We propose a program in Mechatronics Engineering at CSU Channel Islands. CI is the only public University in Ventura County, and there is a great need for engineers in the area. Local colleges have engineering preparation, and their students would like to be able to transfer to a local school.

1. Mechatronics
Engineering
Ivona Grzegorczyk & Michael Soltys
Math & Computer Science
December 1, 2015

2. • A short form for Engineering was started around
2007, and the program was approved by the
Campus & Chancellor’s Office for 2011.
• We now have submitted a long form to Curriculum
Committee, and we have updated the name to
reflect the current changes and development of
new technologies: Mechatronics Engineering

3. • Mechatronics is a modern multi-disciplinary field of
Engineering, combining Computer Hardware,
Electronics and Mechanical Engineering in one.
A lot of Employment Opportunities!

5. • Since we do not have Engineering at this point,
Ventura county students go to other campuses or
change their majors.
• VC Community Colleges have engineering
programs; their students would like to transfer to CI!
• Employers complain of shortage of engineers in
Ventura
• As we have almost 70% of
female students, this will be an
opportunity to attract women to
a predominantly male field.

6. • Mechatronics is in high demand, but very few
places offer an accredited program (CSU Chico is
one of only 9 such places in the nation).
Local business such as:
Haas, Raytheon, Vector, Hughes Aircraft, Lockheed
Martin, Aerospace Corp. ) and Navy research
groups have great interest in this program.

7. We are collaborating with
• Navy: Bill Cunneen, Tom Nielsen, Greg Wakatsuki,
Cameron Bruce, Silvia Faulstich
• VCCC: Michelle Millea (Eng), Jeff Woods (Phy), Alex
Kolesnik and Lydia Morales (Math), Rebecca Chandler
(Career Pathways), Tim Harrison (Dean), Hilary Howard
(STEM Pathways)
• CSUCI: Ivona Grzegorczyk and Michael Soltys, with
support from Gayle Hutchinson (Provost) and Karen Carey
(Dean)
• VCOE: Tiffany Morse

8. • We have the support of the CI administration, and
we have secured financial resources (1/2 million)
from the State, earmarked for Mechatronics.
We also expect industry funding & various grants to
come in once the program is approved.
We will use existing lab space in Sierra Hall.

9. Nr of
Faculty
Faculty
Salary w
Benefits
Startup
Costs
Lab
Support /
Other
Total
First
Year
2 $300K $100K $100K $500K
Second
Year
3 $435K $30K $25K $500K
Following
Years
3+ $435K
Depends
on further
hires
$65K $500K

10. Mechatronics Program
• First two years of study are common with other
fields of Engineering, and include Calculus,
Computer Science, Chemistry, and Physics.
• We already cover a substantial part of curriculum,
so enough to hire 2-3 faculty.
• We will propose a General Education hands on
Introduction to Engineering course.

11. Our Focus: Small Robotics

12. Thank you!
Questions?