Message from the Dean
Dear Students, Alumni, Faculty, Staff, and Friends of Armour College of Engineering:
During the 2006–07 academic year, we continued to increase our enrollment and research funding in line with the Armour College 2010 Strategic Plan. Undergraduate enrollment increased by 6.5 percent and graduate enrollment increased by 8.6 percent compared to the previous year, and we awarded 20 percent more undergraduate degrees. Our research expenditures also increased by more than 10 percent compared to the previous year. In addition, we received a $5 million endowment for the Grainger Laboratory in Power Electronics and Power Systems. And $5 million was awarded to diabetes research in Armour College and other programs in Chicago-Kent College of Law.
During the last year, the environmental engineering program was moved from the former Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering to an independent program in the new Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering (CAEE). This change is expected to enhance research activities in CAEE. At the same time, the chemical engineering program has expanded its focus to include the study of biological engineering, reflected in the newly named Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. This shift in direction is expected to increase undergraduate enrollment in the chemical engineering program and attract additional students to the newly developed master of biological engineering.
During the past four years, Armour College has experienced a continuous upward trend in terms of quality of education and research, its ability to attract top students and faculty, and positive attitude of faculty and staff. These improvements provided us with the necessary tools to move Armour College to a higher level of excellence.
Education
At Armour College, we are preparing our students for innovative, high-quality, knowledge-intensive jobs. Our graduates not only possess strong fundamental knowledge and advanced practical engineering expertise, but they also understand the economic, environmental, and social factors that impact their professional decisions and are capable of moving their creative ideas into the real world.
During this academic year, we completed a total of eight state-of-the-art undergraduate engineering laboratories, thanks to generous contributions from our alumni and friends.
Research
This year, we launched a program that emphasizes the importance of collaborative research. Our program, Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Solutions, establishes dynamic working relationships between Armour College and industry, national labs, and other academic institutions that will be mutually productive and beneficial for all involved.
Special Alumnus
One of the most noteworthy graduates in the history of Armour College is our first chemical engineering graduate, CharlesW. Pierce, class of 1901. Charles Pierce is also the first-known African-American chemical engineering degree holder in the United States. The 2007
Distinguished Alumni Award in Chemical Engineering at IIT was renamed in his honor and presented to Pierce’s relatives in recognition of his outstanding vision, determination, and impact as a role model for all engineering students from diverse backgrounds.
On October 11, I informed President Anderson that I do not wish to be considered for a second term as dean of Armour College and that the search should begin immediately for my replacement. I did agree, however, to stay on as dean until my replacement is hired.
It has been a great pleasure and honor to serve you (students, faculty, staff, alumni, Advisory Board, and friends) during the last close to five years. I would like to thank all of you for your continued support and partnership in our success. I am confident that under the new leadership Armour College will continue to experience increasing success and significant growth.
Hamid Arastoopour
Dean—Armour College of Engineering and Max McGraw Professor