June 09, 2005

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor John R. Ryan today announced that the University is the recipient of a $300,000 grant award from The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support the creation of the world’s first online bachelor’s of electrical engineering degree in electrical engineering.

Three SUNY Schools Collaborate in Online Education

The award announcement represents the culmination of eighteen months of planning and collaboration among three SUNY Schools of Engineering: the University at Buffalo, Stony Brook University, and Binghamton University; the extraordinary efforts of their respective deans, Mark Karwan, Yacov Shamash, and Charles R. Westgate, and the Office of Learning Environments, part of the System Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

“The State University of New York very much appreciates the continuing generous support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for our distance learning programs,” said Ryan. “SUNY’s position as a national and world leader in distance learning is clearly demonstrated by our continuing growth in online enrollment, the increasing number and variety of courses and degree programs offered online, and through the recognition and financial assistance provided by independent organizations such as the Sloan Foundation.”

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has provided more than $4.5 million to support the distance learning efforts of the State University of New York since 1994.

A trend in online education and online learning

“This signals a major trend in education and online learning,” said Frank Mayadas, program director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “American workers can now get the higher skills they need to compete in an era of off-shoring and globalization and do their regular jobs at the same time.”

“This program represents the first SUNY online degree created cross-institutionally,” said State University Provost Peter D. Salins. “We will be pooling faculty resources of three campuses to achieve something no one institution could do on its own. This is a tremendous testament to the benefits of a system and the value of collaboration.”

The planned program will represent a breakthrough for the world of online learning and for the State University on several fronts:

• It will be the first online degree in the scientific or technical disciplines of this stature coming from campuses in the Research I Carnegie classification; and
  
• It will drive innovation in online learning technology and pedagogy, requiring the development of laboratory simulations, mathematical notation and group project collaboration on technical subjects and designs.

“This is a great opportunity for the State University,” said Office of Learning Environments Executive Director David Porush. “It symbolizes the power of online learning to leverage our resources across SUNY and to offer high-quality SUNY education to a much broader audience.”

Geography No Longer a Barrier

“Geography will no longer be a barrier to a SUNY education for engineering students who live outside this state, or for that matter, this nation, or who cannot attend classes on campus because of professional and personal commitments,” said Mark Karwan, Ph.D., dean of UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

"The development and implementation of this program will have far-reaching impact on engineering education in the U.S. and the world. This program will provide SUNY with a leadership position in engineering education," said Yacov Shamash, Ph.D., vice president/economic development of Stony Brook University, and dean, of its College of Engineering of Applied Sciences.

“Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook have had a long-standing collaboration in online education in engineering. This new partnership will create additional educational opportunities for a significant student population and will greatly advance online education by drawing from all three institutions to offer this degree,” said Charles R. Westgate, Ph.D., dean of the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science at Binghamton University.

The online electrical engineering degree will serve as a valuable resource to the 1,172 of State University students currently enrolled in a SUNY community college or technology college in a related associate degree program. This program will allow them a unique opportunity to continue their education online.

Program provides Access to American Workers

This degree program will also open up new outreach opportunities for the University:

There are tens of thousands of workers in American industry who possess associate degrees in related fields, or who are working their way toward completion of bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering. An online degree program will provide a flexible, convenient opportunity for these individuals to complete their four-year degree, allowing them to continue in their industry or government jobs or compete for higher level positions.

• The University plans to develop a NYS-based industrial affiliates program to educate in-service personnel in partner corporations.
• The University envisions a large international population for this program. The online degree creates broader reach to these students.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic nonprofit institution, established in 1934 by Alfred Pritchard Sloan, Jr., then President and Chief Executive Officer of the General Motors Corporation. The Foundation's programs and interests are divided into five main areas: Science and Technology; Standard of Living and Economic Performance; Education and Careers in Science and Technology; Selected National Issues; and The Civic Program.

This achievement is enabled by the SUNY Learning Network, the University’s online learning arm—currently serving 100,000 enrollments on 40 campuses and already offering 94 complete degree and certificate programs.

