Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
2016 Annual Report
ON THE COVER An artist’s rendering of the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center’s grand atrium provides a glimpse of what will be one of the premier engineering education facilities in the country.
from the dean I am pleased to share with you the 2016 annual report from Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. While the numbers and data highlighted in this report provide some indication of the depth and breadth of our endeavors, the true impact of our work is through the transformative educational experiences in the classroom and the research breakthroughs in the laboratory that our faculty and students contribute to every day. We remain strongly committed to educating engineers who are addressing the world’s greatest challenges and conducting the kinds of research and outreach that improve the quality of life for people in the region, the nation and around the globe. This focus allows us to attract the best and brightest in our incoming classes. I am pleased to note that our total student enrollment continues to grow, hitting a record of 5,860 students in fall 2016. We consistently compete for the highest caliber students: our 2016 freshman class matriculated with an average ACT of 29.4 and an average high school GPA of 3.97. Our students also display high levels of accomplishment, as evidenced by nine high achievers who won prestigious national scholarships in 2016. Auburn Engineering accounted for six National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellows, two Goldwater Scholars and one Fulbright Scholar. At the same time, we continue to expand our teaching and research faculty, with more than 35 new faculty and staff joining us during the 2016 calendar year. They bring to the college a rich matrix of backgrounds and a wide variety of expertise. Our faculty continues to push the envelope with cutting-edge research that addresses many of today’s challenging issues in transportation, cyber security, environment, energy, biomedical engineering and advanced manufacturing. Indeed, our research programs are bolstered with the addition of new research centers such as the Charles D. McCrary Institute for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Cyber Systems and the Center for Industrialized Additive Manufacturing. These initiatives represent our commitment to engaging emerging technologies and working on the leading edge of research – while also producing scholarship that has a positive impact on society. Finally, I want to point to the involvement of our donors, since a number of them receive this publication. If not for the unwavering support of our alumni base, our corporate and institutional partners, and friends, the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering would not be where it is today – a force in the economic development of our future, and the future of our students. War Eagle!
Christopher B. Roberts Dean, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
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THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE. More than $60 million in construction will serve generations to come With a bold vision for the future of Auburn Engineering, the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering embarked on three projects in 2016 totaling more than $60 million in new construction and major renovations. Once completed, these new and renovated facilities – the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center, the Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory and the renovated Broun Hall – will be vital pillars in supporting the college’s mission of preparing students through high-quality, student-centered education, engaging in innovative research that expands engineering knowledge and providing outreach programs to help people around the globe. These facilities represent a major investment in the college’s students and faculty that would not have been possible without the generous support of alumni and friends, most notably John and Rosemary Brown, Charles E. Gavin III and his late wife, Carol Ann, and Dorothy Davidson and her late husband, Julian. “These buildings will be equipped with the newest technologies and have dedicated spaces tailored to meet the evolving needs of our faculty and students,” said Christopher B. Roberts, dean of engineering. “These facilities will be a critical piece of the puzzle in helping us advance our educational and research objectives over the coming years. We could not be more thankful for the transformative
gifts that made these projects possible and will help us better serve the next generation of engineering scholars.”
Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center Upon completion in 2019, the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center will provide one of the most comprehensive active-learning environments in the country, focusing on students’ professional and academic needs. In cohesion with the college’s vision to provide the best student-centered engineering educational experience in America, the center will also create greater opportunities for collaboration among faculty members and fellow students, fostering a sense of “home” within the engineering campus. Construction of the center has been made possible thanks to a $30 million gift from John and Rosemary Brown, 1957 graduates of Auburn University. The donation was announced as part of an overall $57 million gift, the largest in university history, in April 2015 at the Because This is Auburn – A Campaign for Auburn University kickoff event. The first floor of the building will include a design and innovation center, which will consist of student maker spaces, digital prototyping laboratories, shops, project incubators, study rooms, computer labs and more, while also serving as the home for engineering student organizations. The second floor will house a tutoring and learning center, academic advising center, student recruitment center, professional development and corporate relations center, the Engineering Academic Excellence Program and offices for support staff. The third floor will incorporate ample, spacious student study areas with large-group and small-group study rooms, along with classrooms, conference rooms and a flexible ballroom all outfitted with the latest smart technologies. Designed to serve students from all engineering disciplines, the center will incorporate high-contact initiatives through student recruitment, curriculum advising, career mentoring and placement,
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The south entrance of the Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory will also be renovated to allow students more convenient entry to the building when coming from the heart of campus, while also providing accessibility to the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center once construction is finished.
