GREEN BAY–The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will expand its engineering offerings by adding a degree in electrical engineering.

They started in 2015 with engineering technology degrees, mechanical, electrical and environmental, and expanded to mechanical engineering in fall 2018.

“UW-Green Bay is meeting the demand for engineers due to the manufacturing growth in the Green Bay area and the NEW North region,” said John Katers, UW-Green Bay’s dean of Science, Engineering and Technology. “As the economy continues to shift toward one of innovation and technology–even in historically important manufacturing sectors like the paper industry–electrical engineers are in high demand. Because we have such a strong employer base in the area who can offer internships and other hands-on experiences, we can grow that kind of talent right here. It’s very exciting to be able to meet this demand.”

The region’s need for more engineers has been well documented. According to the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, the need for the next generation of engineers is not being met by the current schools and programs in the UW System. That report indicates the need for electrical engineers in Wisconsin and in the New North in particular, where electrical engineers are imported from other states.

The New North region in particular demonstrates need for several types of engineers, especially electrical engineers, while lacking the educational programs to develop them locally. The Greater Green Bay Chamber Economic Development Strategic Plan 2 also emphasized the need for more engineers in the region and called for the expansion of engineering education programs, specifically at UW-Green Bay.

According to Katers, the high demand for engineering talent presents a great opportunity for both high school graduates and adults considering a degree in electrical engineering. “Our engineering technology graduates see almost 100 percent job placement after graduation. The jobs are definitely out there in manufacturing, utility companies, research and development, and communication technologies.”

UW-GB engineering students are able to test their skills in the 63,000-square-foot, $15-million, state-of-the-art Brown County STEM Innovation Center that houses the Resch School of Engineering, The Einstein Project, Brown County Extension and Brown County Land and Water Conservation. In addition, lab designs have been approved for a $5.7 million renovation of space to meet specific needs of electrical engineering and electrical engineering technology. Completion of this hands-on instructional space is expected by January 2022.

New freshman can enroll immediately in the four-year electrical engineering degree starting this fall. The program includes required courses on electrical circuits, electronic devices, signals and systems, and energy conversion. Elective courses can include subject areas on advanced programmable logic controllers and automation, electrical power systems, and communications. For more information, go online to https://www.uwgb.edu/goal/supercharge/.

The Resch School of Engineering is the fastest-growing school at UW-Green Bay, enrolling students across these programs: computer science, electrical engineering, engineering technology (electrical, environmental, mechanical), mathematics and science, and mechanical engineering. UW-Green Bay named its expanded School of Engineering for Richard J. Resch after his $5 million lead gift in 2018 to help build the Brown County STEM Innovation Center at UW-Green Bay.