UCLA Engineering: UCLA Engineer Spring 2004

Letter from the Dean

We are at a pivotal point in the School's young history. The UC system is facing potentially devastating programmatic cuts and fee increases resulting from California's recent economic downturn.

But I am confident we will emerge even stronger. With the steadfast commitment of our faculty and staff and the assistance of alumni and partners in industry, the School will not only survive, but thrive in this new economy.

We are taking significant steps to ensure the School maintains its reputation for academic excellence. We are working with each of the departments to review and strengthen our curricula so our graduates are well prepared for their careers. We are creating new opportunities for our students to conduct hands-on research in their departments and in our interdisciplinary research centers.

The School is leading the University in our commitment to raise funds from the private sector to establish endowments for graduate fellowships, undergraduate scholarships, and faculty chairs. These endowed funds will ensure the School's ability to attract and support the work of outstanding students and faculty well into the future.

In the near term, UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale has guaranteed that the UCLA Graduate Division will have adequate funding next year to offset any increases in graduate student fees enacted by the legislature. Graduate education plays a critical role in the success of a research university, and we must do all we can to ensure that it continues to flourish at UCLA.

Financial aid programs will offset the fee increase for approximately 40 percent of all undergraduate students in the UC system and grants will be available to cover a portion of the increase for other students and their families.

The School's Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED) is continuing to sponsor a variety of student enrichment programs despite fears that the fiscal crisis will eliminate state funding for the Center's outreach efforts. The Center has strong and widespread support among our industrial partners, and is strengthening ties to the Los Angeles area communities we serve. The School is also pursuing new sources of funding from individuals and others in the private sector.

With the support of our alumni and friends, I am convinced the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science will be recognized even more widely as an institution whose alumni are leaders in their field and well prepared to solve new challenges. We will remain a School that welcomes exceptional students who are eager to learn and contribute regardless of their financial situation.
Sincerely,

Vijay K. Dhir
Dean