The $2 million in one-time funds the statewide engineering initiative received to promote engineering at the higher education level could help bring Utah's economy out of its current slump.

"Engineers are critical to keeping the economy growing," said John Sutherland, chairman of the Technology Initiative Advisory Board that regulates the engineering initiative created in 2001 to graduate more engineering majors for the work force. "The (Utah) Legislature seems to understand the message that companies that create things are the core to the economy. I think it'll help (the state) recover more quickly."

The engineering initiative was organized after former Gov. Mike Leavitt challenged Utah's nine colleges and universities to double the number of computer science and engineering graduates, especially in light of the shortage of engineers in the state.

For the past nine years, the initiative has recruited high school students, hired additional faculty and increased graduate engineering students at more than double the rate at most schools. And since 2002, multiple statewide engineering programs have increased their numbers of graduates.

Most engineering programs were hit along with other colleges in legislative budget cuts that left higher education in Utah with a 17.5 percent cut, which was later modified to a little more than 15 percent.

"If we had taken a 17 percent cut across the board, it would have taken all the money appropriated for the engineering initiative and set us back," Sutherland said. "There were fairly substantial cuts in higher ed. I think they're giving the engineering initiative one-time money to mitigate the effects."

Cynthia Furse, who heads a separate but complementary program at the University of Utah that encourages secondary-level students to consider science and math-related studies as a career, said she believes the Legislature tried to support engineering as best it could because it's important to moving forward.

"There are a number of programs, including one in electrical engineering, that are in response to specific demand from the local power companies," Furse said. "Many of today's engineers are older and on the brink of retirement. We will need to replace them."

And to keep programs running strong, the initiative must continue receiving funding. Sutherland said the technology board needs to look at incremental funding in various places, such as from supportive businesses that could make a difference.

"We want to get as many kids trained as possible," he said. "They are going into the types of jobs producing real value by creating new products and new ideas."

E-MAIL: lgroves@desnews.com