History

In 2016, President Larry Dietz commissioned a market analysis that identified strong workforce and student demand for engineering programs, particularly Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. In spring 2017, Dietz appointed a steering committee chaired by Associate Provost Jim Jawahar to evaluate feasibility and chart a path forward.

Committee members visited peer institutions, consulted engineering educators, and met with regional employers including Caterpillar, Cabot Corporation, and Farnsworth Group. Their work focused on academic quality, workforce needs, and how Illinois State could build a distinctive engineering experience.

Academic Senate, Faculty Caucus, and campus stakeholders played an active role in shaping the proposal. Discussions addressed governance, enrollment, facilities, finances, transfer pathways, and the impact on existing programs. The original recommendation called for Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering degree programs housed within existing academic units.

As planning continued, the vision expanded from individual engineering programs to a standalone College of Engineering. University leadership, faculty committees, and state partners refined academic, financial, and facilities plans. On May 7, 2021, the Illinois State University Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the College of Engineering and authorized the University to seek Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) approval. On March 15, 2022, IBHE approved the College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Department of Electrical Engineering. On May 6, 2022, and after IBHE approval, the Board of Trustees authorized Illinois State to proceed with formally establishing the College and its departments.

On May 12, 2023, the Board of Trustees approved the three engineering bachelor’s degrees: B.S. in Engineering, B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. On November 15, 2023, IBHE approved all three bachelor’s degree programs, and Illinois State publicly announced the approvals in January 2024. Under the leadership of then Interim President Aondover Tarhule and Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Ani Yazedjian, Founding Dean Tom Keyser and the college’s inaugural leadership team were appointed. Faculty and staff recruitment accelerated, academic programs were developed, and preparations advanced for welcoming the first cohort of engineering students.

The College of Engineering welcomed its first class of 168 students. These students became pioneers, helping establish traditions, culture, and a new chapter in Illinois State’s history.

The dedication of the College of Engineering and ribbon-cutting celebration mark the realization of a vision first explored a decade earlier. Located on Campus East, the facility includes advanced laboratories, collaborative learning spaces, maker spaces, shops, and student support resources designed to prepare the next generation of engineers.