Alumni support helps K-State engineering stay relevant with industry trends
By Hayli Morrison
Workplaces over the next decade will become more collaborative, flexible and team-driven, according to a recent report in Fortune magazine.
The findings match what Kansas State University leaders have heard from engineering students and faculty while planning the Phase IV expansion currently underway. That feedback is reflected in the building’s technology upgrades and spacious design to facilitate team-driven, project-based learning.
“Our students have always had very comprehensive laboratory experiences in their undergraduate program, presenting incredible value for industry stakeholders who hire our graduates. The new laboratories and learning spaces will further strengthen those experiences,” said Don Gruenbacher, head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The department’s offices, classrooms and student teams will be located inside the new structure when it opens this fall.
“Based on feedback from industry partners and department alumni, we believe the design of Phase IV will make K-State engineering graduates all the more competitive in their future careers,” Gruenbacher said.
“The students we teach today will be the workforce of tomorrow. It is imperative that our learning environment sets them up for a seamless transition to real-world workplaces,” said engineering dean Darren Dawson. “We are fortunate to have a broad base of alumni and friends who share in and support that vision, because student success will support our intention to rank among the top 50 public research universities and engineering schools in the nation.”
Your support makes a difference! Learn about remaining opportunities to support the Phase IV expansion by contacting the engineering development office at 785-532-7609 or danielley@found.ksu.edu.