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Newsletter Contents

Synopses of new reports in the Report Library on the Engineering Trends Web Site engtrends.com

1. "No Growth in Interest of US Citizens for Obtaining Engineering Degrees"
2. "Engineering Faculty Salaries Are Now Increasing More Slowly Than in the 1990s; Salary Growth Since 2000 Is Greater for Engineering Colleges That Do Not Award Engineering Doctorates"
3. "Good News - Undergraduate and Graduate Engineering Enrollments "Appear" to be Increasing - with Possibly Some "Bumps in the Road" in the Near Future"
4. "The Number of Women Faculty in Engineering Colleges Is Increasing Rapidly - This Study Compares Fractions of Women Faculty in Engineering and Engineering Disciplines to Fractions of Doctoral Degrees Awarded Annually - Will the Growth Continue?"

New Studies Underway at Engineering Trends

Engineering Trends Membership Fees to Increase in 2008

Organizational Memberships to Be Available Beginning in 2008

The New Engineering Trends Web Site Is Now Operational

Synopses of New Reports in the Report Library on the Engineering Trends Web Site

No Growth in Interest of US Citizens for Obtaining Engineering Degrees (Report No. 0907A)

The trends in the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees awarded to US citizens since AY1965-66 were studied. Both numbers of degrees and degrees per capita were examined. Trends for nine engineering disciplines since AY1975-76 were also considered.

Bachelor's degrees awarded to US citizens reached a maximum in AY2004-05 that was slightly less than the maximum in AY1985-86 and are now declining. In terms of degrees per capita, the more recent maximum is 20.8% lower than the former.

Master's degrees awarded to US citizens reached a maximum in AY2004-05 that was 27.5% greater than the previous maximum in AY1994-95. In terms of degrees per capita, there was a 3.4% decline.

Doctoral degrees awarded to US citizens reached a maximum in AY1996-97. The decline since then has been 14.9%. (The number of engineering doctorates awarded to US citizens in AY2005-06 was essentially the same as in AY1969-70.) In terms of degrees per capita, the decline has been 22.7%.

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees per capita (US citizens) for most engineering disciplines exhibited cyclic behavior and declined over the past ten to twenty years. "Biological" and "computer" disciplines in general exhibited growth, but bachelor's and master's degrees per capita in "computer" disciplines declined in the last two years.

Engineering Faculty Salaries Are Now Increasing More Slowly than in the 1990s; Salary Growth Since 2000 Is Greater for Engineering Colleges That Do Not Award Engineering Doctorates (Report No. 0907B)

Median faculty salaries in all three academic ranks were studied for the period 1994 through 2006. Salaries for both PhD-granting and non-PhD-granting engineering colleges grew at a rate greater than the consumer price index from 1994 through 2000. During the period from 2000 through 2006, PhD-granting college salaries grew at essentially the same rate as the consumer price index; non-PhD-granting college salaries continued to grow at their 1994 through 2000 rate. At the present time, professor, associate professor and assistant professor salaries at PhD-granting colleges are only 4.1%, 5.7% and 2.2%, respectively, higher than salaries at non-PhD-granting colleges.

Good News - Undergraduate and Graduate Enrollments "Appear" to be Increasing - with Possibly Some "Bumps in the Road" in the Near Future (Report No. 0907C)

Engineering enrollments now appear to be increasing at all three academic levels according to ASEE and EWC surveys. For undergraduate enrollments, trend predictions are hampered somewhat by six engineering colleges reporting only to one surveying organization or reporting significantly different information to each. Engineering Trend's "modification" of the data to reconcile trends of the six colleges in both surveys indicated that undergraduate engineering first-year and total full-time enrollments began to increase in fall 2006.

Full-time master's degree enrollments increased slightly in fall 2006 in both ASEE and EWC surveys. On the other hand, both surveys indicated that the decline in part-time enrollments continued in fall 2006.

Both ASEE and EWC surveys indicate that full-time doctoral enrollments increased slightly in fall 2005 and fall 2006. Further, part-time doctoral enrollments declined in both surveys in fall 2006. The declines in master's degree enrollments in fall 2004 and fall 2005 may negatively affect doctoral enrollments in the near future. However, the growth of master's degree enrollments in fall 2006 indicates that doctoral enrollments are poised for continued long-term growth.

