AGENDA ITEM NO:  9.3

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
PLANNING COMMITTEE

REQUEST FOR DECISION

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PRESENTED BY:               Beth Bilson, Chair, Planning Committee

DATE OF MEETING:        January 26, 2006

SUBJECT:                           College of Engineering:  Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Computer Engineering

DECISION REQUESTED:

                                             That Council approve the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.E.) in Computer Engineering.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL:

Program requirements: 

The Computer Engineering program requires a total 144 cu.  The first year is common to all engineering programs.  In the second year, the curriculum is the same as the EE program except that an elective (humanities or social sciences) takes the place of EE 212.3 Passive AC Circuits.  In the third year, CMPT 214 and CMPT 250, and EE 431, an elective course in the EE program, are required.  The computer engineering laboratory course EE 392 integrates practical laboratory exercises for all third year courses.  The fourth year curriculum has a technical elective in each term.  Three of the four new courses; CME 433, 435, 451 have a practical laboratory of 3 hours every third week; and are required in term 1; and the fourth CME 462, is offered as an elective in term 2 as detailed in Table 4B.  The capstone design course CME 495 is taught with the electrical engineering equivalent course EE 495. Three EE courses in the third and fourth year, that are currently alternate year courses, will be offered every year (EE 431, 432 and 472).   

New Courses:

CME 365.3 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing and Communication

CME 392.3 Computer Engineering Laboratory

CME 433.3 Digital Systems Architecture

CME 435.3 Verification of Digital Systems

CME 451.3 Transport Networks

CME 462.3 Multimedia Protocols and Video Signals

CME 495.6 Design Project

Although CME 365 is not part of the Computer Engineering program, it will be offered as a prerequisite to enable students in Computer Science to take advantage of the courses in the Computer Engineering program as electives.

RATIONALE:

The Computer Engineering program will educate students for careers specifically dealing with the design and implementation of computers and computer-controlled systems.  To function effectively, computer engineers must be able to work in multidisciplinary teams and communicate effectively.  The objectives of the Computer Engineering Program are to educate engineers who have these skills and to retain students with an interest in computer engineering at the U of S.

The absence of a computer engineering program puts the University of Saskatchewan at a disadvantage with respect to other universities in attracting prospective students with an interest in computer engineering.  This weakness was highlighted in both the Systematic Program Review in 2001 and CEAB accreditation in 2002.  The need to add a computer engineering program was acknowledged in the University’s Integrated Plan "A Framework for Action" dated April 9, 2004 which identified the computer engineering program as one of the strategic initiatives.

IMPACT AND RELATIONSHIPS:

The Department of Electrical Engineering expects that the number of students pursuing dual degrees (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) will likely decline when the Computer Engineering program is available.  However, the Department of Computer Science does not expect any significant impact on their programs.  The attached documentation describes the impact of the proposed program in more detail. 

The Software Systems Engineering Program at the U of R has little overlap with the proposed Computer Engineering program. The U of R program targets software applications programming; the U of S program is aimed at embedded systems and hardware-software co-design systems such as those found in cell-phones, copiers, automobiles and aircraft.

COMMITTEE COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATION:

Academic Programs Committee

The Academic Programs Committee considered the proposal for a Computer Engineering program over the course of three meetings in February and March, including discussion with Malcolm Reeves.    At its March 11, 2005 meeting, the Academic Programs Committee approved the following motion:

The Academic Programs Committee confirms that introducing a program in Computer Engineering is an appropriate direction for the College of Engineering.  The Committee thinks the program will be popular, and will enhance the University’s reputation.  If the program can be adequately resourced, the Committee agrees would agree that this is a sound program. In the absence of  these resources, however, the Committee agrees that it cannot recommend Council approval of this program proposal at this time.

At its Jan. 20, 2006 meeting, the Academic Programs Committee will review the recent Budget Committee memo to confirm that resources for the program are now in place. 

Budget Committee

At its meeting of March 28, 2005, the Budget Committee approved the following motions:

Motion:  That the detailed budget submission for the Computer Engineering Degree program is satisfactory, and the concerns of the Budget Committee have been addressed in the revised budget

Motion:  That the Budget Committee recommends the level of funding provided by PCIP for the Computer Engineering Degree program be sufficient to ensure a successful program at the minimum of a B level in the SPR process   

On referral from Planning, the Budget Committee also reviewed the revised implementation plan in November, 2005.  At its Dec. 5, 2005 meeting, the Budget Committee agreed to support this plan.  The Committee also noted concern about funding of the Barbhold Chair, and recommended that it be supported through allocation of funds from the present Thinking the World of Our Future campaign.

Planning Committee

Planning Committee discussed the proposal at its meeting on April 11, 2005.  In response to the concerns raised by the Academic Programs Committee, Planning decided that additional information regarding support for the program from PCIP would be required before a recommendation on the program could be made to Council.   The memos sent to Michael Atkinson, Malcolm Reeves and Jim Basinger are attached. 

In November, 2005, Planning received a memo from Assistant Provost Barrie Dubray indicating that PCIP had agreed to provide support for the program, and requesting that Engineering develop an implementation plan based on the resources supplied.  The Planning Committee executive requested the Budget Committee to review the implementation plan.  As indicated above, the Budget Committee supported the implantation plan. 

At its Jan 16, 2006 meeting, the Planning Committee voted to recommend approval of this program to Council.

ATTACHED:  Proposal documentation and memos.