Utah System of Higher Education Changes to Existing Academic Program Proposal
Cover/Signature Page - Abbreviated Template

Institution Submitting Request:

Program Title:
Sponsoring School, College, or Division: Sponsoring Academic Department(s) or Unit(s): Classification of Instruction Program Code1:

University of Utah

Current	Proposed (if applicable)
B.S. Mechanical Engineering College of Engineering Mechanical Engineering 14.1901

Min/Max Credit Hours for Full Program Required:

127	/

127	/

Proposed Effective Term for Program Change2:	Fall	2019
Institutional Board of Trustees' Approval Date:

Program Change Type (check all that apply):

	Name Change of Existing Program Program Consolidation
Program Restructure
Program Transfer to a new academic department or unit Program Suspension
Program Discontinuation
Reinstatement of Previously Suspended Program	

	Out-of-Service Area Delivery Program	

Chief Academic Officer (or Designee) Signature:
I, the Chief Academic Officer or Designee, certify that all required institutional approvals have been obtained prior to submitting this request to the Office of the Commissioner.
Date:

I understand that checking this box constitutes my legal signature.

1 For CIP code classifications, please see http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Default.aspx?y=55.
2 “Proposed Effective Term” refers to term when change to program is published. For Suspensions and Discontinuations, “effective term” refers to the term the program will suspend admissions.

Program Change Description - Abbreviated Template Section I: The Request
University of Utah requests approval to restructure B.S. Mechanical Engineering effective Fall 2019. This action was approved by the institutional Board of Trustees on .

Section II: Program Proposal

Program Change Description/Rationale
Present a brief program change description. Describe the institutional procedures used to arrive at a decision for the change. Briefly indicate why such a change should be initiated. State how the institution and the USHE benefit by the change.
We would like to restructure our emphases within the B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree, including the following modifications: Delete "Modeling" emphasis; Add "Sustainable Energy Engineering" emphasis and "Industrial Engineering" emphasis; Rename "Fluid Mechanics" Emphasis to "Fluid Systems Engineering"; Rename "Thermal Science and Energy Engineering" emphasis to "Thermal Systems Engineering"; and update requirements for the existing "Dynamic Systems and Control", "Robotics and Control", "Mechatronics", "Aerospace Engineering", "Biomechanics", "Design and Manufacturing" emphases but keeping those names the same.  The changes are based on student, Department, College and industry feedback and demand and were approved by the Department Curriculum Committee. Some changes are being made to to avoid overlap between existing and new emphases or to make the emphases more attainable to students due to limited offerings of some courses. The institution and USHE will benefit by continuing to offer the most up-to-date and in-demand degrees with upper division courses that will make graduates competitive in the current job market. Not keeping emphases and course offerings up-to-date would leave our students and graduates at a competitive disadvantage.

See attached summary of changes to existing emphases and see attached new emphases proposals.

Consistency with Institutional Mission/Institutional Impact
Explain how the action is consistent with the institution's Regent-approved mission, roles, and goals. Institutional mission and roles may be found at higheredutah.org/policies/policyr312/ . Indicate if the program will be delivered outside of designated service area; provide justification. Service areas are defined in higheredutah.org/policies/policyr315/ . Will faculty or staff structures be impacted by the proposed change?
Updating the B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree emphases is consistent with the University of Utah's mission of preparing students for lives of impact as leaders and citizens by helping them meet current state and industry demand for qualified mechanical engineers within certain in-demand job sectors, including the sustainable/renewable energy and industrial engineering job markets, which were areas the current emphasis structure did not directly address (we did already have courses related to these areas but no way for a student to market themselves as having expertise in those areas). The changes would also contribute to the University mission of generating and sharing new knowledge, discoveries and innovations as well as engaging with local and global communities because local, national and global companies and agencies may seek our students trained in these areas and adding the new Sustainable Energy Engineering and Industrial Engineering emphases may draw students to our program who may have otherwise not considered it. See the New Emphasis proposal forms for more details about how each new emphasis would contribute to the institution's mission and goals. Faculty and staff structures will not be impacted.

Suspension, Discontinuance, or Reinstatements ONLY
If suspending a program, indicate the statewide impact of this change. Explain the reason for suspension and the anticipated length of time for the suspension.

If discontinuing the program, indicate the statewide impact of this change. Explain how currently admitted students may complete the program within a reasonable period of time compatible with accreditation standards either through either (1) enrollment of students at other institutions of higher education; or (2) courses being taught for a maximum of two years after discontinuation of the program or until no admitted students remain who are entitled to complete the program, whichever comes first.
We will discontinue our "Modeling" emphasis as part of this restructuring. Since this emphasis is not well focused in a specific area, it may not be helpful to employers and shouldn't impact the state. Students don't really understand what "modeling" is and very few students have completed this emphasis as a result. We plan to completely discontinue this emphasis permanently.

Phase out/"grandfathering" plan: We have discussed our plan with the Registrar's office and they prefer we only allow one more academic year for students to complete Modeling as well as the two emphases who's names will change (i.e. Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Science and Energy Engineering). Students graduating by Summer 2020 can complete these three emphases with their current names and requirements. Students with a catalog year of 2018-19 or older can complete any current emphasis on the old/existing requirements, but as of Fall 2020, modeling will cease to exist and the names of the other two will change to Fluid Systems Engineering and Thermal Systems Engineering for all students. Students with a catalog year of 2019-20 will only be able to complete the new versions of all emphases as listed in the restructure summary, as well as the two new proposed emphases. Students on older catalog years (2018-19 and prior) who wish to complete one of the two new emphases will be able to change their catalog year to 2019-20 or later.

If reinstating a program, indicate the statewide impact of this change. Explain the reason for reestablishing the program and explain any changes being made to original program.

Finances
What costs or savings are anticipated from this change? If new funds are required to implement the change, indicate expected sources of funds. Describe any budgetary impact on other programs or units within the institution.
These changes shouldn't result in any new costs or savings. The courses required for the emphases already exist and can be taught by existing faculty.