09/01/2024
Dear Alumni, Colleagues and Friends,
This fall, ABET, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, completed a comprehensive review across all 10 of our bachelor’s degree engineering programs. I am pleased to report that all nine currently accredited programs were recommended for reaccreditation, and the Industrial Engineering program received a positive recommendation for its inaugural accreditation. I will share the official accreditation results at the end of summer 2025. Meanwhile, over the coming months, my office and the faculty will work to set the college up for another successful accreditation cycle in 2030.
Our research enterprise continues to thrive, with our faculty securing major awards from a diverse portfolio of funding agencies. This issue of Engineering Solutions highlights several of these achievements in the health care sector.
A particularly exciting initiative that will have a large impact on our research efforts is the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, or LINC, a public-private venture that will add more than 1 million square feet of new lab and office space, as well as housing, retail and entertainment venues, to downtown Lowell. This initiative has the potential to bring thousands of jobs to the region, positioning Lowell as a hub for pioneering research and development.
Among LINC’s inaugural partners are Draper, Mass General Brigham Hospital and Biodiversity. These companies are moving into the LINC space because they want to collaborate with our faculty and to hire our students for internships, co-ops and full-time employment. This is an exciting moment for the Francis College of Engineering, UMass Lowell and the city of Lowell.
Our co-op program remains one of the most transformative experiences for our students. Starting with the fall 2024 cohort, all students entering the Francis College of Engineering will be required to take the formerly optional Professional Development Seminar (PDS), a course designed to prepare students for doing a co-op work experience. The seminar’s learning outcomes include producing a professional engineering résumé, learning how to interview, understanding workplace culture and expectations, and sharpening communication skills.
Although participation in a co-op is not mandatory, requiring the PDS course or its equivalent should increase the number of students who participate in co-ops each year. Every semester, Career Services holds a Co-op Expo, at which returning co-op students present posters showcasing their experiences. I always talk with as many students as possible at this event, and their stories are truly inspiring.
For example, at the fall 2024 Expo, I spoke to a student from Lowell, Maine, which is about an hour north of Orono, the home of the University of Maine. When I asked why she came to UML instead of UMaine, her response was, “Because UMass Lowell has a co-op program.” Another young woman expressed how she had such a great co-op experience that she was ready to do another six-month co-op.
This issue of Engineering Solutions focuses on how our faculty and students are applying engineering technologies to improve health care. From tissue engineering to robots for home health care, our researchers are making significant strides in advancing the field.
You will also read about Larry Acquarulo, a 1981 Plastics Engineering alumnus who compounds medical-grade plastics. Larry, along with many of his classmates, is having a profound impact on health care. While much of the media attention about plastics focuses on their environmental impact, the critical role of plastics in health care is often overlooked. Plastics are indispensable in the production of medical devices, sterile packaging, catheters, intravenous bags and personal protective equipment, contributing to safer, more efficient and accessible care. I am proud of the contributions that our Plastics Engineering faculty, students and alumni continue to make in advancing health care technologies.
As always, feel free to contact me (James_Sherwood@uml.edu, 978-934-3313 or via LinkedIn) if you have a story to share, or if you would like to partner with the Francis College of Engineering. I look forward to hearing from you.
Here’s to (engineering) your good health!
Sincerely,
James A. Sherwood, Ph.D., P.E.Dean, Francis College of Engineering
University of Massachusetts Lowell