UMD News

Director of Public Relations:
Susan Beasy Latto, slatto@d.umn.edu
315 Darland Administration Bldg.
1049 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
(218) 726-8830 Cell: (218) 348-5688
Fax: (218) 726-7413

May 15, 2002

Contact:
Susan Beasy Latto, Director of Public Relations 218 726-8830
Associate Professor David Wyrick, Head, UMD Department of Industrial Engineering 218 726-7184

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) College of Science and Engineering has announced the creation of a new program in Mechanical Engineering beginning Fall Semester 2002. The UMD Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) degree program was approved by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents at its May 9 meeting.

Mechanical Engineering deals with the design and implementation of machines and energy systems to make things better for people and the environment. Mechanical engineers help design new machines, new materials, and more effective ways of using energy.

The new BSME program will be housed in the UMD Department of Industrial Engineering (IE). The IE Department currently offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering , accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). It also offers graduate programs in Environmental Health & Safety, and Engineering Management.

The new Mechanical Engineering curriculum will build on the department's strengths in design, automation, and manufacturing. Last November, UMD students Mike Anderson, Joe Higgins, and Mike Lakore won the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Student Design contest in New York City with a fishing pole designed specifically for the physically challenged.

Mechanical Engineering will become the fourth undergraduate engineering program at UMD. The others are Chemical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.

"Mechanical Engineering is a great program for us at UMD," said IE department head Dave Wyrick. "We have a strong tradition of helping regional companies solve technical problems, and our new Mechanical Engineering Program will provide even more opportunities for students and employers to carry out this important work."

For industry comments contact:
Gary Moline, Moline Machinery 218 624-5734
Lou Benepe, Hibbing Taconite 218 262-6800
For further information about mechanical engineering at UMD contact:
Dave Wyrick, UMD Department of Industrial Engineering 218 726-7184