Engineering’s major milestone

The school’s latest accomplishments and upcoming goals

YANA KOURETAS / NEWS EDITOR / THTE USD VISTA

This year marks the 10th anniversary of USD’s Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering. What was once just a department on campus transformed into a greater assemblage of talented students, new amenities, majors and more. Since the school’s establishment in 2013, Computer Science and Integrated Engineering programs were added along with the three other existing majors: Electrical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, five new graduate programs came to fruition: Applied Artificial Intelligence, Applied Data Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, Engineering, Sustainability and Health and Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship. 

Although Shiley-Marcos acquired ample resources and amenities that may bolster the excellence of future engineers, leadership is equally important in carrying on the legacy as it was when the school was first established. 

As the founding Dean of Shiley-Marcos, Dr. Shell Roberts reflected on the role that the faculty and staff had in the school’s expansion and overall improvement. 

“The most significant evolution in the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering since 2013 is the people who have joined us. We work hard to hire extraordinary faculty and staff, and it is they who make the biggest difference and impact,” Roberts said. “In my opinion, we have some of the best faculty and staff in the world, particularly in terms of competency and passion as teachers, mentors and scholars who share a desire to develop Changemaking Engineers, and who embrace the values and the mission of the university.”

USD junior Juliet Arizcuren echoed the significant impact that the faculty have made in her education thus far as a Computer Science student. 

“For the most part the school of engineering has really benefited my learning by creating a supportive environment which values the whole person. Professors here learn my name and are helpful inside and outside the classroom,” Arizcuren said. “I’ve especially felt supported as a woman in the computer science field, especially when attending WE22 (a conference for women engineers) with USD’s chapter of SWE (Society of Women Engineers). 

According to the USD website, Shiley-Marcos mission statement encourages future engineers to be imaginative, innovative and inspiring, which is made possible with the various learning locations that were created over the last 10 years. In 2018, a $10 million donation established the Belanich Engineering Center and funded phase two and three of the expansion project for Shiley-Marcos. Three different buildings, including Guadalupe and Loma Hall, were fused into a combined engineering complex that became known as the Belanich Center. 

In the center, six other learning spaces — the ASML Ideation Space, Donald’s Garage, Fabrication Lab, the machine shop and the computer lab — offer services and tools for students to learn and study. 

By providing a more robust center for future engineers, students can attain more support in their endeavors and more funding in the projects they want to pursue.  Additionally, by having many different departments under one college, students can become more involved in interdisciplinary opportunities and classes. 

USD junior Engineering student, Christopher Schafer, stressed the importance of attaining versatile skills from a multidisciplinary education. 

“The Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at USD has made my education so much better in so many ways. Through integrated engineering and the great professors associated with it, I have gotten to be educated in topics that combine social awareness with core engineering concepts,” Schafer said.

 Shiley-Marcos has its share of unique accolades and assets. No different is the dual Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts that all engineering students are required to graduate with. 

According to the 2020 USD Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering brochure, USD’s program is the only one in the nation to mandate this. 

Furthermore, the school made strides in being recognized for the quality of the engineering programs, assuring that students can attain degrees while under the guidance, leadership and resources of a high caliber. 

Just last year, Integrated Engineering became the latest program to join the other accredited engineering programs in Shiley-Marcos. Those in the Integrated Engineering program attain a variety of technical qualities that would equip them to go into a range of engineering professions, an important opportunity that not many other schools offer.

 As of now, all undergraduate engineering degrees offered at USD are validated under the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). 

The criteria to become ABET accredited is determined by a rigorous evaluation and is acknowledged worldwide. According to abet.org, ABET accreditation necessitates that the program has met standards that will prepare their graduates to succeed in their respective fields.  

Despite the accomplishments of Shiley-Marcos, Arizcuren commented that she thinks  the school still has more work to do in terms of allocating more funding and resources to different aspects of the program, such as more class options. 

“The School of Engineering could really flourish, if it had more resources. Funding tends to be an issue when hiring student tutors/lab assistants, and there is limited quantity and diversity in faculty. This also means there are fewer options when scheduling classes, making it difficult for students to get the credits they need,” Arizcuren said. “Addressing this issue, last week the CS department invited students to give input on potential hires, which I really appreciated as it shows they value students’ opinions.”

With 10 years of growth and accomplishments underway, Dr. Roberts and other members of the staff still have more to achieve moving forward. 

“We desire to continue to address diversity in our curriculum and who and what we represent. This year we will begin renovations on several labs and halls; we will deepen our commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset in our students and faculty, and we will hire more dedicated staff,” Roberts said. “We are working on several international partnerships to facilitate stronger ties in other countries.” 

In the grand scheme of USD’s establishment in 1949 and in comparison to the older programs, it is evident that the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering is just scratching the surface of what they have to offer.