A proposed new major in bioengineering was voted down and tabled for further discussion by the university senate Monday amid concerns about student interest and resource availability.
Shashi Lalvani, chair of the paper and chemical engineering department, proposed the new bachelor of science in engineering offering as a major appropriate for pre-med students and a new direction for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).
"This will be the first time that the department will reach out to the life sciences," Lalvani said. "Life sciences are becoming increasingly important. 3.6 million people in America are turning 50 every year."
The proposed major would integrate chemistry, biology and mathematics with engineering.
"This is part of the continuing transformation of the department of paper and chemical engineering," Provost Jeffrey Herbst said. "This is not just an initiating of a program. It's part of the evolution of the department."
Lalvani said it would prepare students for work in hospitals, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and in a number of other biomedical organizations.
"This major offers twice as many opportunities for graduates compared to other engineering disciplines," Lalvani said.
Several senate members raised concerns about the resources necessary to found the bioengineering major and future needs.
Lalvani said a current professor in the department of paper and chemical engineering already teaches in the area of bioengineering. Two more faculty members will be hired, in part through outside grants. $300,000 has been set aside for the new faculty and other departments have tentatively agreed to support bioengineering classes.
Senator Kathleen Knight, professor of educational leadership, voiced concerns.
"These kind-of agreements tend to fall apart when stress is placed on the any of the departments," Knight said.
Others brought up concerns about recruiting students for the new major. Lalvani said a high number of chemical engineering students are already on a bioengineering track, and he receives a high number of requests from applying students and parents for information about bioengineering at Miami. He said other Ohio universities have successful bioengineering programs.
"It has become an increasingly popular major," Lalvani said.
However, other senate members wanted to know how Miami would distinguish its bioengineering program from programs at those other schools, especially nearby Wright State University and the University of Cincinnati (UC).
"This will be a very resource-intensive program," physics professor William Houk said. "Biomedical engineering is traditionally offered at institutions with a medical school attached to them. Competition from UC and Wright State will probably be greater than our program will stand."
Lalvani said he thought Miami's program would still attract students because it was unique.
"We can distinguish ourselves by liberal arts education," Lalvani said. "We educate the whole person."
The major has been tabled and more discussion is tentatively scheduled for the April 20 senate meeting.
