Source: John English, 785-532-5590, deanengr@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Mary Rankin, 785-532-6715, mrankin@k-state.edu
Friday, March 7, 2008
K-STATE DEAN OF ENGINEERING PARTICIPATES IN PUBLIC POLICY COLLOQUIUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
MANHATTAN -- John English, dean of Kansas State University's College of Engineering, joined engineering deans from across the nation at the 2008 American Society for Engineering Education Public Policy Colloquium, Feb. 26-27, in Washington, D.C.
The event, "Engineering Solutions for the 21st Century," was designed to strengthen the discussion of engineering education and research issues between deans of engineering and key public policymakers, as well as enable the deans to refine their public policy agenda.
"This was a key opportunity to highlight the importance of federal funding in maintaining and building engineering education programs across the U.S.," English said. "It is imperative that our congressional delegation understand that without additional support to our colleges of engineering, America may well fall behind in its ability to compete globally in the fields of science, engineering and technology."
The deans spent the first day at the National Academy of Engineering where agenda items included guest lectures, panel discussions and breakout sessions. The second day was spent on Capitol Hill visiting the offices of their respective state delegates.
English, along with Stuart Bell, engineering dean at the University of Kansas, and Zulma Toro-Ramos, engineering dean at Wichita State University, met with Kansas' congressional delegation, including Reps. Todd Tihart, Nancy Boyda, Dennis Moore and Jerry Moran, as well as Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback.
"At the end of the day, it was our job to get the message out about the advancement of scholastic effort taking place at our respective engineering education institutions, notwithstanding communicating the urgency of federal funding increases that will enable us to conduct merit-based scientific research," English said.
The group urged Congress to fully fund the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science Act, also known as the Competes Act. It authorizes additional funding for basic science programs; increased fellowships for graduate students; and created new and expanded existing science, technology, engineering and math education programs. They also solicited increased funding for National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Defense and NASA research projects, as well as support of supplemental funding to fully fund the National Science Foundation and the Office of Science in the Department of Energy.