Amid discussion about funding, quality assessment and the impact on other University departments and programs, the Faculty Senate Tuesday postponed action on a proposed new undergraduate bioengineering program until its February 25 meeting.

The Senate’s Executive Committee and Educational Policies and Planning Committee have endorsed the program with several provisions, including one that the EPPC re-examine the program in two years, particularly with regard to funding and projected enrollments. According to the Watson School, initial enrollment of about 40 students would grow to more than 200 and the program will become self-supporting.

The Senate, however, unanimously voted to support an amendment by John Chaffee, professor of Asian and Asian American Studies, that EPPC also consider the impact of the program on other parts of the University in its two-year review.

Frank Cardullo, professor of mechanical engineering, said projections that each faculty member in the new department would bring in some $300,000 a year in research grants, and that some faculty would devote 10 percent of their time to the new curriculum, was optimistic. “I don’t have a lot of confidence in these obscure numbers,” he said.

“Three hundred thousand is actually quite conservative,” responded Ken McLeod, chair of bioengineering, who said $500,000 a year would prove closer to the mark.

Watson Dean Roger Westgate said no program will suffer a loss of support or revenue. “It is not in Watson’s best interest that any harm come to other departments,” he said.