Case School of Engineering

from Plans for the University, 1996-2000

The following is a summary of the plans for the period 1996 to 2000 prepared by the Dean for review with the faculty. The plans draw on a series of discussions involving faculty, and members of the School's visiting committee over the past year. After a period of feedback and revision, the document will be finalized and will provide the guidelines for further planning and for decisions.

Undergraduate programs.In 1993, the Dean appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to review the undergraduate curricular programs of the Case School with the following specific objectives:

Prepare our graduates for the practice of engineering in the 21st Century by addressing the new demands of communication and interdisciplinary teaming.
Review the Science and Engineering Core requirements to determine their appropriateness for contemporary engineering practice.
Reduce the required credit hours [in engineering courses] to allow students to experience a broader range of education while at the University.

These objectives emerged from an extensive program of corporate visits by the Dean and several faculty members. Since that review was launched, the school was visited by an ABET Accreditation Team and several additional considerations for review have been identified, and a number of program modifications will be initiated as of fall 1996.

Professional programs.The Practice Oriented Masters Program introduced in 1994 has been very successful in attracting a new cohort of students. The first class graduated in 1996 and we have had the opportunity to review the program for revisions. During the 1996/97 Academic Year, the number of technical elective sequences will be reduced and a new marketing strategy developed to ensure a long-term educational program.

A new BS/MS program is under development by the Case School of Engineering and the Weatherhead School of Management. This combined program will be designed for a five-year duration for resident students and will include a CO-OP or internship in industry.

Traditional M.S. and Ph.D. programs.The traditional programs of graduate study in engineering that culminate in a research activity and an archival publication will remain the main activity of our graduate educational offerings. However, the reduction of funding through externally supported research jeopardizes the continuation of this activity. We must continue to seek support through federal funding, the Ohio Board of Regents, and private foundations and individuals.

Recruiting and enrollment.The School's enrollment estimates are very close to the current numbers, with a shift of some student numbers from traditional graduate programs to professional programs. Total undergraduate enrollment assumes a continuation of the current size of the entering freshman class, with a substantial increase in the number of binary and transfer students.

Scholarships and fellowships.The current success in undergraduate student recruitment, in terms of both quality and quantity, must be attributed to the merit scholarship programs now in place: the Presidential and Provost's Scholarships, and the Smith/Treuhaft Scholarships, help attract the most qualified applicants, providing a diversified leadership for our undergraduate classes. Among other donors, the Case Alumni Association has provided scholarship funds administered through the Office of Financial Aid, and has accepted the task of raising Fellowship funds to support the first-year course work of graduate students.

Academic departments.The current structure of nine Departments will be retained as the academic organization of the Case School. Each Department has been preparing a strategic plan and will next establish a set of goals for operation, in terms of undergraduate and graduate enrollment and external research support. The Visiting Committee has been particularly important in providing a critical review of the proposed plans. The research centers will be required to prepare strategic plans and present them for review after the academic departments have completed their planning.

Interdisciplinary activities.The interdisciplinary activities of the Case School can be grouped into the following areas of contemporary engineering practice:

Health Engineering — engineering applications to health care
Molecular Engineering — new materials and processes through a molecular perspective
Automation and Manufacturing Engineering — computer modeling, sensing and control of manufacturing processes
Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering — assessment and remediation of public and private facilities
Computer and Information Technology — devices and software for the collection, measurement, transmission, storage, analysis, retrieval, and display of information
Aerospace and Microgravity — aerodynamic transportation and exploratory research in reduced-gravity environments

The first five of these areas have promising futures since they enjoy a broad base of support by providing improvements in the standard of living of the world's population. It is important that the work in these areas be conducted in collaboration with industry to maintain a leadership position by the application of our research. The Case School of Engineering has considerable strengths in all of these areas and world class activities in many.

The last area of activity has an uncertain future because of the limit of funding from the federal government. The Case School will proceed cautiously in making future commitments to this area.