BOT Notebook: College of Science and Technology to change name
The Board of Trustees unanimously voted to change the name of the College of Science and Technology to the College of Science and Engineering this morning.
The name was changed to reflect the growth of the engineering department, said Provost Michael Gealt.
“We’ve got a relatively new engineering program, about 15 years old, and some people don’t even realize we have (it) because we don’t have what most universities have — a college that has engineering in the title,” Gealt said at the Academic Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday.
Gealt called the name change an "important milestone" for the college.
"We think (CMU's) program will be at the forefront of other engineering schools in the state of Michigan," he said. "It's important to have (engineering) in the name of the college for students so that when they're looking for a college to attend, we will attract the best students here."
Faculty of the College of Science and Technology voted 92-20 to change the name of the college to the College of Science and Engineering at an Academic Senate meeting Dec. 1.
Facilities updates
The board also discussed future renovations to the second floor of the Charles V. Park Library and Grawn Hall. No motion was made in the discussion.
"It's very important when we look at our master plan and we look at the efficiency of the university services we have, it's important we have people coordinating that effort (to figure out what facilities need updating)," said Trustee William Kanine. "We need to make sure we're not underutilizing the space ability here."
An atrium is planned to be built on Grawn Hall and reference books in the library will be taken out in order to open up space available. Many of the reference books are available online, so the library would not be losing the resource but turning towards a digital route.
The library can get items for a lesser cost from an inter-library service called "Documents on Demand." The service can also scan and provide students with currently-owned library articles and portions of electronic books.
"It's important when we look at facilities projects to design those projects and have them promote student use for the whole university," Kanine said.
Ronan Hall is scheduled to undergo renovations, but a motion to approve facilities updates have not been brought before the board yet.
Collective bargaining agreements approved
Trustees unanimously voted to approve a motion allowing President George Ross to sign collective bargaining agreements for 2016-2017 with several unions.
These include the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians/Communication Workers of America, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, CMU Supervisory Technical Association and the American Federation of Teachers.
Contracts for these union's collective bargaining agreements expire June 30.
