MSU College of Engineering unveils new technology engineering degree program
Michigan State University’s College of Engineering unveiled a new undergraduate technology engineering program, serving as the college’s latest response to industry demand for practice-ready engineers. “Technology engineering is a new engineering discipline and MSU is leading the way with this,” Janet Brelin-Fornari, director of Technology Engineering, said in an interview with The State News. Technology […]
Michigan State University’s College of Engineering unveiled a new undergraduate technology engineering program, serving as the college’s latest response to industry demand for practice-ready engineers.
“Technology engineering is a new engineering discipline and MSU is leading the way with this,” Janet Brelin-Fornari, director of Technology Engineering, said in an interview with The State News.
Technology Engineering, or TechE, which was launched in fall 2024, blends mechanical, electrical and computer engineering with computer science to prepare students for modern engineering challenges while working in state-of-the-art labs. The program aims to bridge the gap between engineers and computer scientists across product development teams, according to a press release.
“While students have the core of choosing a concentration, they can mix it with the new Smart Agricultural Systems minor, and they can take the courses in that track as well to fulfill that,” Brelin-Fornari said. “The industry has been so excited to get their hands on these engineers.”
The new program will include courses in hardware cybersecurity, electronics and embedded systems, sensors and signal processing, robotics and automation and controls with the goal to “leverage hands-on, real-world projects that integrate cutting-edge technologies with a strong foundational engineering mindset,” the release says.
Brelin-Fornari said that with the engineering field rapidly changing due to advanced technology, MSU has created the curriculum addressing the changes to make students “career-ready engineers.”
“The students have a set of foundational courses that they have to take,” Brelin-Fornari said. “They have courses in electronics, sensors and signal processing, digital logic to understand what’s going on inside of a chip and the computer side.”
With the skills and knowledge students can learn, Brelin-Fornari said the program is designed to be hands-on.
“You need to know and understand the theory, and as engineers, a big part of what we do is to apply that theory—but the theory needs to come to life,” Brelin-Fornari said. “With that, we have hands-on opportunities in most of the courses within Technology Engineering.”
The TechE degree program’s first graduating class is expected in fall 2026, with incoming students learning more about the program during New Student Orientation. Students can find more information on the Technology Engineering program through the College of Engineering’s website.
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “MSU College of Engineering unveils new technology engineering degree program” on social media.
Fisk University’s gymnastics program — the first in HBCU history — is shutting down. The Nashville, TN-based HBCU announced in an email on Friday that it will discontinue the sport. According to College Gym News, the university cited challenges with aligning gymnastics to its current athletics structure. “We are tremendously proud of the history our gymnastics […]
Fisk University’s gymnastics program — the first in HBCU history — is shutting down.
The Nashville, TN-based HBCU announced in an email on Friday that it will discontinue the sport. According to College Gym News, the university cited challenges with aligning gymnastics to its current athletics structure.
“We are tremendously proud of the history our gymnastics team has made in just three years,” said Fisk Director of Athletics Valencia Jordan. “But we look forward to focusing on our conference-affiliated teams to strengthen our impact in the HBCU Athletic Conference. Fisk is grateful for the hard work, dedication, and tenacity of its gymnasts, staff members, and coaches who made this program possible.”
The groundbreaking program drew national attention from the start. Fisk hired Corrine Tarver— the first Black woman to compete in gymnastics at the University of Georgia and a national champion— as head coach. Morgan Price, who turned down a chance to compete in the SEC, became the team’s breakout star. She joined several other young gymnasts eager to make history on the inaugural HBCU squad.
The team got off to a strong start in 2023 and improved in 2024. Price won the national championship in the all-around and defended her title in 2025.
However, cracks began to appear earlier this season. Tarver, who had also served as athletics director, stepped down midseason. Fisk faced financial aid issues tied to FAFSA processing delays, which created uncertainty for many students. Last summer, Nashville’s Metro Council stepped in with $500,000 in emergency funding to support the university.
Price announced last month she would transfer to Arkansas for her final season. Now, the program she and her teammates helped build appears to be finished. This decision comes about a year after Talladega College — the first HBCU to announce a gymnastics program — ended its own after just one season.
