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About the College

Engineering students

 

The College of Engineering and Technology Mission and Vision

The College of Engineering and Technology, one of WCU's six academic colleges, offers programs in engineering, technology and construction management. The college is committed to its statewide mission for education and its regional mission for engagement. The college provides innovative undergraduate and graduate level academic programs in Construction Management and Engineering and Technology for students in an environment that supports economic development, professional development, and involvement with businesses and industries. It fulfills its academic missions through teaching and learning, scholarship and discovery, and service and engagement.

The College of Engineering and Technology’s vision is to become a national model for applications-focused engineering and technology education and a leader is project based learning.

Academic Programs

Academically, the College of Engineering and Technology offers several accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in Construction Management and in Engineering and Technology. Our graduate programs have a variety of options, including online classes and courses offered in Asheville at WCU's Biltmore Park instructional site to make coursework convenient for professionals.

Our industry-experienced faculty members work hands-on with students, in classrooms and labs, on campus or online, offering instruction, academic advising and extra assistance when needed.

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

The Rapid Center

The College of Engineering and Technology houses and operates a product research and development facility known as The Rapid Center. Through the center we are able to provide the services of a university-based, product development center for inventors, entrepreneurs, project sponsors and business partners throughout the Southeast and beyond.

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Facilities

Our offices are located in the Belk Building, which, along with the Center for Applied Technology, houses classrooms and laboratories. These include the Optoelectronics Lab, Automations Lab, Construction Estimating and Surveying Lab and the Engineering Design Lab, among others.

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Office of the Dean

Name Area of Specialization Phone Office
Randy Collins; Dean Electrical Engineering 828.227.2159 Belk 161B
Paul Yanik; Interim Associate Dean Electrical and Computer Engineering 828.227.2166 Belk 161A
Brittney Buchanan Business Officer 828.227.2434 Belk 161
Tamara Smith Executive Assistant 828.227.2159 Belk 161
Alyssa Dunn Student Services Specialist 828.227.2416 Belk 362
Olivia Tucker Administrative Support Associate (SET & KSCM) 828.227.2775 Belk 220
Jason Ottie Technology of Instructional Engineering Services (TIES) 828.227.2748 Belk 270
Teresa Tate Marketing & Recruiting Coordinator 828.227.2161 Belk 362

Visit our Contact Us page for more faculty and staff contact information.

Do you have questions about the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology? We invite you to explore our website and check out our FAQ. Below, you'll find answers to common questions about admissions, student life, career opportunities, and more. If you need further assistance, email us at .

The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology offers programs that connect with the following degrees and concentrations:
Undergraduate Degrees
Engineering (BS)
—Mechanical Engineering
—Robotics & Automation
—Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
—Comprehensive Electrical Engineering
—Computer Engineering
—Electric Power & Clean Energy 
Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology (BSECET)
Engineering Technology (BS)
Engineering Technology (BS) Online/Hybrid
—O±è±ð°ù²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ
Construction Management (BS)
Graduate Degrees
Engineering Technology (MS)
Construction Management (MS) Online

Academic accreditation is a voluntary process undertaken by colleges and universities to ensure that a program or institution meets established quality standards for post-secondary education. Visit our college's accreditation webpage to learn more about our ABET accredited programs. 

Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵAdmissions is the best source of information for admissions requirements and resources for prospective transfer students, including agreements with other schools and transfer guides. If you are considering transferring to Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵnow or in the future, we encourage you to contact Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵas early as possible for a one-on-one discussion about your plans, your individual experience, and your coursework to ensure your credits transfer smoothly when you enroll at WCU. For more information, email Gretchen Dietz, director of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵEngineering Discovery program, at .

Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ is committed to providing high-quality, affordable education for anyone who wishes to pursue a degree. For more information and a breakdown of tuition, fees and other costs, as well as links to scholarships, visit the Affordability at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵwebpage. The page has information about NC Promise, a program that reduces tuition at WCU, and the Catamount Commitment, which can offer eligible students awards up to several thousand dollars annually.

Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ offers numerous scholarships supporting a wide variety of students and fields of study, and students submit one application to be considered for WCU-administered scholarships. Additional Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵengineering and technology-related scholarships are available as students progress through the curricula. Scholarships are available for engineering and technology students from external organizations (such as professional societies) that can help cover the costs associated with completing your degree at WCU. (In 2022-23, 48% of undergraduates completed their degree from Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵwith $0 debt!) 

