In response to the introduction of new departments and programs and significant changes in the curriculum of the School of Natural Sciences at Sonoma State University, the school faculty has voted to change the name of the school to Science and Technology. A recent proposal initiated by the faculty indicated that the old name did not adequately address at least half of the nine departments and programs of the school.
The School of Natural Sciences has taken steps to introduce new fields and concentrations in recent years in response to the growth of high-tech industries in the North Bay. The most recent examples of the new programs are the applied physics concentration within the B.S. in physics and the new masters program in computer and engineering science. Additionally, focus on biotechnology has increased which has resulted in the expansion of bioinformatics and DNA sequencing in the department of biology. Millions of dollars have been invested in the School's new engineering science laboratories which are to be completed by fall 2002.
The overwhelming vote of the faculty and the strong support of the administration for the new name indicate the commitment of SSU to enhance its educational offering in high-tech oriented fields. Dr. Saeid Rahimi, the dean of the School of Science and Technology believes that the new name will better describe the high-tech aspects of the School offerings as well as the School's more traditional curriculum.
