In addition, starting in 2006, the ECE Department began funding a merit-based ECE Scholars Program aimed primarily at incoming freshmen. Approximately $10,000 per year has been added to this program (with an eventual steady-state funding of $40,000 per year). This scholarship has been used as a recruiting tool, with the goal of attracting outstanding students to the ECE programs. This award is renewable for up to eight semesters, requires students to maintain a 3.0/4.0 GPA, and that students make continual progress towards a degree in one of the ECE programs. Currently 24 students are supported by this scholarship.
There are also numerous scholarships available to ECE students through the University of New Mexico School of Engineering (SOE). During the past year, undergraduate students in ECE programs received a total of $59,046 in scholarships through these SOE awards.
Finally, there are number of minor departmental scholarships available to ECE undergraduate students. During the past year, a total of $24,000 in scholarships were awarded through these sources.
The Electrical Engineering enrollments have remained fairly steady over the past 5 years (in fact they are consistent with the historical enrollment data that dates back 10-15 years). The Computer Engineering enrollment, on the other hand, experienced a dip that coincided with the bursting of the "Internet bubble" around the year 2000. Very recently, however, we have been experiences a resurgence in Computer Engineering enrollments. >P>The following table lists the number of degrees awarded by program during the same 5 year time period.