April 11, 2008

Purdue trustees approve new degree programs, provost appointment, name changes

Trustees also approved the appointment of William R. "Randy" Woodson as the provost at the West Lafayette campus and the name changes of several departments at Purdue University Calumet and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

The master's of forensic sciences degree program at IUPUI is designed to build upon the bachelor's degree program already on campus and further foster ties between the university and law enforcement and homeland security agencies.

"This new program will produce cutting-edge research and well-qualified students who will directly benefit the forensic science and law enforcement communities in Indiana and throughout the United States," said Victor Lechtenberg, interim provost. "As the demand for better educated and trained scientists increases, students with graduate degrees in forensic science will be in greater demand in the future as leaders and managers.

"The Indiana State Police has a new crime laboratory with a high need for forensic scientists, and a recent report stated that there are more than 1,900 forensic scientists needed nationwide to reduce backlogs to a reasonable level. The new IUPUI program will go a long way to respond to those needs."

Lechtenberg said the program proposal has been met with support from the Marion County/Indianapolis Forensic Science Laboratory and the Indiana State Police Forensic Science Laboratory, both of which have had to go outside the state to hire scientists to work in the laboratories.

The degree, which is a 35-hour program, initially will have two concentrations, biology and chemistry. All students will take a core of courses in the forensic science system, practice, unique profession, ethics and law. The program will be distinctive because the law courses will be tailored for forensic science students, and it will offer courses in alcohol abuse public policy and forensic epidemiology, Lechtenberg said.

Enrollment in the program is expected to reach 20 students in the first year and 22 in subsequent years.

The new bachelor's degree program in secondary education at Purdue University North Central is designed to specifically meet the needs of area employers and the secondary education communities of LaPorte, Porter and Starke counties, which have had to hire unqualified teachers, Lechtenberg said.

"The shortage of qualified teachers in secondary math and science is well-documented, and this program will help remedy that by offering licensure for grades 7-12 in five different content areas: life sciences, chemistry, mathematics, physical science and physics," he said. "It will be the first program in the surrounding areas to offer a similar option."

Enrollment is projected to be 20 students the first year, with enrollment increasing to 58 by the fifth year.

The new programs at IUPUI and Purdue North Central are subject to approval by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

William R. "Randy" Woodson
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Woodson's appointment as the new provost also was ratified. He currently serves as the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. His will take over as provost May 1.

As provost, Woodson will be responsible for oversight of all Purdue colleges and schools and related activities in coordination with the Office of the President. His office will oversee academic systems such as the libraries, computing center and student services (admissions, registrar, financial aid and health facilities), along with all Purdue cultural centers.

Trustees also approved changing the name of three departments at Purdue University Calumet. Construction Management & Engineering Technologies will be known as Construction Science & Organizational Leadership. Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology will become Engineering Technology. Computer Information Technology will become Computer Information Technology & Graphics.

At Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, trustees approved the department name change of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology to Computer and Electrical Engineering Technology & Information Systems and Technology. The new name reflects a restructuring of Information Systems and Information Technology, which will better serve students and prospective employers and present faculty members with more opportunities to explore cross-disciplinary research initiatives, Lechtenberg said.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Victor L. Lechtenberg, (765) 494-9095, vll@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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