School of Engineering Strategic Plan
2009 – 2014
Preamble
The following strategic plan outlines the mission and vision of the School of Engineering as well as identifies directions and goals that will direct the course of action of the School of Engineering for the time period from 2009 to 2014. This plan was developed by the Strategic Planning Committee formed by Dean Cheraghi in Fall 2008, consisting of faculty members from each of the departments within the School of Engineering. The plan complements the Western New England College Strategic Plan 2009 – 2018 (Individual Focus. Global Perspectives. A Personal Approach to a University Education.) approved by the Board of Trustees on December 9, 2008. The College strategic plan outlines the mission and vision of the College and identifies eight strategic directions. Outlined within each of the directions are goals and, in many cases, strategies for implementation. The School of Engineering strategic plan outlines the mission and vision of the School and identifies four strategic directions. Outlined within each of the directions are goals, followed by a list of actions that support achievement of that goal. Possible methods of implementation of these goals and actions are not always included as they will be developed by the departments and administration of the School.
Vision Statement
The School of Engineering will be recognized as a premiere engineering institution with an emphasis on a contemporary undergraduate education, preferred by undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, prospective employers, and graduate schools nationally and internationally.
Mission Statement
The School of Engineering’s mission is to provide undergraduate and graduate students an outstanding education in engineering through an environment of individual attention and support, dedicated and qualified faculty who are recognized in their fields, and modern facilities. Our graduates will possess the education and learning skills that enable them to put theory into practice, be professionally responsible engineers, and be leaders within the global community.
Core Values
We support the core beliefs of Western New England College and in particular we value:
Student Centered Learning
Promoting a learning environment based on a student first approach to ensure the success of our students
Discovery
Contributing to the research, development, dissemination, and application of engineering knowledge, integrating theory and practice
Holistic Engineering and Leadership
Providing an active learning pedagogy integrating knowledge across disciplines to cultivate leadership and decision making in solving complex problems to better serve humanity
Responsibility
Demonstrating integrity and accountability in all of our dealings
Ethics and Professionalism
Leading by actions characterized by ethics and professionalism
Teamwork
Providing pedagogy and opportunity for the development of successful teaming skills
Community
Being an active and collaborative part of Western New England College and the local, national, and global community
Diversity and Internationalism
Respecting the diversity of human kind, including but not limited to cultural, gender, and nationality differences
Continuous Improvement
Demonstrating successful continuous improvement processes of our School and its programs
Strategic Directions
Direction 1: Cultivate Educational Excellence
1. Foster innovative pedagogy
Encourage faculty to participate in engineering education conferences and workshops
Utilize modern pedagogical tools
Provide funding for faculty to attend workshops and conferences that will increase their teaching effectiveness
Host seminars and workshops on best practices in engineering education
Provide financial support for acquisition of and training on innovative technologies that will increase teaching effectiveness
2. Recruit, support, retain, and graduate excellent undergraduate students
Strive for a 100 perecent placement rate of our graduating students
Hire a professional staff member to assist in increasing the number of undergraduate students entering the School of Engineering
Increase the number of first year students entering the School of Engineering to 140
Increase the number of women and underrepresented students in the School of Engineering
Increase the number of transfer students entering the School of Engineering
Improve the retention rate of our students
Assess and maintain a supportive academic advising system for our students housed within the School of Engineering
Recognize and promote student accomplishments
Evaluate and improve the climate in the School of Engineering to foster professionalism in all students
Encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities within the School of Engineering and across the College
Increase faculty attendance at College and School of Engineering student-related events
Emphasize industrially/clinically and research-based Senior Design Projects
Continue to offer symposia and seminars that expose students to contemporary issues
3. Recruit, support, retain, and graduate excellent graduate students
Work with College administration to develop infrastructure necessary for graduate student recruitment
Increase the number of annual graduate student credit hours to ensure viability of the graduate programs
Hire a professional staff member to assist in increasing the number of graduate students entering the School of Engineering
Ensure frequency of graduate course offerings are compatible with full-time students
4. Improve and expand the curricula
Benchmark, evaluate, and ensure that our degree programs meet contemporary engineering needs
Develop new programs to diversify offerings in the School of Engineering
Provide flexibility in curricula to attract students with diverse academic interests
Increase internship opportunities for undergraduate students
Provide undergraduate research opportunities within the curricula
Provide educational opportunities for populations other than engineering and science
Develop additional graduate programs
