New mechanical engineering major added

Janel Shoun | 

The 2008-09 academic year will bring a new dimension to the Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering with the addition of a major in mechanical engineering to its other successful majors in engineering mechanics and computer engineering.

Lipscomb has been graduating engineers from its program in engineering mechanics since 2002 and has been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) since 2004. In 2007, the university expanded its offerings to include a major in the more traditional field of mechanical engineering.

To support the new mechanical engineering program, the university added a new faculty member, Richard Gregory, and a machinist, Mark Chandler. In addition, several of the engineering labs were updated in 2007.

Several students have already chosen mechanical engineering as their major. Eleven mechanical engineering majors are expected to graduate in spring 2009.

Also in 2009, ABET will be invited to evaluate the mechanical engineering program for its initial accreditation and will evaluate all of Lipscomb’s existing engineering programs for re-accreditation. Assuming that all goes well, the 11 mechanical engineering graduates will receive accredited degrees retroactively.

Like the two names, the differences in the two programs are subtle, said Fort Gwinn, chair of the department of mechanical engineering. Engineering mechanics is more theory-based and mechanical engineering is more about application, he noted. In fact, the biggest difference in the two programs is a matter of name recognition: mechanical engineering is the name more widely recognized.  

Students majoring in engineering mechanics are well equipped to go to graduate school but also have a breadth of training applicable to various engineering fields, such as aerospace or civil, Gwinn said. Mechanical engineering programs in general provide broader instruction specifically in mechanical areas, with courses on topics such as automotive engineering, heating and ventilating or alternative energy systems.

In its first year of existence, the mechanical engineering program got off to a great start when the senior engineering majors entered a nationwide contest to build and race an off-road vehicle and others designed and constructed a biodiesel plant, to convert vegetable grease into vehicle fuel.