Irech Colon/Staff Writer
The College of Engineering and Computing is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, but it still feels alienated and sometimes forgotten by the University, as it sits almost a mile and a half west of Modesto Maidique Campus on Flagler Street.
Eric Trujillo, a senior computer engineer major, said many students don’t even know the college exists and there is practically no outreach or events.
“I wouldn’t say segregated, but I would use the term overlooked,” Trujillo said.
On Feb. 21 the college will host its 13th annual Engineering Expo to celebrate its anniversary. Dean Amir Mirmiran said the expo brings the engineering and computing community together.
“We want to have one day a year during the National Engineering Week to open up the doors of our labs and facilities, bring students of all ages and give them an opportunity to see for themselves what it means to be a biomedical engineer or a computer engineer or a computer scientist,” Mirmiran said.
“We are celebrating the anniversary of the college, the next era,” Mirmiran said. “Our next decade will be about the ranking of the college and showing that the college has gone a long way.”
The college was one of the first when the University was established in 1973. According to Mirmiran, South Florida didn’t have any engineering schools. In 1984, what used to be the College of Technology become the College of Engineering and Design.
Three decades after that, the college developed accredited graduate programs, began enrollment of doctorate programs and became devoted to research and innovation in the different fields.
According to the annual reports on the CEC website, more than 5,000 students have graduated with a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degrees within the college in Fall 2012 alone.
Although the college is home to many students, being that the campus stands a mile away from the main campus, it does not receive the same love and attention as the Modesto Maidique or Biscayne Bay campuses.
“The problem with not being on the main campus is that it’s beautiful and we have limited space here,” said Stephanie Strange, associate director of student access and success.
Alejandro Padilla, freshman and computer engineer major, said he just wishes the Engineering Center was within the main campus to avoid a drive. However, he does enjoy other amenities at the Engineering Center.
“It’s always cool to see students playing ping pong and at the billiards table in between classes,” Padilla said.
Strange devotes much of her time offering support services, professional development and outreach programs at the satellite campus.
“Because there is no official student services at CEC, it is always appreciative to receive visits from the main campus such as the Student Government Association and health services. SGA has been really good to us,” Strange said.
Having these types of social connections allows a unity amongst all colleges within the university. “They do try and they do make the effort,” Strange said.
The 13th Annual Expo complements the college’s anniversary as it promotes their mission to discover students’ interests and talents in science and engineering.
More than 1,200 students from elementary, middle and high school attended last year’s expo.
According to Mirmiran, it serves to educate students from a variety of ages and expose them to the “wonders of science” through a tour in the research labs and hands-on projects like egg-drop contests and a walk-on-water project.
The expo and its activities serve to introduce the college to potential FIU students.
“There’s an exposure on all different levels; to university life, to science and engineering and the understanding that anyone can learn science,” Strange said.
Trujillo has also been witness of the great journey CEC has led him through in being able to apply his studies and to use all that he has learned as a computer engineer major.
“I felt very prepared for the job as FIU places a priority in research and teaching students to investigate and find information,”said Trujillo, who interned with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“The reason why I am very optimistic about the future of our college, is because the students that we have are of great talent and potential,” Mirmiran said. “And any time we have offered an opportunity for them to compete at the national level, they have shined well, making me believe that we have a great future ahead for this college.”
The U.S. News & World Report ranked the online engineering degree program among one of the top 50 in the nation, which ranked higher than the engineering program at University of Florida.
– news@fiusm.com
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