Expansion of UA Engineering Program Unlikely by Fall

The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s answer to a competing computer engineering program at the Little Rock campus is unlikely to be launched by fall.

That’s the timetable originally

proposed by the College of Engineering’s dean, Otto Loewer, for his suggested program, which would establish at least four “economic development centers” across the state.

But university officials haven’t decided when or if they’ll proceed with that proposal, although Chancellor John A. White says he is “intrigued” by it. The plan would require special funding, but the Arkansas General Assembly has shut down and no state money for the program was sought in this session.

Still, it seems evident the university will do something to protect the Fayetteville engineering college, which boasted 228 baccalaureate graduates from fall 1997 through spring 1998.

Information Age Needs

While the demand for all engineering graduates is high, those who major in computer-related fields or information technology are in greatest demand. It is in that area that UALR’s program aims to fill a void.

Some industry representatives contend Fayetteville campus officials were indifferent to their needs for more technologically literate graduates and that’s why they looked to UALR for help.

But Fayetteville already has its own computer engineering program, and it has become the most popular major within the College of Engineering in recent years.

Loewer says about 340 students are enrolled in the program, and the number of students graduating in that field has doubled in the past 10 years to about 40 per year. The upward trend is expected to continue as long as the university can accommodate additional students with faculty and facilities, he adds.

Still, there aren’t enough graduates to meet demand even within the state of Arkansas, but that problem is not unique to the UA, Loewer says.

“We can’t meet [all] the needs [of industry] and neither can anyone else,” he says. “Demand is unbelievably high.”

Loewer says the shortage of people skilled in information technology is nationwide, meaning it’s a great time to be a young engineering graduate.

As an in-state example, consider Acxiom Corp. During the next two years, the database marketing and data warehousing giant, which is based in Conway, plans to add 1,200 jobs to its current Arkansas workforce of about 2,600. Most of those jobs, both new and existing, would be classified as high-tech positions, says spokesman Dale Ingram.

He agrees that industry’s need for such qualified workers is high.

“The market for high-tech workers in incredibly competitive,” Ingram says. To help fill its staffing needs, Acxiom maintains a good relationship with both the Fayetteville and Little Rock campuses, and officials believe they can fill most of their positions from Arkansas, he adds.

“We’re encouraged by the direction that higher education [is taking] in Arkansas in developing people to fill those jobs,” Ingram says.

Acxiom has established a comparatively small research development in Fayetteville, but it has resulted in increased local employment for computer students and graduates from the campus. Since August, the company has hired 30 people, both full-time employees and interns, from the UA’s computer engineering program, Ingram says.

Loewer’s plan, submitted to White in January, consists of several components, including so-called “distance education” in which classes are taught at locations other than the main campus, a practice already being conducted.

The majority of the plan talks about promoting economic development throughout the state by making maximum use of university resources.

White is studying the proposal for its possible application in other UA colleges and programs.

“I am intrigued with the proposal and believe it has great potential for the state,” White says via e-mail. “We will have to explore funding options but will do so after the legislative session. How and whether we proceed will depend on the degree of interest across the state.”

John Lewis, chairman of Bank of Fayetteville and an early advocate for increased use of technology information, saw the proposal in its early stages.

“I think certain aspects of that proposal are very needed and useful in that they would create an interaction between business and industry in the state and the engineering school,” Lewis says. “It’s almost like it’s a business incubator without walls … because we’d be able to export the knowledge and technology throughout the state for business and industry that need that kind of assistance.”

As one who’s been on the hiring end for some of those computer graduates, Lewis believes there’s probably room for two engineering programs in the state.

“I guess the point would be that we’ve got a really deep, talented, experienced engineering faculty, and that’s going to be what attracts the top students,” he says. “They can learn computer technology either in Fayetteville or in Little Rock.”

If the state has the graduates, then industry will grow and the graduates won’t have to leave Arkansas to seek employment, Lewis says.

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Economic Development Centers

Roger Williams, UA assistant chancellor for university relations, says the economic development centers proposed by Loewer would go into communities that express interest.

“We would not want to go anywhere we’re not wanted. We would want a strong expression of interest, obviously.”

That interest could be in the form of money or it could come in other ways, perhaps by involving entire regions or even private corporations in partnerships with the university, Williams says.

It would be important to tailor each center to meet the needs of the community or region for which it’s designed, Williams says. “We’re not going out with a cookie-cutter approach.”

Engineering and technology, he notes, are “a big part” of the plan and “would certainly be the foundation.”

Incubator’s Role

Prominently mentioned in Loewer’s proposal is the Genesis Technology Incubator, which helps client businesses that need help to become functional.

Genesis, which was named Incubator of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association for 1992-93, is the only survivor of seven incubators launched across the state in 1986.

The incubator’s director, Sam Pruett, says Genesis succeeded because of its location and its ties with the university.

“It’s because it is located in northwest Arkansas, which has a robust economy, and [because it] has the state’s major research institution to draw on for support. That’s unique to this location,” Pruett says.

Loewer estimates the centers would cost less than $2 per Arkansas resident. It’s difficult to say whether the centers could become financially self-sufficient, he says.

“Certain operations of regional centers in cooperation with other partners [for example, graduate, undergraduate and perhaps continuing education] would generate some income through tuition,” he says. “It is less certain how much income, if any, could be generated through other activities such as working with chambers of commerce and regional industry.”

As for when the proposal or some variant might actually become reality, that’s uncertain, too. Loewer had recommended an aggressive schedule that called for establishing the first centers by fall, but it appears unlikely that will be possible, Williams says.

White says he has no timeline for deciding how to proceed.

Loewer remains enthusiastic.

“We are excited about the possibilities that this proposal offers and will proceed as quickly as possible to implement our part of the overall campus plan.