Bachelors Degree Program in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

1. Bachelors Degree Program in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University-CorpusChristi John Fernandez, Ph.D. Chair, Computing Sciences November 10, 2008

2. Presentation Outline • Proposed program background and status. • University overview, mission centrality. • National, state, and local need for more students in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields (STEM disciplines) • Program overview and distinguishing features. • Relationships with existing research institutes and initiatives. • Institutional capability • How you can help? • Summary

3. Proposal Status • Preliminary authority was recommended by the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, and approved unanimously by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. • On October 27th, we were granted preliminary authority by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for a bachelors degree program in mechanical engineering • This program will be administratively located within the currently existing College of Science and Technology. • The detailed program description, which must be approved by the THECB, is being reviewed by the Provost’s Office for submission to the System Board of Regents for their January meeting

4. Program Need • According to the US Department of labor, the total number of mechanical engineering jobs is projected to grow at a 9% to 17% rate through 2014. • Texas is lagging behind the nation in awarding of degrees in mechanical engineering: • American Society for Engineering Education statistics indicate that in 2005-06, 16,063 degrees were awarded nationally – a rate of 57 per million national population. • Texas awarded 810 degrees in 2006 – a rate of only 38 per million of the Texas population. • In Texas, between 2000 and 2007, the number of computer science and engineering graduates grew from 10,082 to 10,638, while the Closing the Gaps target for 2010 in these critical fields is 24,000.

5. Program Need - 2 • In testimony before Texas Senate higher education sub-committees on June 25, 2008, Coordinating Board staff reported that “Texas has ongoing statewide shortages in critical technology fields that drive the new economy.” • Locally, more than 30 firms employ mechanical engineers. Collectively, they have invested over $3 billion in their local operations. • Local industrial needs include the port industries and offshore oil and gas industries.

6. Port of Corpus Christi 7th largest port in in the United States (cargo volume, 2005)

7. Research Expenditures:Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is now the only institution in the top 10 without a Bachelors level Mechanical Engineering Program

8. Proposed Mechanical Engineering Program Overview • Builds from existing program strengths • ABET designed programmatic core • Distinctive features • Research expertise

9. Existing Computing Sciences Department Programs • Engineering Technology • ABET accredited programs in EET and MET; limited research support for marine applications • Geographic Information Science • ABET accredited program; includes Master’s in Geospatial Surveying Engineering; fully incorporated with the Conrad Blucher Institute (CBI) • Computer Science • ABET site-visit for accreditation completed; includes MS; support for CBI and Harte Research Institute for coastal and marine systems using data integration and sensor networks

10. Proposed Mechanical Engineering Core Program (designed to ABET standards) • Credit Hours • University Core Curriculum • (Including: Calculus I, Physics I & II, and Chemistry I)48 • Mathematics & Science 15 • Engineering Courses 27 • Mechanical Engineering (required) 26 • Mechanical Engineering (prescribed) 12 • Total 128

11. Prescribed Mechanical Engineering Electives Designed to Meet Local Needs (12 Credit Hours) • Off-shore Systems Track – initial proposal • Petroleum Refineries Track • Nuclear Energy Track • TSPE Defined Tracks

12. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING OFFSHORE SYSTEMS • MEEN 4350 Controls, Automation & Robotics • Automation in ocean and marine environments, remote guided marine vehicles, ocean instrumentation and acoustics, and real time sea floor mapping • MEEN 4355 Marine Fabrication • Advanced topics in manufacturing and fabrication of marine vessels and offshore platforms. • MEEN 4395 Water Exploration & Desalination Systems • Advanced systems and applications of seafloor mapping and underwater acoustics for fresh water exploration and mining; renewable energy driven coastal, near-shore, and offshore desalination systems.

13. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING OFFSHORE SYSTEMS • MEEN 4380 Renewable Energy • Future and modern energy conversion devices such as offshore wind farms, marine-current farms, bio-fuel cells, and oceanic solar energy systems. • MEEN 4390 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics • Hydromechanics, water wave mechanics, and marine geomechanics; numerical modeling of coastal, nearshore and offshore thermo-fluid systems. • MEEN 4385Offshore Energy Management • Design and energy management of oil and gas exploration, LNG, wind and marine energy systems, and environmental protection systems.

14. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING OTHER TRACKS • DEFINED BY LOCAL NEEDS • DEFINED BY TSPE NEEDS

15. CO-OP & FIELD TRAINING LOCAL INDUSTRY EMPHASIS

16. Capstone & Research ExperienceLOCAL INDUSTRY EMPHASIS

17. Relationships with research programs: • Harte Research Institute • Conrad Blucher Institute • Opportunities in partnership with NOAA

18. Institutional Capability • Facilities and equipment • Existing lab space and equipment available • Implementation costs and financial plan • Solid plan • Seeking commitments from industry

19. How Can You Have a Role? • Opportunities for ME students to intern and co-op • Members of ME Industrial Advisory Board • Capstone projects for students • Letters of support for ME program

20. To sum up… • A mechanical engineering program is consistent with our geographic focus. • It builds on existing capability, and has synergistic relationships with existing research programs. • It has distinctive aspects which differentiate it from other nearby programs. • A&M-Corpus Christi has existing facilities to launch this program and a sound plan to fund implementation. • All available evidence indicates that enrollment in this program will have minimal impact on enrollment at A&M-Kingsville. • Adding a new mechanical engineering program is the most reliable way to contribute to the statewide goal of closing the gaps in this critical field.