History

The VCU College of Engineering, an innovation front-runner in academics and research, brings real-world education to Central Virginia. Our collaborative and multidisciplinary partnerships prepare undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students for leadership. Part of a premier research university, the VCU College of Engineering enhances regional and global prosperity through cutting-edge developments in tissue engineering, drug delivery, bioinformatics, cybersecurity, mechanical systems and particle science.

We make it real by turning great ideas into breakthrough technologies. Our facilities are hubs of discovery, powered by an expanding student body and faculty committed to excellence. We encourage partnering with industry and the community, bringing new collaborators into our projects. Our key research areas include: sustainability and energy engineering; micro and nano electronic systems; pharmaceutical engineering; mechanobiology and regenerative medicine; big data mining; and device design and development.

Timeline

1996	The VCU School of Engineering opens with a freshman class of 100 students. Initial courses are offered in mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering.
1998	A new undergraduate major in biomedical engineering launches in response to the growing presence of biomedical companies in Virginia.
1998	The first two of the School of Engineering’s planned facilities — West Hall and the C. Kenneth and Diane Harris Wright Virginia Microelectronics Center — open. Together, they total 147,000 square feet at a cost of $42 million.
2001	VCU’s long-standing degree programs in computer science join the school.
2004	A new undergraduate major in computer engineering launches.
2005	Undergraduate enrollment surpasses 1,000.
2007	M.S. degree in mechanical and nuclear engineering is created.
2008	The school opens East Hall, a $76 million, 120,000-square-foot facility. The School of Engineering partners with the School of the Arts and the School of Business to establish the da Vinci Center for Innovation.
	An undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering with a nuclear engineering concentration launches.
2009	The Institute of Engineering and Medicine is completed. This 25,000-square-foot structure, one of the largest configurable research spaces in the U.S., provides a state-of-the-art collaborative research environment connecting multiple university programs.
2013	The Translational Research Innovation Projects (TRIP) Facility, a collaborative project and prototyping center is opened in the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park.
	The Dean’s Undergraduate Research Initiative (DURI) and the Dean’s Early Research Initiative (DERI) programs are founded, providing students with even more opportunities to gain lab experience.
	The first students enroll in VCU’s Ph.D. program in mechanical and nuclear engineering, the university’s newest doctorate and the nation’s only hybrid mechanical/nuclear Ph.D.
2014	The Capstone Design program is re-structured to improve students’ research experiences by bringing industry and students together.
	VCU receives an in-kind grant of software with a commercial value of $230.9 million for the Siemens Product Lifecycle Management software from Siemens, USA.
	VCU joins the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM), partnering with four universities and 21 international companies.
	The Department of Computer Science develops a new cyber security specialization for undergraduate and graduate students.
2015	VCU becomes one of just 20 universities nationwide - and the only school in Virginia - to join the prestigious Vertically Integrated Projects Consortium, placing undergraduate engineering students alongside faculty and graduate students to conduct large-scale research projects.
2016	VCU Engineering expands in the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park with new labs for Medicines for All and Pharmacy on Demand, two projects that are transforming the design and production of pharmaceuticals and offering greater access to lifesaving medication.
2018	The VCU School of Engineering becomes the VCU College of Engineering, reflecting its increase in programs, research, faculty and student census.
2019	VCU Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Sciences Opens
	VCU offers the nation's first Ph.D. program in pharmaceutical engineering
2020	Medicines for All Institute partners with industry on $354 million government contract to onshore pharmaceutical manufacturing and prevent domestic medication shortages
	Engineering Research Building is completed
2021	University leaders, elected officials and members of the community celebrate the new Engineering Research Building on Feb. 3. Because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the ribbon-cutting was held virtually before a large audience on Zoom.