Letter

To the Editor:
A document tabled at Senate recently (D96-42) lists the number of staff hired and the number who left the University for various reasons during the period June 30, 1993 to November 30, 1996.

A careful analysis has revealed that the figures provided for the Faculty of Engineering were incorrect. While D96-42 indicates a net gain of three during this period, the actual data show that there were 18 departures and 15 hires for a net loss of three. Six moved to other universities, two went to run their own businesses, nine retired, and there was one death.

During this time, the Faculty continued to offer seven accredited professional engineering programs as well as professional programs in Urban Planning and Architecture. The Faculty of Engineering has a higher student/staff ratio and a lower cost per student than any of our peer institutions, and the recent reduction in staff has increased the gap.

While enrollment in most of our programs is stable, there is a rapidly growing number of excellent applications for Computer Engineering.

Because of the limited resources available however, it has been necessary to place a strict limit on the number of admissions to this program, and we are thus unable to respond to this important community need.

John M. Dealy
Dean of Engineering