Broun Hall/Davidson Pavilion
tutoring, international experiences, corporate relations and professional development.
Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory Once known as the Textile Building, the Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory is undergoing major renovations to equip it with advanced technologies that will enhance Auburn’s engineering research for years to come. Originally constructed in 1929, the building was the focal point for Auburn’s textile engineering education and research for nearly eight decades. The renovation is expected to be complete in November 2017. The $25 million project is supported by an $8 million gift from Charles E. Gavin III, founder and CEO of MFG Chemical Inc., and his late wife, Carol Ann. The Gavins also made a $2.5 million gift to support the creation of the Carol Ann Gavin Garden adjacent to the Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory.
Home to Auburn’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Broun Hall has been an integral part of the engineering campus since 1984. The building was named in honor of William Leroy Broun, a 19th century Auburn faculty member and the university’s fourth president. Renovations will include the Davidson Pavilion, a modernized entrance with natural light coming into the facility, the latest instructional technologies and a more dynamic setting for students, creating an improved learning environment. The building’s renovation was made possible by the generosity of Dorothy Davidson, chair and CEO of Huntsville’s Davidson Technologies. Davidson’s $5 million gift honors her late husband, Julian Davidson, a 1950 Auburn electrical engineering graduate and defense industry pioneer. Because of their contributions, Broun Hall’s entrance will be named in Julian’s memory. To view a live video feed of the projects, slideshows and more, visit eng.auburn.edu/future.
The laboratory will be a central hub for Auburn’s engineering research, including in several emerging areas. An additive manufacturing center will be incorporated into the building renovation to allow students to gain experience with emerging fabrication technology, as well as the new Center for Advanced Polymers and Composites to continue the college’s research in this area and to meet industry needs. The renovated structure will include traditional research laboratories, as well as a facility for the Nuclear Power Generations Systems Program, a new wind tunnel system, a series of hands-on student project areas and collaborative meeting spaces. 3
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academics Enrollment Undergraduate Graduate Total
Engineering
“Auburn Engineering means being a part of the best. The college has one of the top engineering programs with faculty and staff that want you to succeed. The education I am receiving at Auburn has motivated me to fulfill my dreams, creating the foundation for my future. My experiences here have been exceptional, and I love being a part of the Auburn Engineering family.”
University
4,963 22,658 897 5,632 5,860 28,290
20 percent female 15 percent underrepresented
Christin Simpkins Sophomore Industrial and Systems Engineering Atmore, Alabama
Academic Programs
Aerospace Engineering
Biosystems Engineering Forest Engineering Ecological Engineering
National Rankings
Chemical Engineering
Undergraduate program
Civil Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering Computer Option Industrial and Systems Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
1
1
2
2
2
2
Wireless Engineering Hardware Option Software Option Data is from Auburn University and the following organizations:
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Computer Science and Software Engineering Computer Science Software Engineering
32nd among public universities Graduate program 36th among public universities Graduate Online Program 20th among all engineering colleges Graduate Online Computer Information Technology Program 30th 25th in engineering degrees awarded to African-Americans 25th in undergraduate enrollment among all engineering colleges 47th in research expenditures among all engineering colleges 35th in bachelor’s degrees awarded among all engineering colleges 19 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellows, 5 Goldwater Scholars and many more recipients and finalists for other prestigious national scholarships since 20093
U.S. News & World Report
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American Society for Engineering Education
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Auburn University National Prestigious Scholarship Program
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Freshman Class Snapshot
Undergraduate students by department
Average ACT National Merit Scholars
Largest college at Auburn University with
25 percent of freshman enrollment Minors
Automotive Engineering and Manufacturing Business-Engineering-Technology Computer Science Information Technology Materials Engineering Materials Science Nuclear Power Generation Systems Tribology and Lubrication Science
1,500
300 0 6
3,000 AE
l BE ChE CE SSE ECE ISE at ME PFE WE PRE M C
2,500
2,843
3,500
3,383
600
3,053
4,618
4,294
4,157
3,890
4,000
3,595
4,500
900
4,018
5,000
1,200
Undergraduate enrollment
4,963
Bob Karcher Assistant Dean for Student Services Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
1,143 29.4 37
Freshmen
4,968
“We have seen an amazing change in our office from its beginnings in advising. As our enrollments have grown, we now engage our students through K-12 outreach, recruitment, tutoring and global programs, as well as workforce preparation.�
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
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Graduate Snapshot
489 Doctoral 408 23 percent female Master’s
“Research at Auburn has given me the opportunity to explore concepts in my field that have never been explored before. It’s exciting to have something go from an idea to design to experimentation, knowing that you are potentially doing something for the first time in history.”
