Northern Arizona University

Message from the Dean (Summer 2006):

Summer provides a natural opportunity to pause and reflect on the past academic year, while preparing for the next.  The College of Engineering & Natural Sciences will soon celebrate its second anniversary of life in the new structure; how far have we come, and (more important) where are we going?

We’ve identified common goals – producing graduates in science, math and engineering who are well prepared to move into the professions and make a difference – and a shared commitment to engaging students in the most hands-on application of learning possible.  We’ve reaffirmed our commitment to using faculty research and professional work, together with our partnerships with external agencies and industry, as a primary vehicle for that student engagement and training.  We’ve strengthened our relationships with those external partners and begun more effective communication with alumni and friends.  And we are in the midst of a spectacular renewal of our physical facilities, so crucial to effective learning and work in the scientific and technical fields.

Over this past year, many faculty and staff members in the college made real commitments to assist the university in rebuilding enrollments – one of the great challenges for NAU over the past decade.  And we are succeeding!  Our preliminary estimates for this coming fall are that college numbers will be up by an additional 350 or so.  Letter campaigns, phone calls to applicants, and renewed attention to web sites have all paid off.

We’ve continued to evaluate and improve the quality of our core academic programs.  Review visits by the professional accrediting bodies for Construction Management and for engineering programs went well, with highly favorable comments about the student-faculty relationships, the quality of the instruction, and the excellent facilities available in the newly expanded and renovated Engineering Building.  The Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Environmental Sciences & Education, and Mathematics and Statistics have all completed self-studies in preparation for program reviews this coming fall.  And our faculty continue to invest in program improvement, with a group of Biology faculty receiving an NSF award to enhance the microbiology curriculum and lab facilities, and two other groups of Electrical Engineering and Mathematics faculty receiving grants from the Arizona Board of Regents to improve student success in the initial engineering courses.  Several faculty from Biology and from Mathematics & Statistics spent the year in an intensive series of campus workshops designed to learn about today’s college freshmen and to enhance their introductory courses.

The year ended with one of our major highlights: the Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Design.  More than 25 teams of graduating seniors from the engineering programs presented the results of their capstone design projects, and some 80 posters were presented by undergraduates who have been working with faculty on research and application projects over the past year.  This year a number of alumni and other members of our college Leadership Council returned to campus to judge presentations and interact with the students, and several generous sponsors made possible a luncheon for all participants, awards and travel ‘scholarships’ for the most outstanding presentations, and a hosted visit by high school science students from White River, AZ.

It seems we are turning our attention to the new year with scarcely a pause!  The College has hired some superb new faculty (including several women who will contribute to our goal of further diversifying our faculty and staff) – my next message will introduce them all to you in some detail.  We plan a reception and Ice Cream Social for the afternoon of August 30, in the Engineering building’s internet café / common area, to welcome new students, faculty, and staff to campus and to kick off the academic year.  If you are on campus then, please come by – and by all means, come visit before then.

Laura Foster Huenneke

Contact:

Dr. Laura Huenneke
Dean, College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
(928) 523-2701