MSU secured $3.8 million in donations two weeks ago for the Engineering program.

James McCoy gave the university $3.3 million for construction, two extra faculty members, and equipment. Fred Stephens and Payton Carnes together gave approximately $500,000 for more equipment.

“I was very grateful,” MSU President Dr. Jesse Rogers said.

At present, there’s a lot happening in the engineering department. Administrators are in the process of dropping the manufacturing technology degree in an attempt to replace it with a general engineering degree.

The physics department is slated to move from the McCoy building to Bolin within a year to make room for the bulging engineering program, which already claims 200 students.

“Physics needs more space. They need their own laboratory,” Rogers said.

Also, one of the computer labs in McCoy is too cramped – not enough computers are available for all the students. Right now the lab holds 13 computers. The department needs 50.

“I thought these were excellent ideas,” Rogers said. “Our engineers do so much now sitting in front of a computer. The computer lab we have now just isn’t large enough. We can’t push people through it. It even slows their graduation down if they can’t get through courses.”

This will also allow faculty to teach larger classes, making the program more efficient.

He discussed these issues with Wichita Falls benefactor James McCoy, whose donations helped to create the program. In the end, McCoy gave MSU more money than Rogers initially asked for.

“He wanted to make sure we had enough.”

Rogers also expressed gratitude to Fred Stephens, of Stephens Engineering, and Payton Carnes, for their contributions.

The university will begin to make changes in the department within the year. The Board of Regents will be charged with approving an architect in May for the McCoy renovations. Rogers said he hopes the construction will begin early next fall.