Oregon State University College of Engineering explained

Oregon State University
College of Engineering
Established:1889
Type:Public engineering school
Parent:Oregon State University
Dean:Scott Ashford
Accreditation:ABET
Undergrad:+8,500
City:Corvallis, Oregon
Country:U.S.

Oregon State University's College of Engineering is the engineering college of Oregon State University, a public research university in Corvallis, Oregon. U.S. News & World Report ranks OSU's engineering college 69th in the nation for 2024.[1] The ranking makes the college one of the top two in the Northwest, while the college's nuclear engineering school ranks 12th nationally.[2]

In 2022, the college set a new enrollment record. Over 9,800 engineering students were enrolled (+8,500 undergraduates). The college is now the largest on campus and the seventh-largest engineering college in the nation (2023).[3]

History

The college's first professorship, exclusively in engineering, was awarded to Grant Adelbert Covell in 1889. That same year, Covell founded the "department of mechanical engineering" at OSU and the first engineering building, Mechanical Hall, was erected. The college established early departments in electrical (1897), mining (1904), and civil (1905) engineering over the college's initial 20 years in operation. Mechanical Hall burned down during this period but was rebuilt a short time later and renamed Apperson Hall, much later, in 1920. In 1908, the college's name changed to the "school of engineering". Covell served as the school's first dean.[4]

Oregon State University became the only public university in the state to offer fully accredited degrees in all major engineering fields. OSU was designated Oregon's engineering university by the State Board of Higher Education in 1914, with the goal of providing the university a distinct curriculum among Oregon universities.[5] Chemical engineering was incorporated into the college as a formal department in 1932, followed by industrial engineering in 1943, nuclear engineering in 1968 and computer science in 1974.

Oppenheimer lectures

In 1955 J. Robert Oppenheimer visited the college to give two historic lectures in nuclear physics on the "Constitution of Matter".[6] The visit to the college was not without controversy. The University of Washington canceled his planned lecture at their campus due to J. Edgar Hoover's accusations Oppenheimer participated in pro-communist activities. Recordings of his two lectures at the college are now stored in Washington D.C. at the Library of Congress.[7] [8]

In 2008, Apperson Hall received a major remodel and was renamed Kearney Hall.[9]

The College of Engineering claims over 35,000 graduates since its founding in 1889.[10]

Schools

Size

As of Fall 2022, there were over 9,800 students enrolled in the college of engineering at the Corvallis campus.[11] The college of engineering's faculty is made up of approximately 122 members whose time is split between teaching and research.[12] The college's operational budget for the 2022–2023 school year was $128.2 million with $64.6 million from research grants and $19.4 million from private donors.[13]

Computer science (CS) students set a new record in 2022. CS students were awarded more CS degrees than any other engineering college in the nation.[14]

Research

A team of scientists from OSU's Nuclear Science and Engineering school is credited with inventing the first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in 2007. OSU's SMR was used by NuScale Power as the prototype for the NuScale Power Module and is used within their VOYGR power plants. As of 2023, the NuScale Power Module is the only SMR approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for operation in the US.[15] SMR's are designed to power individual commercial operations, rather than entire cities. The latest SMR OSU and NuScale Power developed delivers up to 50 megawatts of energy (MWe). Up to six NuScale Power Modules can be used in a single VOYGR power plant, producing up to 300 MWe. OSU and NuScale Power are working with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to increase the output per module to 77 MWe and allow up to 12 modules in a single VOYGR powerplant for a maximum output of 924 MWe.[16]

Student and program awards

Expansion

OSU engineering continues to expand its campus footprint to accommodate higher enrollments and the addition of new programs. A new 153,000-square-foot building was added to the campus in 2006. The Kelley Engineering Center is home to the school of electrical engineering and computer science. A major remodel was also completed to Kearney Hall in 2008. The recent renovation now serves as home to the school of civil and construction management engineering.

College of engineering alum and nVIDIA founder and CEO, Jen-Hsun “Jensen” Huang, is helping to build a $200 million research and education center planned for campus. The center will be named after the alum and his wife, Lori Huang, who are donating $50 million to the project. The Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex (CIC) will feature a massive AI supercomputer powered by nVIDIA hardware.[19]

The campus recently celebrated the opening of Johnson Hall. The Hall is the new home for the school of chemical, biological, and environmental engineering. Peter Johnson and his wife, Rosalie, both alumni of the school, sponsored the new addition with a $7 million dollar gift for its construction in 2016. The 58,000 square-foot building features an entryway plaza, modern offices, laboratory classrooms and open spaces for the school's faculty and students. Johnson invented a device and process used to manufacture longer-lasting lead-acid car batteries in 1980. He went on to found Tekmax Inc. in 1981.[20] [21]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. News & World Report . U.S. News & World Report . September 21, 2023.
  2. Web site: Oregon State University - Nuclear Engineering Ranking . U.S. News & World Report & World Report . 25 October 2022.
  3. Web site: College of Engineering Fact Sheet . engineering.oregonstate.edu . Oregon State University . September 27, 2022.
  4. Web site: More than a century of history…more than a century of excellence . oregonstate.edu . OSU . 12 May 2024.
  5. Web site: Groshong . James W. . The Making of a University – Oregon State University . oregonstate.edu . Oregon State University . September 11, 2022.
  6. Web site: "Condon lecture at Oregon State College". researchworks.oclc.org. . researchworks.oclc.org . Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress. . 23 February 2024.
  7. Web site: The constitution of matter. . University of Chicago . 24 February 2024.
  8. Web site: Oppenheimer . J. Robert . The Constitution of Matter - Transcript of OSU Lecture . uchicago.edu/ . Oregon State System of Higher Education . 6 April 2024.
  9. Web site: More than a century of history…more than a century of excellence . oregonstate.edu . OSU . 12 May 2024.
  10. Web site: Fact Sheet . oregonstate.edu . Oregon State University . March 3, 2022.
  11. Web site: College of Engineering Fact Sheet . engineering.oregonstate.edu . Oregon State University . September 27, 2022.
  12. Web site: College of Engineering Fact Sheet . engineering.oregonstate.edu . Oregon State University . September 27, 2022.
  13. Web site: College of Engineering Fact Sheet . engineering.oregonstate.edu . Oregon State University . September 27, 2022.
  14. Web site: College of Engineering Fact Sheet . engineering.oregonstate.edu . Oregon State University . September 27, 2022.
  15. Web site: Oregon Company Tied to OSU Invents Small Nuclear Reactor . oregon.arcsfoundation.org . ARC Foundation . 18 December 2023.
  16. Web site: Burnell . Scott . NRC to Begin Reviewing Portions of NuScale’s Small Modular Reactor Standard Design Approval Application . nrc.gov . Nuclear Regulatory Commission . 18 December 2023.
  17. Web site: Graduate earns top award at international laser science conference . oregonstate.edu . OSU . 10 July 2024.
  18. Web site: DLS CLEO Student Poster Awards . engage.aps.org . American Physical Society . 10 July 2024.
  19. Web site: Peckham . Oliver . Oregon State University to Launch Nvidia-Powered Supercomputer Center . hpcwire.com . October 17, 2022 . Tabor Communications . 24 November 2022.
  20. Web site: Hautula . Keith . n Memoriam: Peter Johnson . alumnimag.engineering.oregonstate.edu . OSU . 5 March 2023 . September 25, 2020.
  21. Web site: Creating a Campus Hub . srgpartnership.com . SRG Partnership Inc. . 5 March 2023.

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