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Engineering effort nears funding goal
By Hillary Wundrow
Daily News staff writer
Student interest clear; program gearing up
JANESVILLE - The Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce and Forward Janesville have almost raised enough money to put up a new engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County.
The two groups have raised $500,000 of the $600,000 necessary for the program and building at the UW-Rock County campus at 2909 Kellogg Ave.
“We are 90 percent of the way there,” said Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nancy Forbeck. “The way businesses have responded has literally taken my breath away.”
The new engineering building will be 4,300 square feet and will house six offices, including a program office that will be a center for career services. The 2,200 square foot laboratory will store equipment.
The Chamber and Forward Janesville have worked together for two years to bring an electrical and mechanical engineering program to Rock County. Businesses had reported a shortage of engineers. In the past, the nearest engineering programs were only available in Madison or Milwaukee.
First the groups had to get the OK from Wisconsin's governor, legislature and University of Wisconsin System to pay for two four-year degree programs to become available at a two-year campus. Although the legislature earmarked funds to pay for faculty and equipment, Forward Janesville and the Chamber agreed to raise money for an engineering lab building.
Ground will break on the new building in the spring. Although the building isn't up yet, 10 students are already enrolled in the electrical engineering program to be held this fall, according to Jack Champeau, program manager of the Rock County Engineering Program.
“We are offering our first electrical engineering course this fall and then two more courses in the spring. We'll have two new courses every semester until those people are ready to graduate. It's what we call a cohort. This same group will move through the program together so they have each other to work with and depend on,” Champeau said.
Engineering professor Dale Buechler has been hired to instruct the class. Champeau said more than half of the students are getting tuition reimbursement through their employer. Most of the students are working either part-time or full-time. Some of them have associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees, but wanted to have engineering skills.
Another 35 students currently enrolled at the UW-Rock County have declared an interest in the program and will enter when their prerequisite classes are complete.
The mechanical engineering program is slated to start in 2010. In the next four to five years, Champeau said the engineering programs will probably attract about 150 students.
“We've exceeded expectations. We knew the interest was there, but we had to have people seek admission and enroll in courses,” Champeau said.
Once the building is constructed, displays will be set up representing different companies.
“It will be a real boon to industry and help companies adjust to their internship needs,” Champeau said.
Electrical engineering classes will be held Thursday evenings with labs on Saturdays. For more information contact Champeau at (608)758-4324 or e-mail him at engineer@uwc.edu.
Getting an engineering program nearby is only one step the Chamber is taking to ease the shortage of engineers. Concerned students are not taking rigorous enough courses in math and science, the Chamber has encouraged schools to adopt Project Lead the Way, a more demanding curriculum. Forbeck said the new curriculum will be in Beloit schools for the first time this year and will be held in Janesville and Clinton schools for the second year.
JANESVILLE - The Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce and Forward Janesville have almost raised enough money to put up a new engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County.
The two groups have raised $500,000 of the $600,000 necessary for the program and building at the UW-Rock County campus at 2909 Kellogg Ave.
“We are 90 percent of the way there,” said Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nancy Forbeck. “The way businesses have responded has literally taken my breath away.”
The new engineering building will be 4,300 square feet and will house six offices, including a program office that will be a center for career services. The 2,200 square foot laboratory will store equipment.
The Chamber and Forward Janesville have worked together for two years to bring an electrical and mechanical engineering program to Rock County. Businesses had reported a shortage of engineers. In the past, the nearest engineering programs were only available in Madison or Milwaukee.
First the groups had to get the OK from Wisconsin's governor, legislature and University of Wisconsin System to pay for two four-year degree programs to become available at a two-year campus. Although the legislature earmarked funds to pay for faculty and equipment, Forward Janesville and the Chamber agreed to raise money for an engineering lab building.
Ground will break on the new building in the spring. Although the building isn't up yet, 10 students are already enrolled in the electrical engineering program to be held this fall, according to Jack Champeau, program manager of the Rock County Engineering Program.
“We are offering our first electrical engineering course this fall and then two more courses in the spring. We'll have two new courses every semester until those people are ready to graduate. It's what we call a cohort. This same group will move through the program together so they have each other to work with and depend on,” Champeau said.
Engineering professor Dale Buechler has been hired to instruct the class. Champeau said more than half of the students are getting tuition reimbursement through their employer. Most of the students are working either part-time or full-time. Some of them have associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees, but wanted to have engineering skills.
Another 35 students currently enrolled at the UW-Rock County have declared an interest in the program and will enter when their prerequisite classes are complete.
The mechanical engineering program is slated to start in 2010. In the next four to five years, Champeau said the engineering programs will probably attract about 150 students.
“We've exceeded expectations. We knew the interest was there, but we had to have people seek admission and enroll in courses,” Champeau said.
Once the building is constructed, displays will be set up representing different companies.
“It will be a real boon to industry and help companies adjust to their internship needs,” Champeau said.
Electrical engineering classes will be held Thursday evenings with labs on Saturdays. For more information contact Champeau at (608)758-4324 or e-mail him at engineer@uwc.edu.
Getting an engineering program nearby is only one step the Chamber is taking to ease the shortage of engineers. Concerned students are not taking rigorous enough courses in math and science, the Chamber has encouraged schools to adopt Project Lead the Way, a more demanding curriculum. Forbeck said the new curriculum will be in Beloit schools for the first time this year and will be held in Janesville and Clinton schools for the second year.
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