirika, Biological Sciences; Mari W. Buche, School of Business and Economics; Martin J. Thompson, Chemistry; Zhanping You, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Zhenlin Wang, Computer Science; Robert E. Froese, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; and Jeffrey Allen, Roshan M. D’Souza and Gregory Odegard, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics.

* granted professor emeritus status to Milton Olsson, retired from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.