Simone Biles calls Riley Gaines ‘sick’ over criticism of transgender athletes
Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles is going head-to-head with one of the most vocal opponents of transgender girls and women competing in female sports, former college swimmer Riley Gaines. Biles — the most decorated Olympic gymnast is history — called the former college athlete “sick” and a “sore loser” in a post on X Friday […]
Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles is going head-to-head with one of the most vocal opponents of transgender girls and women competing in female sports, former college swimmer Riley Gaines.
Biles — the most decorated Olympic gymnast is history — called the former college athlete “sick” and a “sore loser” in a post on X Friday night.
“You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports,” Biles, 28, wrote. “Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!!”
“But instead… You bully them,” Biles continued. “One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”
As a college swimmer, Gaines tied for fifth place in a competition with then-University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who is transgender, in 2022.
Since then, Gaines has largely built a career as a pundit in conservative media advocating against trans women competing in female sports, arguing that it is unfair to include them in competition and their inclusion is at times unsafe for other competitors.
Gaines, 25, has also built an enormous following on social media, with over 1.5 million followers on X, where she regularly lambastes and mocks transgender athletes.
On Friday, Gaines posted an image of a Minnesota girls high school baseball team, which supposedly includes a trans player. She appeared to taunt the player, referring to her as a boy, which appears to have elicited Biles’ response.
Gaines almost immediately responded to Biles’ criticism in a series of posts on X.
“This is so disappointing. My take is the least controversial take on the planet,” Gaines wrote. “Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls’ dreams? Didn’t have that on my bingo card.”
The issues of trans girls and women competing in female sports has become a lightning rod issue in the United States in recent years.
In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to prohibit transgender women and girls from competing in female sports.
Before that, at least 27 states already had laws, regulations or policies banning transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identities, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ think tank.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Joe Castiglione calls NCAA settlement an ‘unprecedented opportunity’
The world of college athletics is entering a new era. On Friday night, Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House settlement in the U.S. Northern District of California, ushering in revenue-sharing for the first time in NCAA history. Beginning July 1, Division I schools will be allowed to share $20.5 million directly with athletes, an amount that will increase annually. Schools have […]
The world of college athletics is entering a new era.
On Friday night, Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House settlement in the U.S. Northern District of California, ushering in revenue-sharing for the first time in NCAA history. Beginning July 1, Division I schools will be allowed to share $20.5 million directly with athletes, an amount that will increase annually.
Schools have been preparing for this moment for months while awaiting the decision. OU athletic director Joe Castiglione, who confirmed in a December email to fans the program planned to share the maximum allowable revenues with their athletes, wrote Saturday he sees this new era as an “unprecedented opportunity” for his athletic department.
“The approval of the House settlement brings clarity to the future of college athletics,” Castiglione wrote Saturday on X. “But it also offers unprecedented opportunity for (OU athletics) to excel as never before.
“We’ve prepared for this day, and now that it’s here we’re ready to share revenue at the maximum allowable amount and add scholarships to create financial certainty for our student-athletes.”
Most FBS athletic departments plan to allocate roughly 75% of revenue-sharing to football ($15 million), 15-20% to men’s basketball, 5-10% to women’s basketball and the rest for other non-revenue generating sports.
OU exceeded $200 million in revenue for the first time in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the annual financial report the school filed with the NCAA in mid-January. The department also set a fundraising record for the second time in three years last year. The Sooners received a record $110.3 million in total donations and pledges during the 2023-24 fiscal year, surpassing the $109 million raised during the 2022 fiscal year.
More: What does the NCAA settlement mean for college sports? We answer the burning questions
Castiglione has taken numerous steps over the past year to ready his athletic department for revenue-sharing. He has partnered with former AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, who serves as executive adviser to the president and athletic director, to “help guide us into restructuring our budget for this new world of college sports and into developing a football structure with elements similar to professional sports teams.”
Last July, the Sooners announced a new structure for football recruiting operations, partnering with former Philadelphia Eagles vice president of football administration Jake Rosenberg. Stephenson and Rosenberg were influential in hiring OU general manager Jim Nagy, who has gotten busy building out an NFL-type front office for the Sooners’ football program.
OU also hired NBA star Trae Young as its men’s basketball assistant general manager. In the role, Young will “lend support in OU player personnel and strategic roster management planning, and will serve a critical role in helping build student-athletes’ brands and maximizing their potential,” according to the school. Young will also be “assisting with the evaluation of high school and transfer portal prospects, as well as helping negotiate player contracts,” per the school’s release.
