College Budgets Being Eaten by Computers

U.S. students preparing to become engineers are suffering because the need for expensive computers is leaving colleges without adequate traditional lab equipment, according to a study released in Washington.

A report submitted to Congress by the National Society of Professional Engineers also said the added costs of maintaining and operating complicated computer systems that have become a necessity at engineering schools are “devouring” college budgets.

“The problems add up to students who will have less hands-on experience, and any experience they do have may be on outmoded equipment,” Neil Schmitt, dean of engineering at the University of Arkansas, said in releasing the report.

“The ability of new graduates to contribute to U.S. technological competitiveness is directly related to the laboratory experience,” he said.

Sixty-seven engineering schools responded to the survey, which found that the colleges now acquire more computer equipment than traditional engineering lab equipment, such as materials-testing machines, robots and oscilloscopes.

While the total amount for computer and lab equipment doubled from 1983 to 1985, expenditures for lab equipment alone decreased by more than 10%, the survey said.