The curricula associated with the EEE undergraduate and graduate degree programs are extremely innovative. At the undergraduate level, we have cutting-edge courses in Chemodynamics, Engineering Economics and Environment, and Engineering Environmental Sustainability, to name just a few. In addition, we have a unique laboratory class where students apply design of experiments methods to investigate such issues as equipment power consumption, indoor air quality, and recycling processes. Notably, each student receives mentoring from the EEE faculty in selecting their classes and choosing appropriate, value-added co- and extra-curricular activities. For the graduate curriculum, we have a course that gives students exposure to EEE topics that embrace both classic environmental engineering and industrial sustainability, and that introduces them to several EEE faculty. Of course, all the EEE course offerings build upon a strong theoretical underpinning and emphasize analytical methods.

As we know, however, a college experience is far more than what is learned in the classroom.  To paraphrase Immanuel Kant, ‘experience’ complements ‘theory.’  EEE offers many amazing experiential education opportunities, i.e., learning outside the classroom through internships and co-ops, study abroad programs, undergraduate research, service-learning, and professional development via student societies.  EEE has developed a terrific experiential education survey that all undergraduate students complete – a resource so valuable that other schools have adopted it.  In the February 2023 survey, the junior and senior students reported the following experiences: i) 13% study abroad, ii) 33% service learning, and iii) nearly 60% with an internship or co-op. Overall, about three-quarters of the EEE students have an experiential education experience; this is an impressive number – the largest in the College.

Our combination of excellent classroom preparation and experiential education has enabled EEE students to achieve remarkable success. EEE students have received such accolades as an NSF Graduate Fellowship, Gates Cambridge Scholarship, Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) Scholarship, Purdue Engineering Fellowship, NSBE Presentation Award, Ford Foundation Fellowship, Latinx Trailblazer in Engineering Fellowship, Udall Scholarship, and Fulbright Scholarship. These outstanding individuals are some of the most sought-after, honored, and highly visible students in the College.

In this newsletter, we explore just a few aspects of EEE’s exceptional and experiential education activities. We welcome your engagement and assistance as we continue to deliver a uniquely distinctive experience for our students.

Hail Purdue!

Professor John W. Sutherland
Fehsenfeld Family Head of Environmental and Ecological Engineering