IMPACT Winter 2024 newsletter: Greetings from the dean
It is my distinct pleasure to extend a warm greeting to each of you as we approach the first days of spring and the final weeks of the winter 2024 semester. What a busy year it has been.
One of my primary goals when I became dean of the Wayne State University College of Engineering was to grow our enrollment even beyond our pre-pandemic levels. Our faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to provide prospective students with a bounty of information about our comprehensive academic programs, our career development resources, and our diverse and inclusive environment. I’m happy to say that those efforts are bearing fruit, as we are seeing a record number of applications and admissions, particularly in our master’s programs, where the number of applicants has increased nearly 300% from a year ago. We anticipate that admission to our M.S. programs could increase as much as 10 times ― the future is indeed bright.
Research is a cornerstone of our college, and over the last 18 months we have seen a 40% increase in our research expenditures. One of the highlights, as you’ll read in the newsletter, was Dr. Jitao Zhang earning an NSF CAREER award. He is among 13 recipients of this prestigious honor currently working in the College of Engineering ― and I’m pleased to say we will likely have details on others in our spring Impact, including one for Dr. Amiangshu Bosu that was received this week.
Last fall, we introduced five new online master's programs in artificial intelligence, energy storage and vehicle science, industrial automation, injury biomechanics, and semiconductor engineering. We’ve since added two more ― an M.S. in systems engineering and an M.S. in construction management, which you can also read more about in this edition of Impact. Did I mention that students living anywhere in the world are eligible for in-state tuition in these online programs? A Wayne State education is more accessible than ever.
Our innovative, student-driven Engineering Clinic is beginning to take shape. This initiative, which will produce market-ready solutions for our industry partners, will also customize internships based on the needs of our partners so that students can seamlessly plug into the workforce and gain valuable experience. This also aligns with WSU’s College to Career initiative, which seeks to provide every student with experiential learning opportunities that allow them to encounter the world, gain deeper insights and new perspectives, and prepare for prosperous careers.
There will be many more announcements to share in future newsletters, including some exciting new additions to our already dynamic and innovative community of scholars and researchers. They, along with our amazing students, never cease to amaze me with how they push the boundaries of knowledge, foster creativity, and contribute to advancements that shape the future of engineering.
With all my best,
Wayne State University College of Engineering
IMPACT: Winter 2024 Newsletter