THE NEXT STEPS

After 125 years of innovation and growth, of challenges confronted and overcome, and of persistent pursuit of excellence, the Penn State College of Engineering story is still being written.

“Impact is our strategic capstone,” said Justin Schwartz, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering. “What impact are we having on the world at large, on our students, within our disciplines, and on each other? As we consider our vision for the future of the College of Engineering, that capstone of impact is supported by four strategic cornerstones.”

Schwartz shared his perspectives on those cornerstones as the college looks beyond its 125th year and to the future for engineering at Penn State.

Cornerstone 1: EXCELLENCE

“In everything we do—from education and research, to advising and career services, to equity, and all the other aspects of our college and the initiatives under way here — we must focus on excellence each and every day. And we must recognize and reward the countless examples of excellence across our community. It’s not about checking a box or doing something in the same way because that’s how it’s always been done. It’s about innovating, taking on new challenges, and being a leader among institutions worldwide.”

Cornerstone 2: EQUITY

“I think equity is the greatest challenge we face in engineering education. For decades, the known social science related to equity and inclusion has expanded. As a discipline, though, we have failed to translate that science into practice, and little progress has been made over many years. We must do better. As a college — and in a leadership role alongside other top engineering universities — we are working to do so. A key example is the development, now under way, of a comprehensive equity action plan for engineering; a plan that engages faculty, staff, and students to actively participate in creating a more inclusive and equitable culture within the college. Ours is one of the largest engineering colleges in the world, so what we achieve here today has impact around the world tomorrow.”

Cornerstone 3: SOCIAL MOBILITY

“Both access and preparation inform the cornerstone of social mobility. How are we honoring Penn State’s land-grant mission and making sure that the doors to an engineering education are open to a broader array of individuals? One step we’ve taken is a fundamental change to our college’s scholarship awarding process, moving to a more comprehensive assessment to gauge qualifications. We are also working to expand elements of our engineering curriculum with the understanding that technical knowledge is only part of the equation. Skills in areas such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and professional ethics are critically important for our graduates to contribute to their engineering professions and compete in the engineering workforce. A Penn State engineering degree has enabled upward social mobility for more than 100,000 students and their families in the past and will continue to do so for decades to come.”

Cornerstone 4: SUSTAINABILITY

“As engineers continue to develop solutions to help address issues like climate change, areas such as energy and the environment are certainly part of this strategic cornerstone for the college. The work of our Sustainability Council helps to forward our mission in this area. But we also take a broader view of sustainability as a lens through which we evaluate our internal priorities. What are the long-term implications and the potential for lasting impact? For example, as our faculty continues to grow — we’ve added more than 150 individuals since 2015 — we are striving to hire educators and researchers who will thrive in decades-long careers at Penn State. In our initiatives around equity, we are looking well beyond one or two years as we work to drive systemic change, cementing a future that continues to build upon a dynamic 125-year legacy for the Penn State College of Engineering. As we invest our precious resources — time and money — we must show excellence in resource stewardship by investing in ways that produce long-lasting impact.”