Reinventing the Polytechnic

Zvi Szafran – Vice President of Academic AffairsJeff Ray – Dean, Engineering Technology and Management

Why Reinvent?• There is a need for a more technology-literate educated

public in all academic disciplines.• Polytechnic Universities have a unique educational role

to play in preparing graduates for the modern technological economy.

• To meet this challenge, Southern Polytechnic State University has focused on curricular change involving the fusion of liberal arts and technology, resulting in an increasingly comprehensive university.

• Every program is technologically focused, including those in the "traditional" liberal arts areas

SPSU History

• Founded in 1948– Originally, a two-year division of Georgia Tech– Founded to serve the needs of returning WWII

veterans– Requested by Georgia business and industry

• Accredited as a four-year college in 1970• Granted independent status in the University

System of Georgia in 1980

SPSU Facts• Technology-focused degrees• Faculty and staff: 404• Undergraduate programs: 38• Graduate programs: 11• Number of students: 5600

– Undergraduate: 4900– Graduate (Masters Level): 700

Traditional Curricular Strengths

• Engineering Technology– Undergraduate

• Civil Engineering Technology

• Computer Engineering Technology

• Electrical Engineering Technology

• Industrial Engineering Technology

• Mechanical Engineering Technology

• Telecommunications Engineering Technology

– Graduate• Electrical Engineering Technology

Newer Curricular Strengths

• Engineering– Undergraduate

• Construction Engineering

• Mechatronics Engineering

• Software Engineering

• Systems Engineering

• Civil Engineering (Evening Program)

• Electrical Engineering (Evening Program)

• Mechanical Engineering (Evening Program)

– Graduate• Systems Engineering

Polytechnic Strengths

• Preparing students for technology-related careers

• Unique programs at the interface of traditional fields

• Applied focus -- project-based

Overall Goal: To Become the First Fully Comprehensive Polytechnic• Some polytechnics offer a narrow range of traditional

technology-focused programs• Some polytechnics offer a comprehensive range of

programs, only some of which are technology-focused• We will offer a comprehensive range of programs, all

technology-focused• Fusion of technology and the liberal arts

USG Core ProgramArea A: Basic Skills (English, Intro. Math)

Area B: Institutional Option• Required course in Science, Technology, and Society

• Required course in Public Speaking

Area C: Humanities, Fine Arts

Area D: Mathematics, Sciences

Area E: Social Sciences

Area F: Major Cognates• Most degrees require course in Technical Communication

Strong focus on communication and technology.

Technology-focused Liberal Arts and Professional Programs

• English • Art• Psychology• Political Science• Accounting• Business Administration• Education

English• At most polytechnics, English would be a

service department, faculty would believe they were out of the mainstream

• At SPSU, the English Department is at the core of our mission

English

• Full department name is English, Technical Communication and Media Arts (ETCMA)

• Main program is B.S. in Technical Communication– Computer mediated communication and information design– Concentrations in: Information Design, Digital Media and Graphics– Preparation of professional portfolios

English

Other Degrees Offered:• M.S. in Information Design and Communication• M.S. in Information and Instructional Design• B.A. in English and Professional Communication

• Interfaces with nearly all science, engineering, and technology programs (English, Public Speaking, T-Com).

• Also offers core courses in Literature and Fine Arts

English

T-Com Coursework in:• Fundamentals of Information Design• Applied Graphics for Technical Communicators• Foundations of Multimedia• User Documentation• Usability Testing• Online Documentation• Fundamentals of Website Design

Our Newest Degree (approved June 2011): B.A. in New Media Arts

• SPSU’s first degree program in the Arts

• Gives students the technical and artistic skills needed in the fields of multimedia development and design, web design, and video production.

