Introduction

Statistical comparisons on a per capita basis, such as per faculty member, are often useful in that the element of size is removed. For example, comparison of academic programs on a per capita basis can be more meaningful than using data totals. This report analyzes degrees and research expenditures per faculty member, providing comparisons of the thirteen engineering disciplines chosen for study to each other and to engineering as a whole.

The last five years of engineering education have shown both growth and transitions. From AY2001-02 through AY2005-06, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees have increased 10.2%, 24.7% and 44.1%, respectively. The one-year increases (or decreases) from AY2004-05 in bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees have been 0.8%, -3.8% and 13.9%, respectively.

During the last five years when degrees at all three academic levels increased, the numbers of engineering faculty increased 17.3%. However, the increase in AY2005-06 was 5.1% in spite of one-year bachelor's and master's degree trends.

Research expenditures in engineering colleges increased from AY2001-02 through AY2005-06 by 29.2% in actual dollars and 17.2% in inflation-adjusted dollars. The one-year increases from AY2004-05 were 3.6% in actual dollars and 0.2% in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Thus, it appears that new trends are underway. It is meaningful to understand the manner in which these trends impact individual engineering disciplines.

Degrees per Faculty Member

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees per faculty member for thirteen engineering disciplines are shown in the three graphs below for the period AY1980-81 through AY2005-06. Total numbers of degrees and total numbers of faculty (for fall of academic year indicated) reported for a discipline were used to determine the ratios. Overall engineering is shown for comparison. "Computer" refers to computer engineering plus computer science programs in engineering colleges; "materials" is mainly materials science and engineering.

For bachelor's degrees per faculty member, engineering is currently in a period of slow decline. Trends for individual engineering disciplines differ significantly from this. Aerospace, bio-, biomedical, nuclear and petroleum engineering are currently undergoing rapid increases; civil, electrical and mechanical engineering are also increasing, but at a slower rate. Industrial and materials engineering have shown little change for almost a decade. Chemical, computer and environmental engineering exhibit significant downward trends.

Overall engineering master's degrees per faculty member have increased from AY2001-02 through AY2005-06 (17.0%) even though there was a significant (7.0%) decline in the last year. Most of the engineering disciplines included in this study followed the general trend pattern of engineering. For the AY2001-02 through AY2005-06 period, though, the increases for

bio-, chemical and civil engineering were slight, materials engineering has shown essentially no change and environmental engineering declined. For AY2005-06, eight of the disciplines decreased, with the declines for aerospace and civil engineering being slight. Biomedical, computer, mechanical and nuclear engineering increased with the growth of mechanical engineering being slight. There was essentially no change for bioengineering.

Doctoral degrees per faculty member for engineering as a whole increased 31.6% from AY2001-02 through AY2005-06; for AY2005-06 alone, the increase was 11.8%. Eleven of the thirteen disciplines (all except aerospace and environmental engineering) had higher ratios in AY2005-06 than in AY2001-02. For industrial and petroleum engineering, the increase was small. Chemical, materials and petroleum engineering had slight declines in the last two years. Following early declines, computer and industrial engineering ratios grew in both AY2004-05 and AY2005-06.

Research Expenditures per Faculty Member

The two graphs below show the research expenditures per faculty member for each of the thirteen disciplines and engineering as a whole from AY1980-81 through AY2005-06. The first graph is for "actual dollars"; the second is for "inflation-adjusted dollars" (Consumer Price Index (Urban) - 1980 basis).

In terms of actual dollars, research expenditures per faculty member in engineering increased substantially in AY2001-02 (8.3%), AY2002-03 (8.3%) and AY2003-04 (5.9%). Thereafter, the annual increases were significantly less: 1.8% in AY2004-05 and 2.5% in AY2005-06. Most of the engineering disciplines included in this study experienced declines in research expenditures (actual dollars) per faculty member from AY2003-04 through AY2005-06. Only bio-, chemical, computer, nuclear and petroleum engineering showed increases and some of the increases were small. In AY2005-06, only five disciplines had research expenditures (actual dollars) per faculty member greater than engineering (aerospace, bio-, biomedical, materials and nuclear engineering).

