Among other decisions made by the committee Wednesday, the University Courses and Curriculum Committee approved the addition of courses for the bachelor’s in engineering program in the Havelock area.
According to David Parish, assistant dean of academic affairs for the College of Engineering, there were several reasons behind the latest course additions.
“Our College of Engineering offers a bachelor of science in engineering degree to residents in the Havelock area. This program basically fits perfectly for the marines stationed at Cherry Point Naval Air Station. We had proposed to have a new prefix MES, Mechanical Engineering Systems, for some of the new courses for this degree which will replace some of the existing courses offered as a part of the degree offered in Havelock area,” Parish said. “This new technical concentration for the BSE degree is an associate between mechanical and aerospace engineering. The courses will be MES 300, 305, 401, 402, and 405.”
John Ambrose, dean of the division of undergraduate academic programs, said these MES courses are developed for a specific purpose.
“The MES courses are being developed to support an undergraduate degree that we maintain at Havelock as part of N.C. State’s efforts to serve the active duty military stationed in our state,” Ambrose said.
Parish said addition of these courses will help the local students in the Havelock area in a number of ways.
“The courses will be structured to be more specific to the location where they will be offered, considering the companies in that area and also the Cherry Point Naval air station,” Parish said. “The five courses mentioned above will consist of two labs. These courses are mandatory for the students pursuing BSE degree in the Havelock area.”
Bill Fortney, eastern regional director for distance engineering programs, said the program is expected to continue to grow quickly.
“Right now, five students have transferred to the program at Havelock. We expect four more to come soon. Considering some of the courses taken by students in this semester, we expect more students will come in pipeline in the near future,” Fortney said. “Also, the MES courses will be live at the Havelock location and other N.C. State courses will be online.”
According to Parish, the implementation of the “three strike rule” for civil, construction and environmental engineering students was also approved at the meeting.
“The three strike rule implies that the civil, construction or environmental engineering students who attempt the same College of Engineering course, three times unsuccessfully, will be withdrawn from the department and transferred to a temporary curriculum for students leaving the College of Engineering,” Parrish said.
However, Andy Hale, professor and undergraduate coordinator in biological and agricultural engineering, said this rule is not meant to dishearten students, but rather help them succeed.
Andy Hale, professor and undergraduate coordinator in biological and agricultural engineering, said, “This three strike rule should not discourage the students. Many times, unsuccessful attempts could mean that they are not in right place, not that the students are weak.”
