# VCU College of Engineering

The Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering is a Richmond-based engineering education institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical and life science engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical and nuclear engineering. Established as the "School of Engineering" in 1996, its name and status was officially changed to the College of Engineering in April 2018. The college's dean, Barbara D. Boyan, cited doubled faculty numbers and an increase in funding as reasoning for the switch from school to college.
Upon its founding, initial courses at the VCU school were offered in mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering. The school added a new undergraduate major in biomedical engineering in the fall of 1998. The undergraduate biomedical engineering program is unique in the Commonwealth, established as a response to the growing presence of biomedical companies in Virginia. VCU's long-standing degree programs in computer science joined the school in fall 2001. In May 2000, a graduate degree program in engineering was created and added to the historic graduate programs of biomedical engineering.

## Facilities

The first two of the School of Engineering's planned facilities opened in the fall of 1998—the main classroom building and the Virginia Microelectronics Research Center. Together, they total 147,000 square feet (13,700 m$^2$) at a cost of $42 million. To foster growth in enrollment and faculty number, the school embarked on an ambitious campaign to expand facilities, fund endowed scholarships, chairs, and academic programs. The campaign raised more than $67 million to meet these needs.

### Current facilities

147,000 square feet (13,700 m$^2$) West Hall 131,000 square feet (12,200 m$^2$) East Hall
28,000 square feet (2,600 m$^2$) Microelectronics Lab
25,000 square feet (2,300 m$^2$) Health & Life Science Engineering Lab
92,000 square feet (8,500 m$^2$) Institute for Engineering and Medicine
94,000 square feet (8,700 m$^2$) Engineering Research Building In January 2008, the school opened East Hall, a 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m$^2$) facility housing 48 research labs, 50 faculty offices, six classrooms, and other student spaces allowing for future growth of the college.

### Departments

* Biomedical Engineering
* Chemical and Life Science Engineering
* Electrical and Computer Engineering
* Computer Science
* Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

## Statistics

Alumni: 2,936 2010 Freshman Class: 291
2011 Freshman Class: 286
2011 Freshman Admit SAT Mid 50%: 1190 - 1350
2011 Freshman Admit SAT Average: 1280
Fall 2009 Freshmen returning as Sophomores: 80%
Placement after Graduation: 64% full-time employment, 36% Graduate School
Top Employers of Alumni: Mitsubishi nuclear energy, Thomas & Betts Power, Altria, MWV, TRANE, and Infilco Degremont.

## Student diversity

Undergraduate Fall 2015 Diversity Statistics White - 944 students (47.2%) Asian - 377 students (18.8%) International - 288 students (14.4%) Black/African American - 188 students (9.4%) Hispanic/Latino - 113 students (5.6%) Two or More Races - 59 students (2.9%) Unknown - 23 students (1.1%) Native American/Alaskan - 4 students (0.2%) Hawaiian/Pacific Islander - 2 students (0.1%)