Polytechnic name changes support growth
<p>This spring, the Arizona Board of Regents approved the name change of East College to the School of Applied Arts and Sciences and the College of Science and Technology to the College of Technology and Innovation, both located at ASU's Polytechnic campus.</p><separator></separator><p>The name changes are part of recent modifications to the campus's five-year plan proposed by Betty Capaldi, the university's executive vice president and provost, and David Young, senior vice president of academic affairs, earlier this year. While the internal organization of each is still being discussed, the name changes are effective immediately.</p><separator></separator><p>Established in 1997, East College initially was intended to be an incubator for new programs until they could stand on their own or be moved to a more appropriate college or school. The college will now have a more clearly focused mission.</p><separator></separator><p>“The new School of Applied Arts and Sciences will function more like a traditional liberal arts and sciences school, offering professional majors as well as providing the general studies courses that are required by all students to complete an undergraduate degree,” says David Schwalm, the school's dean.</p><separator></separator><p>The programs housed in that college will focus on applied psychology, applied biology, science, math, communications, arts and humanities, social sciences, and health and wellness.</p><separator></separator><p>Several new programs are being proposed in the health sciences area, such as occupational health sciences and general health sciences.</p><separator></separator><p>In addition, the Department of Applied Biological Sciences is moving from the College of Technology and Innovation to become part of the new school July 1.</p><separator></separator><p>“The changes allow the College of Technology and Innovation to focus wholly on programs in aviation, engineering, electronics and manufacturing engineering technology, technology management and computing studies,” says Timothy Lindquist, interim dean of the college.</p><separator></separator><p>In addition, the School of Educational Innovation and Teacher Preparation will operate as a free-standing unit.</p><separator></separator><p>The Polytechnic campus weaves management, science and technology throughout the curriculum, in a hands-on learning environment.</p><separator></separator><p>“We want students to realize that we might all be ASU, but we offer distinct programs of study at the Polytechnic campus,” Capaldi says. “We believe the new names will help students better understand the organization, as well as help focus on further developing niche programs located at the campus.”</p>