Partners in Intelligent Growth

The University of Arizona is preparing to welcome a new incoming class, and I expect this group to match or exceed our fall 2022 class, which was the largest, most diverse, and best prepared first-year cohort on record. I anticipate that engineering will remain among the most popular majors and continue to serve as a major driver of the university’s growth.

Every student deserves access to the individualized resources that help them become confident, proficient alumni, and the university and the College of Engineering must remain attentive to our responsibilities in this regard. Employers who rely on the Arizona talent pipeline need work-ready graduates more than ever, and they are counting on us.

When we grow intelligently and in ways that honor both the University of Arizona’s history and potential, we create greater impact. Among our proudest accomplishments is the increasing number of underrepresented and first-generation students we have welcomed into the engineering fields, with more and more of them contributing to transformations that yield safer, cleaner, more efficient spaces, and more livable environments.

Supporting Students

In addition to recruiting more students, the university is strongly focused on retention. Now fully operational, our impressive Student Success District is a nine-acre, fourbuilding complex that continues to earn accolades and win national awards. Most importantly, students this spring have told us how much they enjoy having so many dayto-day resources and services centrally located in a modern facility that connects to our past, with a renovated Bear Down Gym anchoring the district.

General education also had a recent refresh with support from the university strategic plan. Additionally, this fall, the University of Arizona Bookstores is launching Pay One Price for main campus undergraduate students. This new program will provide digitally-preferred access to all required textbooks and courseware at a predictable flat rate.

Safety on our campuses, for our students as well as our faculty and staff, remains a crucial priority. We are instituting a number of initiatives and trainings in this area. As you may have heard, we have hired Steve Patterson as our new Interim Chief Safety Officer, and we have established the Office of Public Safety, which is leading many safety initiatives. If you are interested in learning more, please check out the university’s safety website: safety.arizona.edu

In addition, the university remains committed to offering mental health resources to help students and those who work with students.

Growing and Championing Faculty

I hope you are as fascinated as I am to read about the work of exceptional engineering faculty members in this issue. As you know, these instructors and researchers are not only crafting solutions for today’s world but anticipating those needed for the future. Intelligent growth depends to a great extent on the faculty who mentor our students and enhance the university’s reputation by making breakthrough discoveries.

Alumni Advocacy

Thank you for remaining connected to the University of Arizona and the College of Engineering. As we grow, we rely on our alumni to build many important bridges – to their companies, to their colleagues and neighbors, and often to fulfilling careers for our new graduates. Students better envision themselves taking on specific career opportunities after making inspiring connections with successful alumni.

We are evolving together, and I am delighted to gear up for a new academic year. Bear Down!