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 413,000 students in 6,688 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses.

For more information please contact:

David Henahan
Office of Public Relations
State University Plaza
Albany, NY 12246
518-443-5311

To be put on the list to receive updates about when this degree will be available for enrollment, please click here to join our BE3  Email list.

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ONLINE ELECTRIC ENGINEERING PROGRAM NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2006
First SUNY Collaboration Of Its Kind, Between Binghamton, UB, Stony Brook

August 21, 2006

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor John R. Ryan today announced that the first college courses are now available for the world’s first completely online electrical engineering (BEE) program.  Students interested in applying for enrollment in these courses may now do so, at http://le.suny.edu/bee. The deadline for applications for Fall 2006 courses is August 31, 2006.

“New York State needs more engineers and I am pleased that SUNY is able to answer that call,” said Chancellor Ryan. “SUNY leads the nation and the world in offering online degrees and for-credit courses, enabling anyone, anytime, anywhere in the world access to our outstanding faculty. SUNY very much appreciates the continuing generous support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which makes programs like this possible.”

The BEE initiative was first announced by SUNY in June 2005, in conjunction with the receipt of a $300,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support creation of the online program. It is SUNY’s first online program offered by a collaboration of multiple campuses.

The BEE program is ideal for busy professionals and other qualified students who want to take advantage of SUNY’s esteemed educational programs but cannot commit to full-time enrollment or being physically located on one of SUNY’s 64 campuses. The BEE program, offered by Binghamton University, the University of Buffalo, and Stony Brook University, allows students to complete all upper division (junior and senior level) courses in Electrical Engineering online; work towards a BA in Electrical Engineering; and work anytime, anywhere to complete the degree requirements.

"A talented and dedicated faculty from three SUNY campuses have collaborated in the development of a new and innovative online program, and I look forward to its launch.  The new program will be of great benefit to many students who cannot attend traditional courses, and new educational techniques will emerge that will improve engineering education for all students," said Charles R. Westgate, PhD, dean of the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science at Binghamton University.

“Giving more students more opportunities to learn in ways that meet the needs of their professional and personal lives has to be a priority of higher education,” said Harvey G. Stenger, Jr., Ph.D., dean of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “I am glad to see that the BEE program is working to meet those needs.”

"The development and implementation of this program will have far-reaching impact on engineering education in the U.S. and the world. This program will provide SUNY with a leadership position in engineering education," said Yacov Shamash, Ph.D., vice president of economic development of Stony Brook University, and dean, College of Engineering of Applied Sciences.

The program will serve as a valuable resource to the 1,172 State University students currently enrolled in a SUNY community college or technology college in a related associate degree program.  This program will allow them a unique opportunity to continue their education online within the SUNY System.
.
Information about the program, courses and registration is available at http://le.suny.edu/bee. In addition, a complete course listing is available at http://le.suny.edu/bee/courses.shtml.

The program represents a breakthrough for the world of online learning because it is one of the first offerings in the world in the scientific or technical disciplines of this stature coming from campuses in the Research I Carnegie classification. Development of the courses for online delivery is driving innovation in learning technology and pedagogy, requiring the development of new modes for delivering laboratory simulations, mathematical notation and group project collaboration.

The complete online electrical engineering degree is expected to be available in Fall 2007.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic nonprofit institution, established in 1934 by Alfred Pritchard Sloan, Jr., then President and Chief Executive Officer of the General Motors Corporation.  The Foundation's programs and interests are divided into five main areas: Science and Technology; Standard of Living and Economic Performance; Education and Careers in Science and Technology; Selected National Issues; and The Civic Program.  The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has provided more than $4.5 million to support the distance learning efforts of the State University of New York since 1994.

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 414,000 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses. 

Contact: Casey Cannistraci, pr@sysadm.suny.edu
Office of Public Relations
State University of New York
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246
518-443-5311
www.suny.edu

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