Strategic Plan Summary
Engineering staff and faculty: Detailed Plan (as updated for Winter 2009, UW login required)
Our Mission: We are a diverse community of innovators working to dramatically improve the quality of life in our state, our nation, and the world. We do it by leading in engineering discovery, innovation, education, and engagement.
In the last century, engineering dramatically improved the quality of life and helped create our modern economy. Even before the information-technology (IT) revolution, studies found that technological innovation had resulted in as much as 85% of growth in US income per capita (NAE Report - Rising Above the Gathering Storm).
But engineering is much more than an economic engine. It also can address societal problems such as the environment, energy, and health. A modern engineering college must not only supply the math, science, and engineering fundamentals needed for professional practice, but it must also provide students with the tools needed to solve the grand challenges facing us today.
More than a decade ago, it became clear that "bio-info-nano" principles would emerge as core disciplines in the new century, complementing traditional engineering disciplines developed over the previous century. The College of Engineering (CoE) at the University of Washington (UW) recognized this trend and has become a world leader in these areas. We receive more research funding from the National Institutes of Health than any other engineering college (bio). Our Computer Science & Engineering program is widely regarded as top five, and UW was recently recognized as one of the most innovative IT universities in the US (info). Finally, UW is one of only 13 institutions comprising NSF's National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (nano). The CoE is strategically positioned to be a preeminent player in 21st century technologies.
Building on these strengths, the CoE must address some of society’s greatest issues while preparing students not only to fill the jobs of today, but to create the jobs of tomorrow. Research and education programs will tackle grand challenges, such as the environment, health, energy, and information. By integrating new and old disciplines across traditional boundaries, and working with strong allies such as the College of Arts & Sciences, several schools in the Health Sciences, and the new College of the Environment, we will create sustainable technologies for the future and produce graduates who can translate these technologies into solutions.
A first-rate education is required to prepare our students and graduates to further these frontiers. Over the next 5 years, our primary goal is to raise the CoE’s national and international visibility as an engineering leader. To this end, we must engage both our local community in the State of Washington and strategic partners around the world. We also must build diversity into every aspect of our community, and improve the overall quality of our educational experience.
