ENE Undergraduate Community

 

Our motto: We educate one student at a time.

Living by this motto has allowed the School of Engineering Education (ENE) to prepare and operate exceptional educational programming and support for undergraduate students of all backgrounds, interests, and learning styles for careers in industry, government, not-for-profit, and models yet to be developed. Our Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE) and Interdiscipinary Engineering Studies (IDES) undergraduate programs benefit from the critical roles our faculty, student, alumni, and corporate partners contribute to this community. 

Students

Our community may be relatively small, but we believe that is what allows us to form a tight-knit group. Our Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE) and Interdiscipinary Engineering Studies (IDES) undergraduate students are proud to call themselves Purple Squirrels with spaces to gather in Armstrong Hall and Dudley/Lambertus Halls aptly called Nests! If you don’t know the story of the Purple Squirrel, make sure to connect with upperclassmen in the Nest or on LinkedIn to learn why we think our degrees help articulate the unique value we are poised to bring to our professional life.

In addition to participating in the Multidisciplinary Engineering Student Society (MDESS), our students participate throughout the year in a wide variety of professional development, alumni, employer/recruiter and social events (both formal and informal). It’s a great way to meet others in the program, and benefit from how being small in size can feel LARGE in our ability to help you feel welcome.

Alumni

Alumni play a critical role in guiding our students and program forward, while keeping an eye on our rich educational traditions. Alumni are encouraged to connect with existing students through both in-person and virtual experiences on campus.

Social networks are formed between students and alumni who serve as mentors, offering informal educational insights and career advice. On campus, program alums visit classrooms and the NEST to share job opportunities and professional development skills.

Alumni of the MDE program also are asked to share perspectives on the quality and impact of their education via periodic surveys. Feedback from our alumni help the program keep a listening ear for shifts in longer-term program value, as well as find ways to make the program even more respected.

Corporate Mentors and Sponsors

The ENE Industrial Advisory Committee (ENEIAC) meets on campus twice a year as part of service to the School of Engineering Education. During their visits, members from across industries, professional engineering programs, and alumni status hear reports on ENE's graduate and undergraduate programs and offer insights into the critical needs of the industrial sector today. Topics ranging from workforce availability and readiness, to skill and capability shortages emerge from the discussions.

In addition, the ENEIAC serve as critical constituents in assessing the workforce readiness of our overall student body.  Using the overall program outcomes articulated for the MDE program, the ENEIAC serve as regular external assessment partners, conducting face-to-face interviews with students and alumni from our program, across concentration areas.