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Name change for college brings new departments and new opportunities

Friends of the University of Wyoming may have noticed a recent change to the College of Engineering and Applied Science — its name.

A name change for the College of Engineering and Applied Science to the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences was made to better reflect the academic majors, programs and departments in the college. The new name is consistent with the names of other colleges across the country offering similar programs.

“We are excited about the new name of the college,” says Cameron Wright, Carrell Family Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. “Even with the new name, we continue to celebrate our rich history which remains a part of our being. The mission of our college has not changed, it just involves more departments and degree programs now. This is simply the next chapter in our history as we continue to serve our students.”

The name change was approved by the UW Board of Trustees, as part of UW’s recent restructuring, which has involved reorganizing the College of Arts and Sciences and the former colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Engineering and Applied Science to better align the life and physical sciences and the humanities, social sciences and arts. This involves the movement of several academic departments — some that already have taken place and others that will be completed over the next year.

“It’s important that a college name reflects the departments of the college, and also imbues a sense of belonging to our people in those departments,” says Dean Wright. “I think this new name provides that.”

The College of Engineering and Physical Sciences will continue to offer its programs, with the addition of the departments of Chemistry, Geology and Geophysics, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics and Astronomy to the roster.

“Bringing these departments into the college is a great opportunity and a cause for celebration,” says Wright. “We often collaborated with them in the past, but having them all under one college makes such collaborations easier. And it opens students’ eyes to the many choices they have for courses, projects, research, and other activities.”

There will be a period of transition for the new names to be reflected on everything from signs in front of the colleges’ buildings to the UW website and printed materials. Additionally, students registering for classes shouldn’t expect to see the new names in the registration process until next year.

“Just as the overall restructuring is taking time to implement, it will be a gradual process for the new names of two of our colleges to be fully represented physically and digitally. This is a year of change for our academic enterprise in many respects, and we would ask for understanding from our constituents as we implement the transition, which could be confusing at times,” UW Provost and Executive Vice President Kevin Carman says. “What should not be confusing is that two colleges that have long been central to UW’s land-grant mission — focused on agriculture and engineering — continue to have that focus and are being strengthened through this reorganization. The new names reflect the colleges’ continued commitment while describing the complementary departments coming their way.”

The CEPS today consists of the following departments:

• Atmospheric Science • Chemical and Biomedical Engineering • Chemistry • Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management • Electrical Engineering and Computer Science • Energy and Petroleum Engineering • Geology and Geophysics • Mathematics and Statistics • Mechanical and Energy Systems Engineering • Physics and Astronomy