Biomedical engineering involves engineering solutions to healthcare-related problems and is not a medical degree, although the new department would encourage collaboration between the Colleges of engineering, natural sciences, osteopathic medicine, human medicine, nursing and communication arts and sciences, Kempel said.

Creating the department has been an interest of the college for at least five years and active planning began about a year ago, he said. The timing of the request is tied to the Institute for Engineering, Science and Health, a building in south campus that would provide research space and house the department.

Along with the department, the college is looking to establish a graduate degree program in biomedical engineering, Kempel said. However, an undergraduate program is not in the works at this time.

Acting Provost June Youatt brought the proposal to the Steering Committee Tuesday, where it was referred to the Committee on Graduate Studies and the Committee on Faculty Affairs, both of which will provide advice.

“This would be an enhancement to the institution,” Youatt said. “I’m not typically a supporter of creating new academic units, but I feel differently about this. … Most research institutions at our level have this kind of department, and when you search MSU it’s nowhere to be found.”

She said MSU’s work in this field is not easily visible and a department would change that.

If the department is approved by the end of the academic year, Kempel said it could be fully operational by 2015. Steps to get started would include appointing a chair and getting faculty to move part or all of their appointment to the department.

He said there are several faculty members who would be interested and the college plans to hire more specifically for the the department if it is established.

Kempel also said he expects the proposal to be approved.