Chicago skyline with campus in the foreground and wording UIC Engineering Rising, Rooted in Chicago, Reaching the World

Our strategic plan leverages UIC Engineering’s distinctive strengths – our Chicago location, diverse and driven academic community, commitment to inclusive excellence, and state-of-the-art research capabilities within the College and across the campus – to enhance our impact, elevate our profile and unlock our full potential.

As Chicago’s leading public engineering college, COE harnesses the research capabilities of a R1 university, attracts and supports a diverse student body through accessible, affordable and excellent education, and leverages one of the world’s most dynamic cities to prepare a highly-capable workforce and tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Strategic Priorities for Next Five Years

Female teacher in classroom with students
Prepare Next-Generation Engineers
The College will leverage its advantages of a highly diverse student body and clear mission to prepare technology leaders who can think critically to navigate and develop solutions for an array of challenges facing society now and in the future.
Three students working together in a lab
Catalyze Signature Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives
As a research powerhouse with key strengths and partners in Chicago, we will pursue a set of bold, ambitious and achievable initiatives that apply emerging technology to pressing problems.
Engineering student talking to prospective student and parent at an outdoor event
Cultivate a Caring, Connected Community and Culture of Excellence
By cultivating belonging, connection and wellness, we will enable our diverse community through inclusive pedagogy, relationships, alumni engagement and operational excellence.
Chicago skyline with Computer Science building in the foreground
Be the Destination for Collaboration, Expertise and Problem-solving
Leveraging Chicago's unique advantages, we will establish COE as the region's destination for high-impact partnerships, workforce talent and expertise for complex challenges and innovation.

What Drives Us

Four female students at the engineering expo

Mission

Through our commitment to excellence, accessible education and impactful research, we prepare curious, proficient and diverse engineers and computer scientists to lead and advance upward mobility locally and globally.

Chicago skyline with UIC campus in the foreground

Vision

To be the top destination for a diverse learning community that’s driven to engineer impactful solutions to pressing problems – starting in Chicago and spreading throughout the world.

Female engineering student demonstrating an experiment to a prospective student and parent

Values

Excellence and Innovation
We break boundaries, uphold integrity and ethical standards, seek continuous improvement, and strive for positive impact to serve society.
Diverse Environment
We nurture an inclusive and supportive ecosystem that welcomes, seeks input from, and removes barriers for all people.
People-Focused
We foster an accountable community, testing our assumptions through interactions with individuals from many backgrounds and experiences to create effective solutions that prioritize the needs, experiences, and well-being of people.
Persistent Mindset
When things get challenging, we get even more determined. We are unafraid to fail and try until we solve important problems.
Economic Driver
We are for Chicago, Illinois and beyond. We seek to drive economic success for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and our local and global communities.

College of engineering dean talking to a group of stakeholders

Our journey to this plan

Today, we are poised to solidify and advance our role as a leader in the region and meet the demands of the moment – and the future – by building upon our distinctive strengths to have an even greater impact in Chicago, the nation, and the world.

To accomplish this, under the leadership of Dean Lola Eniola-Adefeso, the College of Engineering launched a comprehensive and participatory strategic planning process to engage members of the extended community – faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners and UIC and University of Illinois system leaders – to harness the best ideas for shaping the College’s trajectory over the next five to ten years.

Together, we will build upon our strong foundation to meet the moment with purpose, creativity and resolve — ensuring that the UIC College of Engineering continues to drive innovation, opportunity and societal progress for generations to come.

Implementation Leads

Jacqueline Martinez Pullen
Assistant Dean for Special Projects and Strategic Operations

Constantine Megaridis
Professor and Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Engagement

Get involved

Stay tuned for ways to participate!

Email: engcomm@uic.edu

Provide Feedback to the Strategic Planning Team