Florida A&M University – Florida State University College of Engineering

The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is the joint college of engineering of Florida A&M University and Florida State University, the only such joint college of its kind in the United States. The joint college was established as a joint program serving two universities in Tallahassee, Florida: The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, which received recognition from the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in 2010 for ranking number one as the institution of origin for African Americans earning Doctorates in Natural Science and Engineering; and, Florida State University which has gained worldwide recognition for its extensive graduate and research programs. The college is located less than three miles from either university.

FAMU–FSU College of Engineering
TypeEngineering school
Established1982
AffiliationFlorida State University
Florida A&M University
DeanSuvranu De
Students2,584 total
2,268 (FSU)[1]
316 (FAMU)[2]
Location, ,
U.S.

30°25′13″N 84°19′4″W / 30.42028°N 84.31778°W / 30.42028; -84.31778
Websitewww.eng.famu.fsu.edu

As of 2024, the school enrolls about 3,050 undergraduates and graduate students, including Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Ph.D.-seeking students. Approximately 85% of these students attend FSU[1] and 15% attend FAMU,[2] which equates to roughly 23% of the student bodies at both universities. The college operates from a 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2) complex of buildings next to Innovation Park in Tallahassee.

All programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the ABET and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

History

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In 1959, the physics department at Florida State University (FSU) created the Department of Engineering Science.[3] When a downturn in engineering jobs nationally, felt especially in Florida with the downscaling of Project Apollo and the rest of NASA's crewed space program in Central Florida,[4] led to a 1972 decision to disestablish the school and relinquish undergraduate and postgraduate engineering education in state universities to the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, and Florida Technological University (later renamed the University of Central Florida) while still maintaining programs in mathematics, chemistry and physics at FSU.

In 1976, Florida A&M University (FAMU) established a new College of Science and Technology with a division of industrial and engineering technology. The university has since reorganized these programs under its School of Architecture and Engineering Technology. [5]

In April, 1982, the shared FAMU/FSU Institute for Engineering gets approved by the Board of Regents with Dr. Joe Lannutti and Dr. Charles Kidd appointed as co-directors. August 30, 1982 was the first day of the first semester at the Institute: 3 engineering courses at FSU and 2 at FAMU. [6] Both universities could now produce professional engineers with an accredited Bachelor of Science in Engineering.

The 122,159 sq. ft. Phase I Building for the joint college was completed and occupied in 1988. That year, enrollment at the college exceeded 1000. In 1993, the first PhD degree was awarded and enrollment officially passed 2,000. In 1998, the 98,004 sq. ft. Phase II Building was completed and occupied.[7]

Research

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The College of Engineering complex

In 2023, the College of Engineering had annual research expenditures of more than $43 million.[8] The research productivity at the College of Engineering provides opportunities for more than 300 graduate students to conduct their research.

In 2007, Florida State University announced the construction of a Materials Research Building near the College of Engineering.[9]

The College of Engineering also operates a Challenger Learning Center in downtown Tallahassee, with a planetarium and IMAX theater. This project was cosponsored by NASA.[10]

Departments, schools, and programs

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  • Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering
  • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Department of Materials Science & Engineering

Research centers, institutes and labs

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FSU's High-Performance Materials Institute opened in 2008.

National rankings

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U.S. News & World Report (2015 edition)

Department Ranking[11]
Overall College of Engineering 102nd overall in the United States
Chemical Engineering 102nd overall
Civil Engineering NR overall
Computer Engineering 102nd overall
Environmental Engineering NR overall
Industrial Engineering 65th overall
Mechanical Engineering 88th overall
Electrical Engineering 102nd overall
Biomedical Engineering NR overall
Manufacturing Engineering 65th overall

References

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  1. ^ a b "FSU 2014–15 Enrollments factbook" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  2. ^ a b "FAMU2014-15 Enrollment Factbook" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  3. ^ "Moments in Our History: Historical Foundations | FAMU-FSU". eng.famu.fsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  4. ^ "Changes in the Engineering Profession over 80 Years | Technologies content from Machine Design". 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
  5. ^ "School of Architecture and Engineering Technology". saet.famu.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  6. ^ "College of Engineering Est. 1982 | FAMU-FSU". eng.famu.fsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  7. ^ "FAMU-FSU College of Engineering :: Milestones". Eng.fsu.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  8. ^ "Annual Engineering Research Report 2023" (PDF).
  9. ^ "FSU breaks ground on groundbreaking building". Florida State University News. 2007-05-21. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  10. ^ "Challenger Learning Center". Challengertlh.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-06. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  11. ^ "FSU Eng. Final Report" (PDF). 2015-01-12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
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