California State University, Fresno announces the phase out of the Antelope Valley Engineering Programs.

June 1,2009

Statement
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) President John Welty has directed Dean Michael Jenkins of the Lyles College of Engineering (LCOE) and Ken Santarelli, Director of Antelope Valley Engineering Program (AVEP) to immediately initiate the phase out of LCOE’s AVEP at Lancaster University Center. The period of the phase out will conclude no later than the end of the spring semester 2011.

Dean Jenkins and Associate Dean Ram Nunna along with faculty and staff of the Lyles College of Engineering spent considerable time and effort collecting, analyzing, and evaluating information relative to AVEP and its over six years of operation. The President fully acknowledges the commitment, dedication and hard work of Dr. Sanatrelli over the last 20 months to invigorate the AVEP. Dr. Welty also acknowledged commitments from our Antelope Valley partners who include, Mike Huggins from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Chuck Osberg from Norththrop Grumman, Les Uhazy and Jackie Fischer from Antelope Valley College, California State University, Bakersfield and the City of Lancaster to name a few.

From the onset, the Lyles College of Engineering and Fresno State were committed to their partnership with the Antelope Valley to deliver undergraduate and graduate engineering programs in support of the region. However, it was always understood that these programs would not, and could not, be provided at the expense of the campus or the College beyond reasonable time commitments from faculty and staff, enrollment revenues or without sufficient numbers of students to make them viable. In the end, disproportionate time commitment from faculty and staff on the main campus, the continued lack of self-sustaining funding for operations, along with, aging Distance Learning infrastructure, chronically under-enrolled sections in the AVEP, and long-distance physical efforts in a region well outside the geographical service area of California State University, Fresno, all factored into the decision.

A phase-out plan for currently matriculated/enrolled students is being implemented in which Department chairs (Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) and Mechanical Engineering (ME)) have been provided with the list of students along with the list of courses that these students need to complete the remainder of their degree program. A plan will be developed for each student to either complete all Fresno State degree requirements by Spring 2011 or transfer to another campus. Based on the course lists developed by Department chairs, appropriate course offerings over the next four semesters will be scheduled. All required lecture courses will be offered. However, it is expected that not all elective courses will be offered via distance learning during this period. It is preferred that students take lab courses at the main campus in Fresno or take approved/articulated lab courses at nearby campuses (e.g., CSU Northridge). However, a tentative list of lab courses that will be offered in AVEP, at a minimum, during each of the next four semesters will be developed. For Senior Design courses, AVEP specific sections are not recommended. It is expected that AVEP students will enroll in a Fresno section. Senior design students are expected to travel to Fresno for all required presentations.

Graduating all students by the phase out completion date will be a challenge that will require a continued level of support from the regional community and will be particularly important as the AVEP team and the regional leadership seeks a partnership with another university. During the summer, the AVEP Director will provide details of the phase out and identify program support needs, consistent with the best interests of matriculating students and, to facilitate partnership development with a new university.

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Michael G Jenkins, PhD, PE
Dean, Lyles College of Engineering
California State University, Fresno
2320 East San Ramon Ave, M/S EE94
Fresno, CA 93740-8030 USA
Tel: 559-278-2500; FAX: 559-278-4475
www.csufresno.edu/engineering