Trustees at Indiana University have approved the establishment of a new engineering program on the Bloomington campus and the first two degrees in the program.

The new program follows the release of an economic development study from 2014 and was strongly endorsed by a university task force and a blue ribbon committee of engineering experts. It will be a part of the School of Informatics and Computing and have close ties to other scientific disciplines on campus.

“An engineering program at Indiana University Bloomington is vital if the campus is to reach its fullest potential in providing students with relevant and rewarding educational opportunities and to support the very best research of our faculty,” said IU president Michael A. McRobbie. “Such a program, based on our strong traditions of critical analysis, creativity, innovation and exploration, will substantially enhance our ability to increase Indiana’s economic competitiveness and support a culture of entrepreneurism across the whole state.”

IU trustees also approved proposals for a bachelor’s and Ph.D. degree in engineering that will begin in the 2016-2017 academic year. A master’s degree track is expected to follow closely after the launch.

The goal of establishing an engineering program at IU Bloomington is part of the Bicentennial Strategic Plan for Indiana University, which was approved last December. In his remarks during the presentation for the new program, McRobbie noted that IU Bloomington is the only one of the 62-member research universities of the Association of American Universities that does not have some form of engineering.

Source: Indiana University