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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approves Engineering Leadership Bachelor's Degree at UTEP [El Paso Times, Texas](El Paso Times (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 01--A new bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at El Paso will change the way engineers are prepared. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved a new Engineering Leadership Bachelor's Degree at UTEP and the program is ready for student enrollment. "It's the first degree of its kind in the nation," said program director Roger Gonzalez, who holds a doctoral degree in mechanical and biomedical engineering, What separates this new degree program from the rest is that it will focus on teaching students business, communication, leadership and entrepreneurial skills in addition to traditional engineering skills. "These skill sets are incredibly needed," Gonzalez said. In the past, he said, engineers would sit in a room and design something and someone else would sell it. Now, engineers have to do both. They will have to be able to create something and explain it in a way anyone could understand. There will also be a variety of group projects and collaborative learning throughout the new degree program. Bob Malone, UTEP alumnus and former president and chairman of British Petroleum America, is credited with funding the program. He and his wife donated $1 million in 2011 along with a matching donation from the Halliburton Foundation; Malone serves on the Halliburton's board of directors. Malone said he wanted to give back to UTEP because of the support he received from professors as an engineering student. "At some point when I was out here (as a student) I ran out of money," Malone said. Professors helped him find a local job to help him finish his degree. He said he has always had an allegiance to UTEP because of that help. When he was approaching retirement after 40 years at BP, he said he thought about what he could have done differently and what would have made a difference in his education. Better communication, leadership and business skills are what he felt would have been beneficial early in his career. Malone said he will serve as a mentor if needed and has committed to providing scholarships. Yazmine Montoya, a sophomore at UTEP, will be among the first group of students to major in the leadership program. Her discipline is mechanical engineering. Montoya said she is excited about being able to learn both skill sets. "We are going to be more well rounded. It's something I think traditional engineering students lack," she said. "They tend to talk in jargon/technical terms. What I think will be the benefit is that we will be able to communicate with consumers and business people." Elida S. Perez may be reached at 546-6137. ___ (c)2014 the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) Visit the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) at www.elpasotimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |