Under the direction of Ralph Partridge at first, and later under Paul Yuen, the electrical engineering curriculum developed rapidly. In 1961 the first group of 15 electrical engineers graduated. The next year (1962) the Engineers' Council for Professional Development accredited the electrical engineering curriculum. A curriculum in mechanical engineering was first offered in 1960 and in 1963 the first group of three mechanical engineers graduated.

Until then organized research and graduate instruction had been neglected due to the urgent need to concentrate on the development of the undergraduate programs. Master's degree programs in civil engineering and in electrical engineering were authorized by the University in 1963. A Hawai`i Engineering Experiment Station was authorized in 1962 and Dr. Fujio Matsuda was appointed the first Director. Before the program could get off the ground, the Governor of Hawai`i (John Burns) requested the service of Dr. Matsuda as Director of the State Department of Transportation. As it was expected that Matsuda would return to the University in two years, the position of Director of the Engineering Experiment Station remained unfilled during that period. Research studies, financed by various agencies, were conducted by some faculty members but the Experiment Station during that time was a paper organization. Dr. Matsuda remained away from the University for ten years and when he returned he became the first University of Hawai`i alumnus and the first engineer to be President of the University of Hawai`i.

In 1964 the College of Engineering was organized with four departments: Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Arthur Chiu, Chairman; Department of General Engineering, Don Avery, Chairman; Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr. Paul Yuen, Chairman, and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Willem Stuiver, Chairman. Nicholas Corba was Assistant Dean. It is noteworthy that since World War 11, through all the changes of organization and personnel, there have been only two secretaries of the College, Matsue Miyamoto succeeding Hazel Hee when the Administrative Vice President's office was organized. Between them these two secretaries have been acquainted with about ninety-five percent of all the engineering graduates since engineering education began in Hawai`i.

In 1965 Holmes retired as Dean of the College of Engineering and Dr. John Shupe became the new Dean. The University was growing rapidly. That year, the University expenditure (including East-West Center) was over thirty-two million dollars. The buildings of the University were valued at over thirty million dollars on a cost basis. The expenditures for the College of Engineering that year were over five hundred thousand dollars. One hundred and eighteen engineering degrees were awarded during the year. Dean Shupe arrived just in time to take over the reins as the College of Engineering began the most interesting period of its development.

Prepared for the Hawai`i Bicentennial Encyclopedia, 1976 by Wilfred J. Holmes, Dean Emeritus

Document written in 1975

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