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Letter from the Dean |
  Welcome to the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, located in one of the fastest growing universities in the country and in the most exciting city on the planet. The world today is full of technical challenges and our ability to meet these challenges will determine our future standard of living and quality of life. The faculty and administration of the College of Engineering at UNLV are dedicated to producing undergraduate and graduate students who will shape the future in which we live.
The College of Engineering was established as a separate college in 1988 placing it among the newest engineering programs in the country. It is located on the main UNLV campus which consists of 337 acres. Engineering and computer science are housed in a two building complex with over 100,000 square feet of space. A groundbreaking will occur this summer for our new science, engineering and technology building which will add almost 200,000 square feet to our current complex. Approximately 25% of our faculty have been hired in the last five years which provides a dynamic and exciting environment for our students.
The College consists of four departments and one School. The departments include Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Studies. Civil and Environmental Engineering also houses our Construction Management Program. The Aerospace Studies Department is the home for our newly formed Air Force ROTC unit which reports academically through the College of Engineering. The college also is the home for the School of Computer Science. A new minor in the exciting field of Entertainment Engineering is offered jointly between the College of Engineering and the College of Fine Arts. These units provide a comprehensive span of opportunities in engineering and computer science for our student population. All departments and schools are fully accredited by the respective regional and national agencies.
The College supports graduate programs at the masters and PhD level in all of the departments and schools as well as specialty MS degrees in the areas of Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Transportation, Construction Management, and Materials and Nuclear Engineering. We currently have over 1600 students at the undergraduate level and approximately 400 graduate students. Undergraduate students have many opportunities to work on research projects to supplement their coursework. Opportunities for internships and co-operative work programs are available at both the graduate and undergraduate level. Research activity covers a broad range of activity including renewable energy, hydrogen production and storage, information systems, arid lands, homeland security, nano-technology and transportation. Research expenditures for the past year were in excess of 12 million dollars, which on a per faculty basis compares favorably with major national engineering programs. The college houses a large assortment of research centers which provide an interdisciplinary focus for much of the research activity.
The college has approximately 70 full time faculty and an additional 20 research faculty. Engineering and Computer Science courses at all levels are generally taught by faculty and interaction between the students and faculty is strongly encouraged. While the college is small enough to offer individual attention to our students, it is located in one of the fastest growing universities in the country. The University is quickly approaching a student population of 30,000. UNLV offers a host of opportunities for student activities including concerts and athletic events which one can only find at a major university.
We work closely with the companies that hire our students upon graduation to refine the curriculum in each discipline to ensure they are well prepared to enter the workplace. This not only includes an extensive technical background, but also training in communication, teamwork, business and creativity. This well rounded approach to education is directly in line with our college name, the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering. Mr. Hughes had talent in the technical, art, business and entrepreneurial spheres. He was a visionary of his time and was capable of dealing with complex interdisciplinary issues. As such, his name is ideal for the training and opportunities we are trying to offer our students.
Our graduates are capable of entering the workforce in a Fortune 500 company, a small start-up company or even starting their own business. We work hard toward creating an environment where our students can be successful. The college has a host of student and professional organizations in which our students are actively involved. UNLV students compete in a host of regional and national competitions and typically come home with a top prize. The senior design activity has been a focus for our engineering programs and significant cash prizes are awarded to the projects judged to be the best by an external panel.
It is difficult to communicate the high level of excitement within the college in a text based message. We are continually developing new programs, hiring new faculty and exploring new areas of research. Perhaps the best way to judge the opportunities at the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering is to come for a visit and check us out for yourself. Try our web-based virtual tour available through this website. I welcome your inquiries concerning our current and future activities. 
-Dean Eric Sandgren
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