URI President David M. Dooley has outlined a Transformational Vision for the University. Here is how the College of Engineering is following this vision.
In September, President Dooley articulated a clear and compelling set of transformational goals for carrying URI into the 21st century.
When I read the President’s goals for the 21st century, I felt excited by their boldness, and I recognized that they truly are transformational in their substance.
As dean of the College of Engineering, I am also pleased by how many of the goals defined by the President are already being carried out by the college.
In many ways, the President’s plan, while bold, seemed quite comfortable, even familiar. And I think the college is already demonstrating and will further articulate and achieve these goals. As you will see below, I am proud to say we are well on our way.
Raymond M. Wright, Ph.D., P.E. Dean, College of Engineering
Increasing the Magnitude, Prominence and Impact of Research, Scholarship and Creative Work
Over the past four years, the college has celebrated a significant increase in research grants. We continue to have major funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Our work within the defense industry includes research with the military and local defense connections such as Raytheon, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and General Dynamics/Electric Boat. Areas of expertise within the college include nanoscience and nanotechnology, sensors and instrumentation, materials in extreme environments, renewable energy, robotics and systems. We are proud that the National Science Foundation has awarded our faculty six Career Awards since 2003.
Creating a 21st Century 24/7 Learning Environment
The College of Engineering has long recognized that learning outside of the classroom is as important and sometimes more imperative than traditional lecture-based classroom learning. Our globally acclaimed International Engineering Program places students at universities and internships in Europe and China, while our capstone engineering design projects put seniors to work solving real-world engineering problems at local engineering, manufacturing and design companies.
In fact, 84 percent of URI engineering students participate in internships. As a result, they are finding excellent jobs, largely because they have problem-solving and hands-on experience that ready them for the engineering marketplace from day one.
Internationalizing and Globalizing the University of Rhode Island
There is no question that the world is a much smaller place, and that the global community is moving closer together. Long before the word “interdisciplinary” was a buzzword on university campuses, the International Engineering Program married the worlds of engineering and languages in a way now emulated by schools worldwide.
Students in the program earn an engineering degree as well as a degree in German, French, Spanish or Chinese. These students study abroad for a year taking courses at our partner universities for one semester followed by a six-month internship within their field. All work is done in the language of the host country. These experiences foster an appreciation for very different individuals and cultures and truly result in a global engineering graduate.
The college is also home to many international students representing countries around the world. Active graduate and undergraduate exchange programs exist with universities in Germany, France, Spain and China.
Building a Community at the University of Rhode Island that Values and Embraces Equity and Diversity
On campus, the engineering living-learning communities are home to a diverse student body, bound together as a tight-knit group nurtured by shared intellect and motivation.
In a field traditionally dominated by white men, the College of Engineering is taking significant steps toward increasing enrollment of women and minorities. The college employs a full-time diversity coordinator, who is actively engaged in recruiting and retaining students from under-represented backgrounds.
Signature programs like biomedical, pharmaceutical, environmental and ocean engineering and the award-winning International Engineering Program attract high percentages of women. The college supports active student groups such as the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the national engineering fraternity, Theta Tau.