The Citadel School of Engineering earns ASEE diversity recognition

Photo above: The dean for The Citadel School of Engineering, Andrew Williams, Ph.D., leads an event on campus in the fall of 2021 focused on artificial intelligence and diversity in engineering, including industry leaders from the Charleston Lowcountry, as well as engineering cadets and students.

The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Diversity Recognition program now recognizes The Citadel School of Engineering at the Bronze level. The Citadel received notification of the recognition December 21.

“The ASEE Bronze level recognition, the highest level that any institution currently holds, demonstrates that The Citadel is doing all we can strategically and in daily practice to make our School of Engineering the most welcoming and supportive learning environment possible,” said the dean for The Citadel School of Engineering, Andrew B. Williams, Ph.D. “This national recognition signals to any prospective engineering student — including underrepresented minorities, women, veterans and first generation college students — that that they will belong here and we will work diligently towards their success as future engineering professionals.”

The letter of recognition from the ASEE Diversity Recognition Committee read as follows:

Thank you for your application to the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program. I am pleased to inform you that you have been recognized at the Bronze Level based on your Fall 2021 application.
The Diversity Recognition Program was created by the American Society of Engineering Education to publicly recognize those engineering and engineering technology colleges that make significant, measurable progress in increasing diversity, inclusion, and degree attainment outcomes of their programs. Twelve applications were submitted in the Fall 2021 application cycle and reviewed to determine their acceptability for Bronze Level status, which at the moment is the highest level of recognition in the program. Each application was reviewed by 3 reviewers using a rubric drawn from the ADRP guidelines. An interactive panel discussion was also used to ensure that the reviewers were consistent in their recommendation on the acceptability of the application.
Based on the committees review your application was rated at the Bronze level. This is the highest level we issued this submission cycle. The Bronze level recognition means that your College/School is among the nation’s leaders in inclusive excellence. It demonstrates that the unit is committed to the following outcomes: 1) Establishing baseline support for groups underrepresented in engineering 2) Quantifiably analyzing and assessing unit composition, policies, culture, and climate related to all groups underrepresented in engineering. 3) Implementing programs and initiatives that strengthen the K-12 or community college pipeline thereby reducing significant barriers related to long-term growth. (4) Developing an action plan focused on continuous improvement.
I want to commend you for your progress and thank you very much for your support of this important ASEE EDC initiative.
Donald J. Leo, chair, ASEE Diversity Committee

Mechanical Engineering cadets and professor working with the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s autoclave.

One of the programs The Citadel School of engineering implemented to support diversity is a National Science Foundation funded Excellence in Civil Engineering Program featured in this article.

Institutions achieving Bronze-level status from ASEE in fall 2021 will be recognized at an industry meeting in February 2022.

Learn more about The Citadel School of Engineering

The Citadel School of Engineering is one of the oldest programs in American and is consistently ranked in the top 25 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

The School of Engineering offers five undergraduate programs that can be taken as a full-time as a cadet or as transfer student in a traditional college/civilian setting during the afternoon and evening.

Learn more about applying to a program in The Citadel School of Engineering here.

Learn more about Dean Andrew Williams here.