Develop and offer additional five-year BS/MS accelerated degree programs to attract new students to the undergraduate programs and retain students for the graduate programs
5. Recruit, develop, and support engineering faculty
Increase funds for faculty to attend, present at, and publish in proceedings of appropriate engineering and education conferences
Provide release time and financial support for faculty to publish in engineering and education journals
Support faculty in efforts that allow them to remain current in their field
Reward faculty for exemplary service to the School, College, and their profession
Support faculty in the pursuit of initiatives that support the College and School of Engineering strategic plans
Institute a faculty mentoring program to support faculty members during their tenure track period
Provide start-up funds for new faculty to institute undergraduate and graduate research programs
Recognize and promote faculty accomplishments
Evaluate and improve the climate in the School of Engineering to ensure a professional environment for all faculty members
6. Provide financial support to engineering students
Increase scholarship funding for School of Engineering students by 20 percent
Work with the College administration to institute tuition waivers to support full-time graduate students from institutional, industrial, and research grant sources
Increase the level of support for student research from external grants and contracts
Direction 2: Improve Recognition of the School
1. Improve ranking in US News and World Reports as one of the ‘best’ engineering schools (where doctorate is not offered)
Increase faculty participation in regional and national conferences
Increase faculty participation in leadership positions in their regional and national professional societies
Increase student participation at regional and national conferences
Increase student participation in engineering competitions
Host regional and national conferences and competitions related to engineering education and research
Encourage faculty to serve as ABET evaluators for their disciplines
Institute Visiting Scholars program for national and international visiting faculty
Encourage faculty to pursue national and international sabbatical opportunities
2. Improve the image of the School of Engineering within Western New England College, to a broader academic community and to the potential student populations
Increase the support of external relations and recruiting
Improve the image of the School of Engineering to the academic community
Increase faculty attendance at College and School of Engineering events, such as College faculty meetings, symposia, Lecture Day, etc.
Increase the exposure of the School of Engineering to potential student populations on a regional, national, and international level
Increase community service and outreach activities of School of Engineering faculty, staff, and students
Direction 3: Expand Infrastructure and Support
1. Improve and expand current facilities
Develop and implement a plan to improve and expand School of Engineering facilities
Identify and develop interdisciplinary laboratories within School of Engineering and between the School of Engineering and other academic units
Improve quantity and quality of the Information Technology support to the School of Engineering
Develop and implement a plan to modernize and maintain equipment as needed within the School of Engineering
Pursue funding for educational and research infrastructure
Leverage interactions with the School of Engineering Industrial Advisory Council to support expansion of infrastructure
2. Develop partnerships with other institutions to provide faculty with access to equipment and facilities not available at the College
Identify faculty members having NSF funding at other academic institutions who could provide summer research opportunities for faculty through NSF’s RUI program
Institute and support an industrial internship program for faculty
Develop research and academic partnerships with local and regional industry and academic institutions
3. Foster relationships with alumni
Identify new initiatives to increase alumni participation at School of Engineering functions
Specify and monitor accounts receiving alumni donations
Provide new opportunities for alumni giving
Cultivate undergraduate students as future alumni
Integrate Sigma Beta Tau alumni honor society and School of Engineering activities
Direction 4: Foster Research and Development
1. Increase funding for research and development
Increase the number of internal and external grants written by engineering faculty
Support faculty, chairs, and deans in their effort to pursue funding opportunities
Continue to work closely with the Development Office to increase annual giving to the School of Engineering
2. Encourage engineering education and interdisciplinary research
Increase the number of refereed publications associated with engineering education and interdisciplinary research
Obtain funding for the School of Engineering to become a clearinghouse of information and research related to interdisciplinary engineering education
Provide support to faculty pursuing undergraduate/graduate research
Provide support to faculty pursuing engineering education/multidisciplinary research
Identify and develop new areas of research and development, both within and outside the School of Engineering
3. Increase technology transfer to and from industry and government
Develop partnerships with local, regional, national, and international industries
Establish centers of excellence to support collaboration within and outside the School of Engineering
Develop and offer engineering short courses to serve the local engineering community
4. Work with College administration to improve research infrastructure
Encourage administration to secure a favorable federal overhead rate for grants and contracts
Negotiate with administration to provide release time for faculty involved in research activities
Work with administration to develop infrastructure and funding in support of the development of intellectual property