RICHMOND, Ky. — A Kentucky university known as the “school of opportunity” is expanding by adding a new manufacturing engineering program.
Starting Fall 2023, Eastern Kentucky University will offer a manufacturing engineering degree, hoping to help the state’s job growth and workforce economy.
Students admitted into the new program will develop skills to design, analyze and modify the process used to make products. The program’s director Michael “Sean” June, Ph.D., says the addition directly results from the state’s plans for more auto plants.
Students will first start with the basics and eventually work up to a senior capstone project where they’ll collaborate with other students and industry professionals like Valvoline, Carhartt, Alltech and more.
In addition, students will be required to do one internship, can choose to do more. He says manufacturing is similar to chemical and civil engineering.
“We’ve taken a look at industry needs and spent a lot of time talking to the local industry first about what they needed from students when they graduate,” June said. “Of course, they needed people to hit the ground running, and we know that manufacturing is booming in Kentucky.”
EKU’s president, Dr. David T. McFaddin, said the university is excited about the new degee addition.
“Continuing to add those degrees that matter, those degrees that students want, those degrees where they’re ample job opportunities is something we’re really excited about. [EKU is] making sure we’re offering an engineering degree that’s one of the most affordable... not just in the state, but in the nation,” McFaddin said. “We’re the only public institution that will be having manufacturing engineers who’re graduating and once we’re fully accredited, the first class graduates we’ll be one of just 25 of those in the nation.”
Recent data from The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education projects the need engineering jobs will increase over 11% in Kentucky by 2029, outweighing the national average of 10%.
In that same year, the study predicts 32,400 manufacturing engineering jobs will be added. Students in the program will receive mentorship from faculty and industry leaders. A group of at least 25 students will start at the university in the fall. The new program will join the ranks of already successful programs at EKU, including the engineering technology degree program.