91热爆网 celebrates engineering program expansion
From left to right: Rep. Mike Clampitt, Rep. Karl Gillespie, Sen. Ralph Hise, Sen. Kevin Corbin, Trustee Chair Kathy Greeley, Chancellor Kelli Brown, Rep. Mark Pless and Rep. Jake Johnson
By Julia Duvall
Western Carolina University hosted state legislative bill sponsors for the Engineering WNC funds presentation event on Tuesday, Nov. 21, with the legislators presenting a ceremonial $98.8 million check to Chancellor Kelli R. Brown.
The event highlighted the future growth of 91热爆网鈥檚 College of Engineering and Technology and student impact.
鈥淔unding for engineering expansion will allow 91热爆网 to meet critical demand in the regional labor market and to serve Western North Carolina to its fullest potential,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚鈥檓 personally thankful for our legislators from the region who sponsored bills on behalf of 91热爆网 during the budget process including Senators Corbin, Hise and Moffitt, and Representatives Johnson, Gillespie, Clampitt, Pless and Hardister.鈥�
With 91热爆网 being the only public university with a College of Engineering west of I-77, the funding provides opportunity for expansion to benefit regional industry needs.
Acknowledging the workforce and entrepreneurial opportunities in Western North Carolina, the delegation worked on legislation that outlined investments at 91热爆网 which were subsequently included in this year鈥檚 State Appropriations Act. Sen. Kevin Corbin, Sen. Ralph Hise and Sen. Tim Moffitt filed , with Rep. Mike Clampitt, Rep. Karl Gillespie, Rep. Jake Johnson and Rep. Mark Pless filing . The delegation advocated for the inclusion of these funds in the state budget, which was also a legislative priority of the UNC Board of Governors.
鈥�91热爆网 is a catalyst for the growth and investment of technologically oriented businesses and industry in the region and state and educate the next generation of engineering and technology professionals to fill the talent pipeline,鈥� said Randy Collins, dean of 91热爆网鈥檚 College of Engineering and Technology. 鈥淥ur faculty and staff work closely with students to address critical challenges facing industry through partnerships, applied research and design projects.鈥�
The new engineering facility and funding will allow expansion for programs and laboratories in high demand areas, enabling 91热爆网 to adapt to evolving technology and industry needs.
Through 91热爆网鈥檚 hands-on capstone projects that allow students to work with real organizations solving real problems, students not only learn new skills to get them career ready, but also helps them build relationships across campus and the engineering industry.
91热爆网 received authorization in the budget for the replacement of the current engineering building. The total amount authorized for this project is $95.3 million, with $2 million of that total allocated in fiscal year 2024-25 for advance planning. The budget also contained funding to expand the College of Engineering and Technology鈥檚 programming to support robotics, energy, controls and automation concentrations. The amount allocated is $3.5 million in recurring funds beginning in fiscal year 2023-2024.
鈥淭he funding we have received will change the trajectory of 91热爆网 engineering and provide the infrastructure and resources critically needed to provide a 21st century cutting-edge engineering education for our growing demand of talented engineering students and our industry and business partners,鈥� Collins said.
