VCU's first engineering graduates land lucrative jobs, graduate school acceptance

Many of these students, who chose to enroll before the School of Engineering had a building, labs or classrooms, have been offered jobs that pay anywhere from $45,000 to $55,000 with the highest offer at $62,000. Companies around the nation and state -- such as IBM, Ethyl, Dupont, Honeywell, Motorola, Virginia Power, Philip Morris and White Oak Semiconductor -- are vying to hire VCU engineering graduates.

Members of the inaugural graduating class also are in demand across the nation with engineering graduate schools such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of California-Berkeley, Georgia Institute of Technology and others.

"Creating a school from the ground up required a tremendous leap of faith from all who have been involved with our dream," said Robert Mattauch, Ph.D., School of Engineering dean. "We finally have external validation of the success of our new program. VCU engineering students are either getting well-paying positions with prestigious companies or acceptance into the nation’s top graduate programs. Our vision has finally come to fruition."

In response to the workforce and economic development needs of Central Virginia, VCU announced its plans for the school with the collaboration of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1994.

Following the first engineering class enrollment in the fall of 1996, the four-story, $42 million engineering building opened its doors in 1998. A world-class research facility, the structure houses the Virginia Microelectronics Center – featuring two "clean rooms," where students work side-by-side with renowned microelectronics researchers. Construction of the complex was supported by regional industries, foundations, individuals and local governments.

Founded in 1995, VCU’s School of Engineering is the result of a rare collaboration of higher education and industrial partners. Presidents and chief executive officers of many major corporations in Virginia, including CCA Industries, Inc., Ethyl Corp., Signet Banking Corp., and others, comprise the 31-member board of trustees for the VCU Engineering Foundation.

"The generosity and support of our many corporate partners have been key to our school’s success," Mattauch said.

In addition to undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering, VCU is the only university in the state to offer an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering. Master’s and doctoral degrees also are offered in biomedical engineering.

Currently there are 491 students enrolled. With a 35-member faculty, the school has received about $2.1 million in research funding and has more than $16 million worth of research proposals under review by funding agencies.

The School of Engineering’s diploma-awarding ceremony is scheduled from 1-2 p.m. on May 13 in the school’s courtyard, 601 W. Main St. Former Virginia Governor George E. Allen will present the keynote address.