VCU College of Engineering

The VCU College of Engineering is the engineering college Virginia Commonwealth University, a public research university in Richmond, Virginia, United States. If offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.^[3] 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 former dean, Barbara D. Boyan, cited doubled faculty numbers and an increase in funding as reasoning for the switch from school to college.^[4]

Virginia Commonwealth University
College of Engineering

VCU Engineering West Hall, Monroe Park campus.
Type	Public engineering college
Established	1996
Parent institution	Virginia Commonwealth University
Dean	Azim Eskandarian[1]
Academic staff	64
Students	Nearly 2,000 undergraduate and approximately 300 graduate students[2]
Location	Richmond , Virginia , United States 37.5456°N 77.4495°W / 37.5456; -77.4495
Website	egr.vcu.edu

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.^[5]

Academics

The college offers undergraduate degrees in five engineering departments, including a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science introduced in fall 2024.^[6] The college also offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees across all departments.

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 m²) 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.^[5]

Facilities of the college include:

• 147,000 square feet (13,700 m²) West Hall ^[7]
• 131,000 square feet (12,200 m²) East Hall
• 28,000 square feet (2,600 m²) Microelectronics Lab
• 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²) Health & Life Science Engineering Lab
• 92,000 square feet (8,500 m²) Institute for Engineering and Medicine ^[8]
• 133,000 square feet (12,400 m²) Engineering Research Building ^[9]

The Engineering Research Building, officially opened in February 2021, is a four-story, 133,000-square-foot (12,400 m²) facility that significantly expands the college's laboratory capacity for advanced research. The $93 million building features interdisciplinary research laboratories, a 9,000-square-foot Innovation Maker Facility, career services center, and a Collaboration Hub and Innovation Courtyard designed to connect the college's facilities.^[10]

In January 2008, the school opened East Hall, a 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m²) facility housing 48 research labs, 50 faculty offices, six classrooms, and other student spaces allowing for future growth of the college.^[5]

Departments

• Biomedical Engineering^[11]
• Chemical and Life Science Engineering^[12]
• Electrical and Computer Engineering^[13]
• Computer Science^[14]
• Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering^[15]

Convergence Lab Initiative

The Convergence Lab Initiative (CLI) is a cross-disciplinary research institute established with $17.8 million in funding from the Department of Defense. The initiative focuses on research in quantum and photonic devices, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, neuromorphic computing, arts and biomedical science.^[16]

Statistics

Alumni: 2,936 ^[17]

Career Outcomes

95% of students are enrolled in graduate school or employed within 6 months of graduation, with 77% employed and 17% continuing their education in graduate school.^[18]

Top Employers of Alumni: Mitsubishi nuclear energy, Thomas & Betts Power, Altria, MWV, TRANE, and Infilco Degremont.^{[citation needed]}

Rankings and Recognition

VCU's nuclear engineering graduate program is ranked 18th nationally by U.S. News & World Report.^[19] The college's online Master's in Engineering program is ranked 22nd nationally.^[20]

Notable Partnerships

The college maintains strong industry partnerships, including the Technical Graduate Program with Newport News Shipbuilding, which has enabled more than 75 engineers to earn their Master of Science degrees, with 86 currently enrolled.^[21]

The college also participates in the Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology (VAST), a $3.3 million statewide initiative collaborating with other Virginia universities to advance semiconductor research and education.