Engineering students say classes, equipment inadequate

By REBECCA MARTIN

An increased number of students in college of engineering classes and a lack of updated equipment in computer labs are concerning some engineering students.

While students have different ideas as to why there is an increase of people in classes, the larger number of students is noticeable.

“Usually there’s 40-plus people in a class,” said Michael Huffman, a senior in the college of engineering. “That’s big for the engineering department.”

In addition to class size, there are other problems in the college.

“The lab equipment is old,” Huffman said. “I’ve talked to teachers that say it used to be good 10 to 15 years ago, and it’s not now.”

A decrease in the college of engineering’s budget may be partially to blame for the increase in class size.

The 2004-2005 budget for the College of Engineering is $4 million for the 760 students enrolled in the school.

This figure has decreased each year since 1999-2000, with the budget that academic year being $4.3 million. That year, 631 students enrolled in the school.

The school used to be competitive with other schools in the California State university system, said David Landefeld, a senior construction management major.

Now, Landefeld said, the engineering school needs updated equipment.

“The computer labs are dying,” Landefeld said. “They need updating.”

The college of engineering consists of two different departments, the department of civil and geomatics engineering and construction, and the department of mechanical and industrial engineering.

Between the two departments, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, construction management, geomatics engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering or civil engineering.

An e-mail inviting engineering students to a meeting today was sent by Fresno State provost Jeronima Echeverria on Jan. 21.

“We don’t know what the meeting is about,” Landefeld said. “But the email says they want to keep us abreast about what’s going on.”

Changes to the college of engineering would not be a new trend this academic year.

The Fresno State web site reported earlier this year the computer science department would be moved from the engineering school to the school of math and sciences.

The meeting, for all engineering and construction management students, will be held today at noon in Engineering East Room 191.