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imageWelcome to the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science (RCEAS) at Lehigh University. Established in 1865 along with the university, the college is endowed with a deep heritage of excellence in all major areas of engineering research and study.

Over the past five years, the $75 million Lehigh 2020 initiative has launched a transformation that has renewed over one-third of the 120 engineering faculty and created a multitude of innovative educational and research programs. This academic renewal has leveraged our strengths in materials, structures, and chemical processes into high-growth, high-impact pursuits in nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, and large-scale integrative systems. The first phase of this renewal is near completion, with more than 40 new faculty appointed. The next phase is underway, as we continue to recruit and retain talented faculty and dedicate significant investment in state-of-the-art research and educational infrastructure.

In education, RCEAS is leading another transformation that challenges the definition of engineering and the scope of engineering education. Traditionally, engineering education has been regarded as professional training for future engineers, and engineering has been defined by technical disciplines and job functions.  As we enter the 21st century, science and technology has become an integral part of almost every facet of society, and engineering education is relevant not only for technical professionals, but for all professionals, particularly those in business, law, public policy, design, and medicine.

In this context, engineering may be better described as a thinking paradigm that is critically relevant in the modern society, one that confronts the world with scientific eyes, logical minds, and a passion to solve problems that better the human condition.

Extending this educational philosophy, RCEAS has adopted the dual mission of offering rigorous discipline-based education in engineering, and broad-based integrated programs that combine engineering with business, entrepreneurship, design arts, language studies, legal studies, and more. You will find in this web site some of the most innovative educational programs that offer a wide variety of opportunities for our students. 

In the area of research, our web site is organized on the concept of “research clustering.” Each cluster represents strong cross-disciplinary synergies while elevating the scope of research above typical academic disciplines or research centers. Clustering represents an effort to foster the organic growth of research collaborations and to expand the scope and impact of research, while building consensus among faculty concerning future research directions and infrastructure investment. Research clustering is an evolving concept at Lehigh. To facilitate the formation of research clusters, three faculty-led, cross-college advisory councils have been formed in these areas:

  • BIO:   Bio, Environmental and Molecular Engineering
  • NANO:   Nanotechnology and Applications
  • SYSTEMS:  Complex Engineering and Information Systems

As you explore our web site, you will find news briefs and feature stories about successes in each of these research clusters.

Our web site is constantly evolving. Every once a while, we will change the feature stories in each research areas and we will share with you some of the most interesting educational innovations.  I invite you to visit us often; your comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

Sincerely,

S. David Wu
Dean and Iacocca Professor