Castiglione has said previously the school remains committed to all 21 sports. Cutting sports is one of many concerns for some following the settlement approval for those involved in college athletics.
However, due to the unprecedented changes, OU athletics is laying off 5% of its full-time employees, the school confirmed May 25 to The Oklahoman.
“OU student-athletes will continue to benefit from creative NIL partnerships worthy of their value and the enthusiasm they inspire in our fans,” Castiglione continued Saturday on X. “Amid all the change we see, our commitment to OU’s tradition of excellence remains steadfast.”
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Direct pay to college athletes starts July 1. Here are other key dates
It took five years for the $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA and five major conferences to reach a settlement. Now comes the process of implementing it. The following are significant dates: June 6, 2025 Settlement approved; settlement-related NCAA rules are effective, as adopted by the NCAA Division I Board on April 21, 2025. […]
It took five years for the $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA and five major conferences to reach a settlement. Now comes the process of implementing it.
The following are significant dates:
June 6, 2025
Settlement approved; settlement-related NCAA rules are effective, as adopted by the NCAA Division I Board on April 21, 2025.
June 11, 2025
NIL Go portal launches.
June 15, 2025
Opt-in deadline for non-defendant schools to fully commit to revenue sharing.
July 1, 2025
First date for direct institutional revenue-sharing payments to student-athletes.
July 6, 2025
Opt-in schools must “designate” student-athletes permitted by the settlement to remain above roster limits.
Start of 2025-26 academic year
Except for the “designated” student-athletes, fall sports must be at or below roster limits by their first day of competition.
December 1, 2025
Except for “designated” student-athletes, winter and spring sports must be at or below roster limits by their first day of competition or Dec. 1, whichever is earlier.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
FOLLOWFollow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience
College Football
College Basketball
Women’s College Basketball
Get more from College FootballFollow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Judge Approves House Settlement; Nebraska AD Troy Dannen Issues Statement
A new era of collegiate athletics is here. A California judge Friday evening approved the House v. NCAA settlement, bringing forth revenue sharing and roster limits, among other changes to collegiate athletics. In the wake of the decision, multiple entities released statements. “Today’s decision in the House case represents the latest step in the ongoing […]
A California judge Friday evening approved the House v. NCAA settlement, bringing forth revenue sharing and roster limits, among other changes to collegiate athletics. In the wake of the decision, multiple entities released statements.
“Today’s decision in the House case represents the latest step in the ongoing evolution of college athletics,” Nebraska athletics director Troy Dannen said. “Nebraska has spent the past year planning for this resolution and the ensuing changes ahead.
“We are supportive of this settlement and fully committed to participating in revenue sharing with our student-athletes to best position Nebraska for future competition success.”
Nov 23, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule and athletic director Troy Dannen walk off the field after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
“We look forward to implementing this historic settlement designed to bring stability, integrity and competitive balance to college athletics while increasing both scholarship and revenue opportunities for student-athletes in all sports,” said Tony Petitti, commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.
“Approving the agreement reached by the NCAA, the defendant conferences and student-athletes in the settlement opens a pathway to begin stabilizing college sports,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a letter. “This new framework that enables schools to provide direct financial benefits to student-athletes and establishes clear and specific rules to regulate third-party NIL agreements marks a huge step forward for college sports.”
The financial portion of the settlement revolves around two main parties: former athletes to receive back pay and the current and future athletes to receive revenue-sharing. The former athletes will $2.8 billion in back pay from lost name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation.
Memorial Stadium / Nebraska Athletics
Current and future athletes will receive a certain amount of revenue from schools. Each institution will be allowed to share a set amount – taking 22% of the average of certain power school revenues – with the athletes. In the first year, that cap amount is $20.5 million.
It is uncertain how Nebraska intends to distribute that $20.5 million. Most schools are likely to spend the majority on football and men’s basketball, with less than 10% remaining for the other teams on campus.
The settlement also includes roster limits. While football will have a 105-player roster limit in the future, Judge Claudia Wilken was swayed during arguments to allow for the grandfathering-in of athletes on existing teams or those who have been cut this year, as well as recruits who enrolled on the promise of a roster spot.
Schools will also be allowed to fund scholarships up to the roster limit. For football, that means an increase from 85 scholarships to potentially as many as 105.
