UF’s College of Engineering may fuse departments this summer.
The nuclear and radiological engineering department is considering merging with another department to unite budgets and spread out administrative jobs.
David Hintenlang, interim chairman for the department, said the merger would not affect students’ majors, courses or scholarships.
“From a student’s perspective, it should be pretty seamless,” he said.
Hintenlang said he did not want to say which department the nuclear program might join with because the merger is still under consideration.
He said the change would not mean layoffs for the department’s five professors, and the department is looking to hire new professors to replace those who have retired or moved.
Adam Kraus, club president of the American Nuclear Society, said he thinks a merger will improve the program by attracting new professors.
“I think a merger needs to happen now,” he said.
Hintenlang said some students were worried merging would eliminate the nuclear engineering program but that they will still be able to obtain nuclear engineering degrees.
