We prepare students to create the future  

The College of Sciences and Arts is engaged with every other college and school as strong partner in change to make Michigan Technological University a premier modern technological university – one that teaches and researches all aspects -- human, cultural and social, structural and organizational, as well as the business, scientific, technical, and engineering dimensions -- of the technological world in which we live.  

Our focus in education is 1. to provide innovative undergraduate degree offerings, minors and graduate programs appropriate to the growing scope of the challenges, the complexity and diversity of the technologies of the 21st century and 2. to offer the general education, the liberal arts that provide all Michigan Tech students with the communicative, analytic and cultural skills necessary to work in a wide variety of fields.

Regarding new knowledge, research and innovation, the size of most of the disciplinary departments places limits on their ability to establish world-class recognition, i.e., recognition for the unit as opposed to outstanding individuals within the unit. Thus, meeting the goal of national and international recognition will require identifying and promoting programs that cross disciplines and draw on strength of multiple departments in new ways.  

The focus on university-wide ideas and programs is also necessitated by the unique situation of the Sciences and Arts at Michigan Tech illustrated in Fig. 1 : due to its dual educational role, the college is - in terms of faculty and teaching responsibilities (Student Credit Hour production) - the largest unit on campus. However, in terms of majors, and hence especially in terms of the alumni base, it is a relatively small portion of the university. Since all departments and faculty are affected by diminishing State support in the same way, the faculty and programs of Sciences and Arts need to be able to make a case statement for and obtain a share of the capital campaign that goes beyond their alumni base.

In the following, the ideas, the opportunities, and the needs in support of the three university goals
            GOAL 1: World-class diverse faculty, staff and student population
            GOAL 2: Distinctive and rigorous discovery-based learning experience
            GOAL 3: World-class research, scholarship, and innovation in science, engineering and technology
are therefore presented in a fashion that demonstrates how the education, research, scholarship, and creativity goals and needs of individual departments contribute to an overarching and university-wide vision.  

The statement of the National Academy of Engineering “The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century” articulates clearly why strong Sciences and Arts departments must be integral parts of a modern technological university:

            Need for strong mathematics and sciences departments:

"Engineers in 2020, like engineers of yesterday and today, will possess strong analytical skills. At its core, engineering employs principles of science, mathematics, and domains of discovery and design to a particular challenge and for a practical purpose."

            Need for Fine Arts to integrate the arts into the total university experience:

"Creativity (invention, innovation, art) is an indispensable quality for engineering, and given the growing scope of the challenges ahead and the complexity and diversity of the technologies of the 21st century, creativity will grow in importance."

            Need for a strong Humanities department:

"As always, good engineering will require good communication. Engineering has always engaged multiple stakeholders—government, private industry, and the public. In the new century the parties that engineering ties together will increasingly involve interdisciplinary teams, globally diverse team members, public officials, and a global customer base. "

            Need for strong Social Sciences:

"In the past those engineers who mastered the principles of business and management were rewarded with leadership roles. This will be no different in the future. However, with the growing interdependence between technology and the economic and social foundations of modern society, there will be an increasing number of opportunities for engineers to exercise their potential as leaders, not only in business but also in the nonprofit and government sectors. Policy decisions in technological societies will demand the attention of leaders who understand the strengths and limitations of science and technology."  

Biological Sciences
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Chemistry
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Computer Science
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Cognitive and Learning Sciences
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Exercise Science, Health and Physical Education
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Humanities
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Mathematical Sciences
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Physics
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Social Sciences
            related strategic goals and campaign plans

Visual and Performing Arts
            related strategic goals and campaign plans  

            Diversity

            Creativity

            Culture, Communication, Ethics

            Emerging Sciences and Technology

            Health

            Sustainability

            Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education  
 

quantitative values of the 4 primary (university) metrics
            Incoming Freshmen ACT Scores
            Number of PhD Awards
            Research Awards
            Endowment Value

qualitative metrics
            creating the whole person
            diversity
            interdisciplinarity
            sustainability
            STEM  

Creating new degree programs
            Health&Physical Education degree (target start Fall 2007)
            PhD and MS in Exercise Science (target Fall 2008)
            Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) (target Summer 2009)
            5y MS in Chemistry
            PhD in Atmospheric Physics (interdisciplinary) (target start Fall 2007)

Assessing and improve current offerings
            Current UG Concentrations in Mathematics
            Differentiate Introductory Physics courses to target audience
            More import of international and cross-cultural issues in HU offerings
            General Education
            ESL
            Distance Learning Introductory Physics and Astronomy courses

Creating Research Centers
            Green Chemistry