Wayne State’s Board of Governors unanimously approved several measures during its regular meeting Friday, May 1, which was held virtually due to the university’s concern for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
Bachelor of science in welding and metallurgical engineering technology
A new undergraduate degree program in the College of Engineering has been approved in welding and metallurgical engineering technology, effective fall 2021. Surrounding community colleges will be the feeder schools into this four-year program. Welding and metallurgy are two technologies that have their roots in the industrial revolution, where the joining of metals began with the forge welding of pig or wrought iron. Because of their fundamental nature, these technologies are intertwined. The ability to develop and join metals has made immeasurable contributions to the transportation, aerospace, agricultural and defense industries.
Master of science in robotics
The College of Engineering will also offer a new degree program for a master of science in robotics, effective fall 2021. This is a proposal for a new interdisciplinary master’s degree program in robotics, with three majors to be housed in the College of Engineering. The goal is to build a highly visible and coherent program serving the interests of students, industry and faculty in robotics foundations and applications.
Master of science in data science and business analytics
Effective fall 2020, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will offer a master of science in data science and business analytics with a statistics concentration. This Department of Mathematics program will be offered with concentration options from the College of Engineering and the Mike Ilitch School of Business. Business analytics is a relatively new, fast-growing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field that spans areas of computing, statistics, operations research and business. The field is defined as “the scientific process of transforming data into insight for making better decisions.”
Endowments
The Board of Governors approved endowment funds totaling $ 2,249,054.64. Included among the established endowments were the Roberts Family Endowed Scholarship, $500,000; Charles and Sandra Schultz Endowed Scholarship, $250,000; and Michigan Mortuary Science Foundation Endowed Scholarship, $200,000.
Kim Trent governor emeritus tribute
The Board of Governors named Kim Trent, who served on the board from 2013–2019, governor emeritus and approved the establishment of the Kim Trent Endowed Scholarship. The $25,000 scholarship will recognize scholastic achievement and encourage continued progress to provide assistance to students in financing their education at Wayne State University.
School of Medicine tuition
A majority vote by the Board of Governors approved tuition hikes of 4.5% for in-state students and 2.5% for non-resident students. Over the past several years, the Board of Governors has taken action on the School of Medicine M.D. program tuition and fee rates prior to approving rates for other university programs. This course of action allows the School of Medicine to better coordinate enrollment and financial aid activities with the academic year of the M.D. program.