Three northwestern University of Wisconsin schools proposed a joint engineering program at the most recent Board of Regents meeting, receiving opposition from some UW System chancellors.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank and UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis Shields both expressed concern that the programs were not the best move for the system, as they would be expensive and potentially draw students away from Madison, Platteville or Milwaukee’s programs. Chancellors from the three northwestern schools argued that engineering programs were necessary for development in those parts of the state.

“I often ask [business owners] what keeps them from expanding their businesses, and I get the exact same answer from every single person, no matter the size of company, ‘we don’t have confidence we can find the right people’,” UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt said, referring to what he considers a lack of engineers in region.

UW-Stout Chancellor Bob Meyer said several need analyses, both by Stout and by the UW system indicated there were hundreds of unfilled engineering positions in the northwestern quarter of the state.

Schmidt said engineering programming at regional universities was the single biggest request he has received from employers, and RiverFalls and Stout’s areas have found similar results. He described the lack of significant public engineering programming north of Madison as a limitation for students and businesses alike.

“What we’re hearing is that engineers who are educated in Madison are looking for jobs nationally,” Blake Fry, spokesperson for UW-River Falls said. He said engineers educated in northwestern and north central Wisconsin are more likely to stay in that part of the state.

Shields said he is concerned the cooperative system would not be able to sustain itself. He said students who pursue engineering degrees at UW system schools are not coming from that part of the state, but are generally concentrated in the southern half of the state.

Schmidt said the basis for these programs already exist, and the small changes and updates needed would be funded by private gifts and grants alone. He said the schools are seeking no additional funds because they are already teaching the curriculum.

“The real issue is we’re doing a disservice to our students, we’re delivering the curriculum, so they’re qualified, but we can’t offer the credentials,” Schmidt said. “We are seeking permission from the Board of Regents to offer the credential, and to seek engineering accreditation.”

He said the students at these schools, especially UW-Eau Claire, are more than qualified to take on challenging engineering courses. He mentioned Rhodes Scholar Tayo Sanders, who is graduating with a material science degree from UW-Eau Claire.

Meyer said he does not believe creating programs at the three regional universities will detract students from southern schools with existing programs, a concern expressed by Chancellors Blank and Schmidt. He said it may actually have the opposite effect.

“When Stout started the computer engineering program, we heard the same thing, that it would decrease enrollment for Madison and Platteville,” Meyer said. “If you look at enrollment in those two schools, it’s actually gone up.”

Schmidt said the number of students interested in engineering is not finite. He said with the outreach efforts which are part of the proposed plan, he believes there will be plenty of students interested in engineering to boost enrollment for all the system’s programs.