Program Review for

Natural Gas Engineering (M.S., M. Engr.)

2006-2007 Recommendations

I. Strengths

1. The faculty members in NGE actively interact with industry on various research projects, providing students with real world problems, exposure to various companies, and technical and sometimes material/financial support.

2. The program has increased the number of scholarships offered to qualified applicants, and has also increased the number of research assistantships offered.

3. The program has a high retention rate (90%) and low average time to degree (1.5 years).

4. There is a very high demand for the program’s graduates and a high percentage of the department’s graduates accepting career positions (87.5%).

5. The program has adequate research facilities, instructional facilities, computer hardware, and operating budget. The program’s computer software is significantly above average.

II. Weaknesses

1. The number of graduate majors enrolled in NGE has decreased from 30 in 2003 to 16 in 2006. Similarly, the number of Master’s degrees awarded has decreased from 18 in 2003 to 8 in 2006. In addition, the number of domestic students enrolled in the program is low.

2. A list of faculty who had received research funding over the past three years was inadvertently omitted from the submitted Program Review Report. The Department Chair subsequently indicated that, due to the joint appointment of faculty in the Natural Gas Engineering and Chemical Engineering programs, it was difficult to precisely separate the funding levels for both programs. However, although several of the faculty did receive funding that should be attributed to the NGE program, the Department Chair felt that the current research funding level needs to be improved.

III. Recommendations

1. The program needs to increase enrollment by about 50% to about 30 graduate students. In addition, recruitment of domestic students should be enhanced. Towards achieving these goals, the program should offer more financial assistance for students in the form of scholarships and teaching/research assistantships. The College of Graduate Studies should consider increasing the number of graduate scholarships given annually to the College of Engineering.

2. The program needs to increase funding for research projects and student support by improving the number and quality of proposals submitted to outside funding sources.

Program Recommendation:

The Natural Gas Engineering Program is recommended for continuation.

Dean’s comments:

The Dean agreed with the program assessment and associated recommendations.

Outcome/Assessment Report

Master’s Program in NGE

Spring 2008

Dean’s Comments: (please comment on the progress made on the recommendations)

1. I have increased the money available for Natural Gas scholarships and teaching assistantships.

2. The faculty are submitting quality proposals for research projects.

Dr. William Heenan, P.E.

Dean of Engineering