Mar 1, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers athletic director Troy Dannen, football coach Matt Rhule, and Matt Davison meet before the game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Athletes can still receive additional financial deals through collectives, such as 1890. The money is now overseen by a new non-NCAA enforcement entity. Any third-party NIL deals of at least $600 must be approved by a Deloitte-run NIL clearinghouse called NIL Go.
Further legal fallout from the settlement and resulting changes to collegiate athletics is expected.
Future roster limits for sponsored sports at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln are listed below, with the current scholarship limit and change in allowable scholarships.
Sport
Current
New
Change
Baseball
11.7
34
+22.3
Basketball (M)
13
15
+2
Basketball (W)
15
15
0
Bowling (W)
5
11
+6
Cross Country (M)
5
17
+12
Cross Country (W)
6
17
+11
Golf (M)
4.5
9
+4.5
Golf (W)
6
9
+3
Gymnastics (M)
6.3
20
+13.7
Gymnastics (W)
12
20
+8
Football
85
105
+20
Rifle
3.6
12
+8.4
Soccer (W)
14
28
+14
Softball
12
25
+13
Swim (W)
14
30
+16
Tennis (M)
4.5
10
+5.5
Tennis (W)
8
10
+2
Track (M)
12.6
45
+35.4
Track (W)
18
45
27
Volleyball (W)
12
18
+6
Wrestling (M)
10
30
20
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Some major news has just come out in the college sports world. The NCAA was a part of a lawsuit called House vs NCAA, with “three separate federal antitrust lawsuits, all of which claimed the NCAA was illegally limiting the earning power of college athletes.” Players will essentially have a “salary” and will be able […]
Some major news has just come out in the college sports world. The NCAA was a part of a lawsuit called House vs NCAA, with “three separate federal antitrust lawsuits, all of which claimed the NCAA was illegally limiting the earning power of college athletes.” Players will essentially have a “salary” and will be able to be paid closer to their actual value than even NIL deals could offer.
ESPN is reporting that as part of the ruling, “the NCAA will pay nearly $2.8 billion in back damages over the next 10 years to athletes who competed in college at any time from 2016 through present day.”
Similar to the professional game, the NCAA is expected to have a salary cap of around $20 million annually per school. This is also expected to encompass all varsity sports, not just the ones that draw the most money. How that money ends up being allocated will be the question.
Essentially, college sports have taken another step towards becoming more like the pro game, relying on money and high prestige rather than good recruiting and better opportunity for players.
This could potentially be a negative development for the Stanford Cardinal.
There is zero doubt that Stanford is the best sporting program in the nation across all sports. Winning National Championships in 49 consecutive seasons and taking home the best athletic university award, or Directors’ Cup, 26 times since 1993-94, while the only other winners have been Texas (3) and North Carolina (1).
What this means is that Stanford will surely use their salary cap amongst every sports program in order to spread the wealth around and continue to draw in the best athletes in numerous sports.
This is positive for smaller sports. With so many dominant small sports programs at Stanford, they will surely win out tons of recruits. This should mean they continue to be amazing programs, and continue the norm of winning National Championships on The Farm.
However, this may be detrimental for bigger sports. With schools such as Alabama and LSU putting so much money into football, it will be very tough to beat them out for players, as Stanford is likely to spread the money around a bit more than other schools. This is true in basketball too, as Duke and BYU amongst others will put all of their chips into basketball, easily beating out Stanford for recruits.
The other potential issue here is for Stanford to figure out their overall gameplan, and implement it so that they can have success on the field or court. NIL deals have been fairly new, and the Cardinal are still trying to get the hang of how they want to handle those, and this will provide a new wrinkle for them to consider.
It could also be helpful, having another avenue for success, while also limiting how much the competition can spend overall, which could loop Stanford in on some top recruits since they also have the prestigious education they can offer.
Overall, there are some positives and negatives to this ruling. Small sports will definitely continue thrive at Stanford for years to come. However, as football, baseball, and women’s basketball attempts to get back to their dominant ways, the new salary cap rule has the potential to make those rebuilds a whole lot tougher than before.
Next. Three Stanford Football Freshmen to Keep an Eye on in 2025. Three Stanford Football Freshmen to Keep an Eye on in 2025. dark