Cal State San Marcos announced Thursday the creation of an engineering program thanks to more than $1.5 million in donations from local companies and their employees.
The university will begin its bachelor of science in computer engineering this fall and plans to offer a degree in electrical engineering in fall 2019.
The engineering department is being created with a $1.5 million donation from Carlsbad communications company Viasat and its employees and a $100,000 gift from Hunter Industries of San Marcos, Cal State San Marcos President Karen Haynes announced in her annual address on Thursday.
“Viasat and Hunter Industries are sending a strong message that an investment in CSUSM is a strong one, with qualified, workforce-ready graduates as the almost-immediate return,” Haynes said. “Together we are stepping forward to expand the boundaries of what is possible, for our university and for our region.”
The school also received a $6 million, five-year federal grant last year that will help it develop engineering curriculum.
Viasat’s gift will go toward creating the future Viasat Engineering Pavilion, which will feature renovated classroom and lab space, new equipment and instruments. Hunter Industries’ gift will go toward the creation of a design lab, which Haynes described as a hub of collaboration, hands-on design and innovation.
—City News Service
