USI Trustees approve two engineering degrees

At its regular meeting on September 3, 2015, the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees approved two new undergraduate degree programs, a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, both of which would be housed within USI's Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. The manufacturing engineering degree would be the first of its kind in the state and one of only around 20 such programs in the country.

USI has offered a bachelor's degree in engineering since 2002, but this marks the first time the Engineering Department would offer named degrees within the field. The degree programs will next move to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education for approval.

"Since we established an engineering degree in 2002, enrollment in the program has grown to more than 330, with hundreds of graduates now serving business and industry in our region," said Scott Gordon, dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. "The demand for engineering continues to grow rapidly, and the development of named engineering degrees would be the logical next step to meet this demand."

USI's manufacturing engineering program would prepare graduates for entry level positions in the field, including private industry, consulting or governmental agencies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 4.5 percent growth in manufacturing engineering jobs from 2012 to 2022 nationwide, with some industries seeing growth as high as 39.5 percent. In addition, Indiana's Department of Workforce Development projects growth at 6.5 percent within the state.

Since USI began offering a bachelor's degree in engineering, there has been a growing demand from students and prospective students for a named degree in mechanical engineering and, employers are often looking for graduates with a degree in that area. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics indicates a five percent growth in mechanical engineering positions nationally, translating to more than 11,000 jobs by 2022. Indiana is poised to capture many of these jobs with the seventh highest availability of mechanical engineering jobs in the United States, ranging from manufacturing and design of automotive and aerospace parts to scientific research and development services. Indiana also has the third highest percentage of engineering positions for every 1,000 jobs available. Regionally, the demand for mechanical engineers is nearly double that of the state.

Ribbon cut on USI's Performance Center
Following the board meeting, trustees, guests and members of the community attended a ribbon cutting for USI's new $17.2 million Performance Center located at the heart of campus and adjacent to the University Center. The Performance Center has been in use since this spring but this event marked the official ribbon cutting for the facility to coincide with the start of the fall semester. For the last several years, theatre productions were staged in the 100-seat Mallette Studio Theatre, a black box theatre in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center.

In addition to the ribbon cutting, guests were entertained by performances that included USI Theatre alumni and local actress and middle school student Lillybea Ireland. A reception followed in the atrium with music by The Flatheads.

The Performance Center seats nearly 300 in cushioned, accessible seating and features clear sight lines, a thrust stage including a 12'x12' floor trap, light walls containing thousands of LED lights with a full spectrum of colors, three permanent balconies used as staging areas, and a Steinway concert grand piano made specifically for the center.

Spacious dressing and green rooms are only the beginning of behind-the-scenes advances. In design and technology, students are exposed to new and innovative techniques, supported by a state-of-the-art design studio and all new production shops that also opened on campus in 2014.

The Performance Center was designed by Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture of New York, designer of USI's campus landmark, The Cone. Some of the Performance Center design features include:

Can Clay Corporation Clay Pipe

For 104 years, the Can Clay Corporation of Cannelton, Indiana, has produced clay for underground utility and sewer piping. It is typically fired at 2,000 degrees over the course of seven days. Twelve and 14-foot lengths of the 21-inch diameter CanOlok vitrified clay pipe are erected vertically to enclose structural steel columns.

Jasper Chair Company Chair Legs

The Jasper Chair Company, of Jasper, Indiana, has manufactured wood chairs from their own woodland since 1921. Twelve hundred steam-bent chair legs have been assembled and stained to form rosettes suspended from the lobby ceiling. The same chair legs are used in the donor recognition display in the second floor lobby.

Red Sandstone

The red sandstone on the exterior and interior walls is from Brazil, Indiana, and pays homage to the Smithsonian Institution's Castle. Built in 1855, the castle is the oldest building on the National Mall. Congressman Robert Dale Owen (son of Robert Owen, founder of the second utopian experiment at New Harmony, Indiana) was chair of the Smithsonian Building Committee. His brother, geologist David Dale Owen, recommended it be built from red sandstone. Both Owens resided in New Harmony for a time, and USI is one of the sponsors of Historic New Harmony, an initiative to create and retain interest in the history and current life of New Harmony.  

Toyota Sienna Dash Panels

Thirty-five Sienna dash panels, a generous gift from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Inc., of Princeton, Indiana, form part of the acoustical environment for the Performance Center. These panels serve as reflective surfaces just below the catwalk rings at ceiling level. They direct reflective sound and provide better speech intelligibility for the audience and performers.

Donor Recognition Display

A donor recognition display, designed by former USI student Matt Wagner of Matt Wagner Design in Evansville, will soon be installed. It was made by Grandview Aluminum Products, Inc., Grandview, Indiana, in association with Sign-A-Rama, Evansville, Indiana. Located in the second floor lobby, it features recycled aluminum, as well as Jasper (Indiana) Chair Company chair legs.

Thrust Stage with Light Wall

The theatre features a thrust stage with additional staging areas incorporated into the walls, a shallow proscenium to allow for greater sightlines, exceptional natural acoustics, and state-of-the-art light and sound technology. The light wall contains thousands of LED lights with a full spectrum of colors.

For more information and to purchase tickets for upcoming productions, visit USI.edu/Theatre. 

In other business, the trustees approved housing and meal plan rates for the 2016-2017 academic year, and heard an update on current construction projects.