HOUGHTON - Michigan Technological University's Board of Control approved new degrees at its regular meeting Thursday.
The new majors include a new Ph.D. program in applied cognitive science and human factors and new Bachelor of Science degrees in business specialties, including management, operations and systems management, finance, marketing, management information systems and accounting.
University President Glenn Mroz said the new degrees were a result of growth in the business school and students' recognition of the value of pairing business degrees with science, engineering and math degrees. He said the business degrees were previously options within the business school.
He said having a specific business degree will help students once they leave the university.
"As a degree program rather than an option, these have much more attractiveness to employers and that helps our students gain employment and then rise through the ranks once they're employed," he said.
Additionally, the board approved expanding its Leading Scholar Award to out-of-state students to encourage talented non-resident students to apply to the university.
Shea McGrew, vice president of advancement, said the scholarship is the university's most competitive scholarship with thirty in-state students competing for three full rides to the university, a value of $22,000 per year that includes full tuition, room and board. The rest of the finalists receive $8,000 annually.
With the scholarship's expansion, the 10 out-of-state finalists will compete for the grand prize of full out-of-state tuition, but not room and board. Three finalists will get the grand prize, while the rest will get $16,000 annually.
In other business, the board:
appointed Adrienne R. Minerick as an associate professor with tenure in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Minerick comes to Michigan Tech from Mississippi State University.
revised the university's equal opportunity policy to add the phrase "gender identity." The addition recognizes the concerns of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community on campus and does not affect employment benefits.
reappointed David Brule, Kathryn Clark and Russell Gronevelt to the Michigan Tech Fund Board of Directors.
Layla Aslani can be reached at laslani@mininggazette.com.