In terms of inflation-adjusted dollars, the research expenditures per faculty member in engineering increased in AY2001-02 (5.0%), AY2002-03 (6.6%) and AY2003-04 (3.5%); declines of 0.9% occurred in both AY2004-05 and AY2005-06. Eleven of the engineering disciplines studied showed declines from AY2003-04 through AY2005-06. Chemical and petroleum engineering were the only disciplines that showed increases.

Summary

This report describes a study of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees per faculty member for engineering as a whole and thirteen engineering disciplines for the period AY1980-81 through AY2005-06. Research expenditures per faculty member, in both actual and inflation-adjusted dollars, were studied and included in the report.

The last five years of engineering education have shown both growth and transitions. From AY2001-02 through AY2005-06, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees have increased 10.2%, 24.7% and 44.1%, respectively. The one-year increases (or decreases) from AY2004-05 in bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees have been 0.8%, -3.8% and 13.9%, respectively.

During the last five years (during which degrees at all three academic levels increased), the numbers of engineering faculty increased 17.3%. Research expenditures in engineering colleges increased from AY2001-02 through AY2005-06 by 29.2% in actual dollars and 17.2% in inflation-adjusted dollars. The one-year increases from AY2004-05 were 3.6% actual dollars and 0.2% in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Bachelor's degrees per faculty member for overall engineering have been constant for about fifteen years, ranging between 3.1 and 3.3. Currently, the ratios for the thirteen disciplines studied range from 1.0 to 3.8. Only aerospace, chemical and mechanical engineering have ratios significantly greater than engineering.

Master's degrees per faculty member for engineering increased substantially (total increase of 26.3%) in AY2002-03 and AY2003-04 after a decade of essentially constant ratios. In the last two years the engineering ratios have declined 7.4%. Many of the individual disciplines generally matched the trends of engineering. For AY2005-06, eight of the thirteen disciplines had declines in degrees per faculty ratios.

Doctoral degrees per faculty member for engineering as a whole increased 31.6% from AY2001-02 through AY2005-06, surpassing the maximum set in AY1996-97. The growth in AY2005-06 was 11.8%. Eleven of the thirteen disciplines had higher ratios in AY2005-06 than in AY2001-02.

Research expenditures per faculty member (actual dollars) for engineering increased substantially in AY2001-02 (8.3%), AY2002-03 (8.3%) and AY2003-04 (5.9%). Thereafter, the annual increases were significantly less: 1.8% in AY2004-05 and 2.5% in AY205-06. In inflation-adjusted dollars, the ratios increased in AY2001-02 (5.0%), AY2002-03 (6.6%) and AY2003-04 (3.5%); declines of 0.9% occurred in both AY2004-05 and AY2005-06.

Most of the engineering disciplines included in this study experienced declines in research expenditures (actual dollars) per faculty member from AY2003-04 through AY2005-06. In AY2005-06, only five disciplines had research expenditures (actual dollars) per faculty member greater than engineering (aerospace, bio-, biomedical, materials and nuclear engineering). Eleven of the engineering disciplines studied showed declines in inflation-adjusted research expenditures per faculty member from AY2003-04 through AY2005-06.

Acknowledgments

The data used in this study originated from the annual surveys of the American Society for Engineering Education. Engineering Trends acknowledges the efforts of this organization in providing credible data and expresses its gratitude for their services to the engineering profession. Persons seeking further information about their surveys and the availability of survey data should visit the ASEE Web site (www.asee.org).

Footnote

Engineering Trends data are compiled mainly from information submitted by universities to the annual surveys of EWC and ASEE. On the very rare occasions where errors in data appear, Engineering Trends corrects the error, if possible, or deletes the data if the error is large enough to alter significantly the trend of the university or the US total.