VCU news

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Engineering has achieved a major milestone, earning first-time accreditations for its chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering programs from the nation’s premier accrediting body for engineering education.

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, a federation of 31 professional engineering and technical societies, cited numerous strengths in its report on the School of Engineering programs. It recognized VCU’s commitment to the philosophy and processes of quality improvement as well as the active participation of students, faculty, employers and alumni in the development of the school’s undergraduate programs. The board also specifically cited the school’s career counseling services, which have helped place engineering graduates in prestigious positions, and a high ranking from industry for the quality and achievement of engineering students.

"This is truly a momentous occasion in the very successful process of developing a unique engineering school that meets the educational and research needs of the 21st century," said VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D.

ABET’s accreditation comes just two years after the engineering school graduated its first class, which is the soonest programs can be accredited. The undergraduate biomedical program, which began two years later than the others, will be considered for accreditation in 2003.

"Accreditation helps build a school’s reputation," said Robert J. Mattauch, Ph.D., engineering school dean. "In this field, a graduate’s starting salary can depend on whether he or she attends an accredited institution."

Since 1932, ABET has accredited more than 2,400 engineering, engineering technology, computing and applied science programs at over 500 colleges and universities nationwide. To be considered for ABET’s accreditation, engineering programs must be designed to prepare students at a professional level.

VCU’s School of Engineering, established in 1995, is recognized by local and national industry for its world-class teaching and research facility. Just last May, Infineon Technologies Richmond hired more students from VCU than any other school in the nation, and 13 of the 16 students hired were from the School of Engineering. In addition, the school is one of only a handful of university facilities in the country that has a microelectronics "clean room" dedicated to undergraduate education. VCU offers undergraduate degrees in electrical, mechanical, chemical and biomedical engineering as well as master’s and Ph.D. degrees in life science engineering, manufacturing and design, micro-nano technology and biomedical engineering.

Currently the School of Engineering has 1,031 undergraduate students -- which includes the largest freshman class ever, with the highest SATs -- as well as 83 graduate students. With a 46-member faculty, the school has received about $3.5 million in research funding and has more than $22 million worth of research proposals under review by federal agencies and independent foundations.

VCU is among the top research universities in the country with more than $137 million in research funding and is classified as a Doctoral/Research University-Extensive, the top ranking of research universities. More than 24,000 students are enrolled in 153 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs offered through the University’s ten schools and one college.