By: Mathew Messa/Staff Writer
Students, faculty members, and staff of the University’s College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) all gathered together for a town hall meeting on the afternoon of Oct. 25 in the Engineering Center’s newly renovated Panther Pit to hear students voice their concerns on a number of issues.
On the panel answering students’ questions were CEC Dean John L. Volakis, Associate Dean of undergraduate education Mark Allen Weiss, Associate Dean for academic affairs Anthony J. McGordon, and University Vice President Pablo Ortiz.

Vice President Pablo Ortiz promises the new workspace will be open by next summer. Dean John Volakis sits to his left. Mathew Messa/PantherNOW.
Originally President Rosenburg was set to be part of the panel, however, due to scheduling conflicts, he was substituted by Vice President Ortiz. Ortiz has supervised much of the recent ‘pantherization’ efforts at EC, including renovations to the EC Panther Pit and student lounge.
Starting off the questions was SGA Engineering Senator Elizabeth Alume, who asked Dean Volakis what his plans were to improve EC and the School of Computing and Information Sciences.
In response, Dean Volakis mentioned the college’s goal of adding 15 new faculty members every year to increase the student-to-teacher ratio. Volakis also spoke about the various construction projects that are in the works to help expand CEC, which according to Volakis, has increased its student capacity by 30 percent.
One of the construction projects mentioned by Volakis is a 250,000 square foot space that is set to be built on the corner of 8th street and 107 Avenue. According to Volakis, the building will be built in phases, with 3 phases currently established.
Volakis then handed the microphone to Steven Luis, the executive director for technology and industry relations at CEC. Luis broke down a $1 million renovation project for 5 computer labs at EC as well as the addition of a second 24/7 lab that students can utilize. In reference to the computer science department, Luis mentioned the 7 laboratories that were renovated over the past year.
One Mechanical Engineering student voiced his concerns over a lab space that contains two 3D printers, one of which is broken, and the other which is oftentimes unreliable. The student requested a tech fee to help repair the machines, however, it was rejected.
Luis promptly responded by saying he is more than happy to help the student and cited the construction of a makerspace which is in the works for EC. Volakis also jumped in to assure the student he will look into having the printers fixed immediately.

Engineering Senator Elizabeth Alume introduces the student organizations and first question for Dean Volakis. Mathew Messa/PantherNOW.
Another student, a senior mechanical engineering major, requested a concrete completion time frame for the maker space construction project since space had been promised this past summer, yet it is still under construction. As a member of the Society for Hispanic Engineers (SHPE), the student brought up an office space where the organization would organize their outreach events, however, space was taken away from them, and now with an increase of sponsors, the members of SHPE are displaced.
Vice President Ortiz responded to the student, acknowledging that it has been more than two years that the University has talked about the makerspace construction project. The newly constructed space located at EC would help ease the ‘growing pains’ that the college is experiencing by providing open areas, shared spaces for student organizations.
“I’m going to take full responsibility on behalf of the University for that space having not been done,” said Ortiz.
Ortiz cited complications with the project being what exactly would be included in the makerspace. Because of extra additions to the project, such as a request for a 3D printer, the overall cost had increased.
“If the makerspace isn’t open by this summer, students can come and find me,” said Ortiz to overwhelming applause.
Toward the end of the conference, Volakis and Ortiz left to attend meetings, leaving associates deans Weiss and McGordon on the panel.
One student provided Weiss and McGordon with the current flowchart for mechanical engineering majors which is intended to guide them to a four-year graduation.
“It’s very unlikely for students to be able to follow this [the flow chart], starting with Calculus 1, and having semesters where you’re taking 18 credits most of the time. And then second of all, if you’d like to turn the page [the backside of the flowchart], you have your electives, and I don’t want to exaggerate but about 80 percent of these don’t exist…,” said the student confidently.
Associate dean Weiss “completely” agreed with the student on the claim that the flowchart displays an amount of coursework that does not fit a four-year term.
“I completely agree with you, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” said Weiss.
Weiss said that the four-year graduation program is a state requirement that is constantly being argued by Florida legislative officials as a result of engineering students across all Florida colleges who are struggling to meet the requirement. He said that the flowchart includes the summer terms and urged students to take advantage of summer terms to avoid semesters that quickly add up to 18 credits.
The student then asked what the four-year graduation rate for the college is, to which Weiss responded, “About 28 percent. It is the worst four-year graduation rate out of all the colleges in the University,” said Weiss.
Weiss said that aside from renovations the number one priority for CEC is to raise this percentage.