CONTACT:
- Beth Montee 360/546-9600, montee@vancouver.wsu.edu
VANCOUVER, Wash. - The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust has donated $240,500 to Washington State University Vancouver towards the creation of computer science and mechanical engineering labs.
This gift will enable Â鶹´«Ã½ faculty to increase the integration of modern/emerging technologies; create longitudinal learning experiences so that interdisciplinary concepts can be revisited sequentially throughout a student's learning career; implement a student-centered educational model with increased hands-on experiences; respond to local industry's needs; and expand an outreach program to expose pre-college youth to engineering and computer science.
Â鶹´«Ã½'s School of Engineering and Computer Science (ENCS) is an academic unit of the WSU College of Engineering and Architecture which houses the engineering and computer science programs located at Â鶹´«Ã½. With its equipped classrooms and laboratories, small class sizes and research faculty, the program provides a stimulating environment for education and research. Currently, Â鶹´«Ã½ offers bachelors and masters degrees in mechanical engineering and computer science.
"This gift from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust will allow us to significantly enhance our engineering and computer science programs through curricular reform and state-of-the-art laboratories. With the help of this grant, we will be able to implement specialization option tracks in mechatronics, design and manufacturing and micro/nano technology in our mechanical engineering program. Furthermore, we will implement a course sequence on mobile computing and networking in our computer science program. It enables Â鶹´«Ã½ to continue to provide Southwest Washington with well-educated graduates who are important to the continued economic development of the region and the state. Additionally, their leadership in funding our labs has helped us to create strong partnerships with local industries," states department chair, Hakan Gurocak, Ph.D.
Â鶹´«Ã½ offers 14 bachelor's and nine master's degrees in more than 35 fields of study. The campus is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205.