Wednesday, April 22, 1998
UC campuses receive funds for engineers
ACADEMICS: Initiative seeks to produce 800 more graduates of
computer, electrical field
By Brian Fishman
Daily Bruin Contributor
Industry and Gov. Pete Wilson are pulling Californians further
away from the proverbial farm.
In his budget for 1998-99, Gov. Wilson allocated $6 million to
increase student enrollment in electrical engineering and computer
science.
Wilson allocated the funds because enrollment in these fields
has failed to keep up with the job market. Wilson is not without
support for these reforms.
"The president of the UC system and Dean A. R. Frank Wazzan (of
the School of Engineering) are also in favor of this kind of
expansion," said Dave Brown, a spokesman for the engineering
department.
At Wilson’s request, UC President Atkinson initiated a plan to
increase the number of students in electrical and computer
engineering by 40 percent before 2005.
Here at UCLA, that translates to an extra 800 students a year,
according to Chand Viswanathan, chair of the Academic Senate.
Much of the demand for more skilled technical workers results in
the United States bringing in 65,000 highly-skilled foreign workers
a year, Brown explained.
"There has been an expressed need from industry for more people
in the workforce," said Terry Lightfoot, a spokesman for
Atkinson.
Student reaction to the plan suggests it may be difficult to
convince students to enroll in these majors.
"It’s just boring. Honestly, I don’t know anyone who likes it.
It’s about bank, that’s it," said Grace Lin, an electrical
engineering student.
Other objections concerning the plan have been raised.
Now, with no immediate deadline, members of the Academic Senate
who were unable to affect the original plan because of time
constraints have the opportunity to voice their concerns.
"The Senate will make sure that the other parts of campus get
their say," Viswanathan said.
The main concern is that the cost of educating an electrical
engineering/computer science major can be over $20,000 – more than
the $7,000 average cost of educating a UCLA student.
Some faculty members have reservations about increasing their
numbers, especially when only $6 million has been allocated from
the state.
The money would cover the cost of 800 students at the average
cost, but may not cover the costs of the more expensive engineering
students, Viswanathan explained.
Nevertheless, "the Senate will say yes to an increase (in
engineering students)," Viswanathan continued.
Viswanathan, also a professor in electrical engineering, was
upbeat about the prospect of more students.
"It’s a good time," he said definitively.
Students appreciate industry’s requests for help, but look for
more tangible enticements into high-tech fields.
"Technology, computer chips. The farther away from the farm, the
more money to be made," said Grace Lin, an electrical engineering
student.