Graduate Online Programs
Aerospace Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Science and Software Engineering Dual Master of Business Administration/Master of Industrial and Systems Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering Industrial and Systems Engineering Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering
R. Chase Harrison Doctoral student 2016 Graduate Engineering Research Showcase poster winner Electrical and Computer Engineering Huntsville, Alabama
754
800
600 8
671
653
720
750
650
853
885 810
850
834
900
700
897
917
950
150
851
1,000
Graduate enrollment
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Graduate students by department Doctoral
120
Master’s
90 60 30 0
AE
BE
E
Ch
CE
E
S CS
E
EC
E
IS
l
at
M
E
M
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PF
research
Strategic Research Areas
Faculty Snapshot
• Advanced Manufacturing
Tenured/tenure track faculty
• Cyber Security and Information Technology
169
• Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Engineering
51
• Energy and Environment
Non-tenure track teaching/research faculty
• Engineered Materials and Nanotechnology
25
• Infrastructure and Transportation
Postdoctoral researchers/fellows
47
Research Snapshot
Faculty members who are fellows of their respective professional organizations
$61.7 million in research expenditures 47th in nation in research expenditures,
ranked in the top 50 for the past 10 years1
Research expenditures (in millions)
40 30
61.7
59.3
60.0
61.3
60.1
57.4
36.3
50
49.5
47.1
54.8
60
55.5
70
“As a new faculty member, I can say that Auburn has exceeded my expectations in almost every way. It’s a really exciting time to be here with all the new faculty the College of Engineering has brought in. The students and faculty here are motivated and excited about the work they do every day. Everyone here wants to make positive changes in the world.” Lauren Beckingham Assistant Professor Civil Engineering
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
American Society for Engineering Education
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philanthropy
“Our college of engineering embodies legacy – I can think back to my co-op interview as a sophomore when a secretary stated, ‘ …we’ve got to hire him because he is from Auburn.’ It is my belief that all of us can be a net contributor to this legacy by demonstrating the Auburn Creed.”
Philanthropy Snapshot
$20 million 2016 raised $27.6 million 138 percent of goal raised 2016 goal
Kenneth Kelly ’90 EE Business Development Manager Southern Power Company Southern Company
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Campaign Progress (through Dec. 31, 2016)
Student Academic Support
$103 MILLION
Goal: $96M
Faculty Support
$20
10 8 6
MILLION
Goal: $38M
4
Scholarships and Fellowships
Facility Support
2
MILLION
MILLION
$44 Goal: $34M
2016 Fundraising Priorities (in millions)
$53 Goal: $32M
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The Auburn Creed I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work. I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully. I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men. I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities. I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all. I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all. I believe in my country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God.� And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it. – George Petrie (1943)
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering 1301 Shelby Center 1161 W. Samford Ave., Building 8 Auburn, AL 36849-0001
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