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April 2003

New engineering program produces first graduates

Joe Campbell

The College of Computing Sciences and Engineering is preparing to send its first mechanical engineering graduates into the working world.

The program began in fall 2001 with 17 students, and the first graduates are expected in spring. The two students preparing to graduate, however, won't be the only graduates for long. The program has 45 students and is growing, much like the college's other engineering programs.

As the first students prepare to graduate, the college is preparing its self-study before an accreditation visit this fall. All of the college's programs are accredited or undergoing the process to receive accreditation.

The engineering program's advisory board, comprised of 20 to 30 members of local companies, queried the community and found a need to add civil and mechanical engineering programs to the on-going electrical engineering program. With support from the administration and adequate funding, the electrical engineering program was enhanced and the civil engineering program started, followed by the mechanical engineering track.

Mechanical engineering graduates can work in areas such as heating and cooling systems, power generation, fluid flow, and machine design and motion. Potential employers in the Jacksonville area include JEA and CSX Transportation, as well as many design and construction firms.

"Jacksonville, as everyone knows, is a bustling community," said Dr. Joe Campbell, director of the engineering program. "Our students will not have any problem finding employment."

Computing Sciences and Engineering Dean Neal Coulter said growth is good for engineering jobs, especially in Florida and Jacksonville. The demand for engineers in the state is expected to increase 20 percent in the next 10 years, and Coulter said that figure could be higher in Northeast Florida.

Jared Slabicki, 27, plans to graduate in spring from the program. His goal is to join the Navy later this year to attend pilot's school.

For him, the mechanical engineering program seemed a more interesting and logical choice of major considering his straight A's in calculus. However, he acknowledged that being one of the first students in the program had its drawbacks since labs, facilities and the faculty have been undergoing growing pains.

Coulter and Campbell are looking forward to easing those pains with the Science and Engineering Building scheduled to open later this year.

They also praise the engineering students and faculty for the new program.
"We've had very good response for faculty to join us," Campbell said, citing the 120 applications that came in for the last faculty position. Coulter said the building and accreditation will help to attract students and future faculty