As a Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵstudent, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of a wide range of support services designed to help you succeed, including Tutoring Services, the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCenter for Career and Professional Development, and Counseling & Psychological Services.

Starting in Fall 2025, our Engineering Discovery program will introduce an expanded common first-year experience for new students that will offer additional support. As part of Engineering Discovery, you will be able to:

  • Get to know your fellow students and build a strong community.
  • Explore how your unique interests and strengths align with various engineering and technology degrees and career paths.
  • Become familiar with Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵservices such as advising, mentoring, and other support services.
  • Engage with industry to explore real-world experiences.
  • Join student organizations and clubs, and participate in college events that will complement your education.

Through these activities, you will develop a sense of belonging and a clear direction for your education and future career at WCU.

The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology curriculum is designed to provide extensive hands-on learning experiences. We offer a five-course sequence of project-based learning embedded within the curriculum. As a student you’ll have access to a large Makerspace featuring 3-D printers and other equipment as well as discipline-specific labs, ensuring you gain practical, applied experience. In our curricula, students generally participate in at least one lab or lab-based course every semester, utilizing equipment and facilities they may encounter in industry. Additionally, there are numerous opportunities for hands-on learning through service learning initiatives in which students apply what they are learning to a project that serves our community.

Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵhas numerous and diverse campus activities, student clubs and organizations, and a residential Honors College. Student clubs and professional organizations connected to the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology currently include:

  • ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers)
  • ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
  • CARGO (Catamount Amateur Radio Group)
  • Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)
  • CME Outreach (Construction Management and Engineering Outreach)
  • IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
  • SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers)
  • SWE (Society of Women Engineers)
  • NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers)
  • Sigma Lambda Chi (National Honor Society for Students in Construction-Related Curricula)
  • SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers)
  • SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers)
  • Tau Alpha Pi (National Honor Society for Engineering Technologies)
  • Tau Beta Pi (The Engineering Honor Society)

Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵhas a reputation as a national leader in undergraduate research and hosts an annual Undergraduate Research Expo that typically features more than 200 student presentations working with more than 60 faculty sponsors. Research for Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology students is strongly encouraged and varies widely based upon student interest. Our students get to know our faculty members, which often leads to students becoming involved with undergraduate research with faculty members.

Students also participate in service learning and community engagement projects that provide learning experiences and benefit the community. 

Yes! Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵstudents are encouraged to gain international experience in their fields. Study abroad programs are available, and Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵis a member of the program, and students can access 40 schools across the globe that are vetted and offer engineering courses. Our students have participated in semester abroad programs with institutions in countries including Bulgaria, Ireland, South Korea and Australia. Our students also have the opportunity to participate in faculty-led study abroad programs, in which a member of our faculty will organize and lead a group of students overseas to complete engineering classes abroad. Faculty-led travel experiences are typically 2.5-weeks long courses offered in the summer and are eligible for financial aid.

Our students are well-prepared to enter the workforce and accept jobs with a range of companies and industries locally, regionally and nationwide. Recent graduates report that the current job market is very strong. 

How do our students connect with future employers? Resources to assist students with their job search include the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCenter for Career and Professional Development, which hosts multiple job fairs annually that help students find internships and jobs, and Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCollege of Engineering and Technology industry partners regularly participate in those events.

Who are the college's industry partners? Our Kimmel School of Construction Management has a vibrant corporate partners program. Visit the KSCM Corporate Partners page to see a list of current corporate partners. In the School of Engineering + Technology, industry partners sponsor the required two-semester capstone projects that students complete. Students meet with and build professional connections with their capstone project sponsors, and some have gone on to receive and accept offers of employment from their capstone project sponsors. Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵcapstone project sponsors have included AEGIS Power Systems, Alltec, Alontree Company, Army Research Office, Corning, Cultivated Cocktails, Cummins, Dampp-Chaser Corporation, Danfoss, Duke Energy, Fleet Readiness Center, Freudenberg Performance Materials, GE Aerospace, Haakon Industries, Harris Integrated Solutions, Integral Electrics, Linamar, Kearfott, Kubota, Meritor, Pre-War Guitars, Raumedic, RMS Energy, Siemens Energy, Smith Systems, SonicAire, T&K Utilities, ThermoFisher Scientific, and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Learn more about recent Engineering Capstone Projects.

Want to read about some of our graduates working in the field? A story in Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵMagazine highlighted our college alumni working for the Naval Air Systems Command’s Fleet Readiness Center East, Moog Inc., T&K Utilities, and Corning Optical Communications.