The Number of Women Faculty in Engineering Colleges is Increasing Rapidly - This Study Compares Fractions of Women Faculty in Engineering and Engineering Disciplines to Fractions of Doctoral Degrees Awarded Annually - Will Growth Continue? (Report 0907D)

The fraction of women holding faculty positions in each of the three academic ranks is increasing rapidly. Since fall 2001, women in full professor, associate professor and assistant professor ranks increased 71.5%, 35.0% and 49.7%, respectively. Increasing trends were found for most engineering disciplines studied.

For engineering as a whole, the fraction of women holding assistant professor positions has been essentially the same as the fraction awarded doctoral degrees by US engineering colleges for the last six years. A similar correlation appears to be valid for individual engineering disciplines, but statistical scatter in the data precludes a precise statement.

Bio+biomed, industrial, materials and chemical engineering showed the highest fractions of women faculty at the various academic ranks. Electrical and mechanical engineering exhibited the lowest fractions.

There may be some question as to whether the rapid growth of the fraction of women on the faculty of engineering colleges can continue in the future. The largest disciplines have the lowest fractions of doctoral degrees awarded to women. Thus, the overall rate of growth of the fraction of women holding academic positions will be determined by the disciplines that currently have the lowest fractions of doctoral degrees awarded to women.

In addition, the serious declines in undergraduate enrollments (first-year and total full-time) that began several years ago resulted in a decline in bachelor's degrees awarded to women in AY2005-06. Master's enrollments of women have declined in the last three years. The decline in the interest of women in engineering bachelor's and masters degree programs might be expected to spread to doctoral programs in a few years.

New Studies Underway at Engineering Trends

A comprehensive study of research expenditures in engineering and individual engineering disciplines is being undertaken. Expenditures per faculty member and expenditures per master's and doctorate degree will be determined. Growth trends will be compared to Consumer Price Index trends.

In addition, a detailed study of three engineering disciplines of importance to energy-producing industries is underway. Petroleum, nuclear and mining engineering, disciplines that have often been omitted from past studies due to their size, will be considered. Numbers of faculty and degrees (bachelor's, master's and doctoral) will be analyzed along with trends in research expenditures and enrollments.

Engineering Trends Membership Fees to Increase in 2008

Annual Primary and Additional Membership fees will increase to $300 and $150, respectively, in 2008 (increases of $50 each). This is the first fee increase in the five years since memberships were initiated. Membership renewals in January and February of 2008, if paid in 2007, will be at the current rate. Invoices for January and February renewals (to be sent in October through December) will provide information on this option.

Organizational Memberships to Be Available Beginning in 2008

Organizational Memberships will provide multiple memberships in an organization at a reduced rate. The annual fee will be $500 and will provide for three memberships. The membership holder will be able to designate the additional members online after the membership holder's registration and payment have been completed. All three persons will receive all member benefits.

The New Engineering Trends Web Site Is Now Operational

Our Web site has undergone a "complete makeover" and has been on line for about a month. The new design allows for improved navigation since the entire site menu is shown on every page. A "crisper" look, less color, no images imbedded in text and the smaller font should be welcomed by visitors as well. Beyond our Internet appearance, changes continue to take place to adapt our services to client requirements. Comments are welcomed, of course.

Can We Be of Assistance?

Engineering Trends specializes in client-defined studies comparing engineering colleges and departments at individual universities.  We follow closely enrollment and degree trends for the US and individual engineering colleges.  Our predictions of engineering degree trends have been credible.  We would be pleased to assist you in your activities in this regard.  Engineering Trends has the capability to provide rapid responses and accurate analyses at low cost to our clients.  All studies are based upon a no-cost quotation specifying the scope of the study and the delivery time, as well as the cost.

We welcome your suggestions of reports to be added to the Report Library section of our Web site and reviewed in forthcoming newsletters.  You may contact us via our Web site www.engtrends.com, info@engtrends.com and/or (906) 482-1523.  We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Richard W. Heckel
Founder & Technical Director
rheckel@engtrends.com

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