• Interfaces with programs in Architecture and Computer Game Design and Development

New Media ArtsFoundation Coursework:

• 2D and 3D Design• Intro. To Media Studies• Visual Thinking• Media Theory and Practice• Foundations of Graphics• Fundamentals of Website

Design

Advanced Coursework:

• Digital Media Interaction• Mobile and Casual Game

Development• Foundations of Multimedia• 2D Animation• Applied Graphics• Video Production

Social Sciences

• At most polytechnics, the social sciences would be a service department, faculty would believe they were out of the mainstream

• At SPSU, the Social and International Studies Department is at the core of our mission

B.S. in Psychology• Department is Social and International Studies• Engineering Psychology: Focus on applying an

understanding of human behavior interacting with the design of systems and products

• Industrial/Organizational Psychology: Focus on applying an understanding of human behavior with improving productivity and workplace quality

• Interfaces with Industrial Engineering Technology, Business (Technology Management), Software Engineering, Systems Engineering

B.S. in PsychologyCoursework in:

• Experimental Psychology• Principles of Industrial Systems and Processes• Work Measurement and Ergonomics• User-Centered Design• User Interaction Engineering• Principles of Team Dynamics• Human Resources Management

B.S. in Political Science• Department is Social and International Studies• Focus is on understanding of the political process,

communication, analysis, and critical reasoning skills• More rigorous, quantitative, research focus (three

required courses in quantitative analysis and research methods)

• Concentration on Technology and the Law• Interfaces with Civil Engineering Technology

(Geographic Information Systems), Science Technology and Society

• Dept. also offers History of Science concentration

B.S. in Political Science

Coursework in:• Intro. To Quantitative Research Methods• Intermediate Quantitative Research Methods• Advanced Multivariate Statistical Analysis• Geographic Information Systems• Cross-National Technology Policy Analysis• International Issues in Science and Technology

Business Administration

• Most polytechnics have Business Administration Departments, but they’re not particularly technologically focused…

• At SPSU, the Business Administration major began as a Technology Management degree

Accounting• B.S. and M.S. in Accounting• Focus is on “lean accounting” which analyzes

industrial cost centers• Courses include

– Accounting Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Planning

– Quality Concepts and Systems Design– Accounting Software Applications– Principles of Industrial Systems– Emerging Auditing Technology

Business Administration• Aligned with B.S. in Industrial Engineering Technology,

sharing six courses• Concentrations in MIS, Management of Operations, and

Technology Management• Required courses include:

• Intro to Computer Applications• Statistics• Quality Concepts and System Design• Principles of Operations Research• Management Information Systems• Technology and Public Issues

Our Newest Degrees (approved June 2011): Education

• Georgia is a large net importer of teachers

• Developed to meet massive need in STEM areas

• Opposite Approach: Began from science departments, not education department

• SPSU is the only polytechnic in UTeach Program

EducationEducation Degrees Offered:

• B.S. in Biology with Teacher Certification• B.S. in Chemistry with Teacher Certification• B.A. in Mathematics with Teacher Certification• B.S. in Physics with Teacher Certification• Endorsement in Computer Science (not currently

certification area)• Next up: Endorsements in Technology and

Engineering

Summary

• Nineteen new degree programs created and approved since 2006

• Enrollment has increased 47% since Fall 2005

• Prepare students for more technologically challenging careers

• Develop a more technology literate graduate

Summary of New Degrees• School of ACC

– M.S. Architecture– B.S. Environ. Eng.Tech. *

• School of Arts & Sciences– B.S. Biology w. Teacher Cert.– B.S. Biotechnology*– B.S. Chemistry– B.S. Chem. w. Teacher Cert.– B.S. Environmental Science*– M.S. Inform. + Instruc. Design– B.A. Math w. Teacher Cert.– B.A. New Media Arts– B.S. Physics w. Teacher Cert.– B.S. Political Science– B.S. Psychology

• School of CSE– B.S. in Computer Game Dsgn.

• School of ETM– B.S. in Accounting– M.S. in Accounting

• Division of Engineering– B.S. Civil Engineering– M.S. Civil Engineering*– B.S. Construction Engineering– B.S. Electrical Engineering– B.S. Mechanical Engineering– B.S. Mechatronics Engineering– B.S. Systems Engineering

Next Steps

• More specialized, career-oriented, engineering technology programs under development

• Expanding system-wide articulation with Technical College System of Georgia for selected online degrees implemented

Questions?

Join us for the fourth Polytechnic Summit in June 2012at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Georgia