Our Mission
Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top education and research institutions. In aligning itself with the university's mission, the Department of Mechanical Engineering makes a commitment to excellence in education and aspires to pathbreaking research that contributes to society.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
A commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion is fundamental to both education and scientific innovation, as well as the culture and tradition of Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rice. Collaboration is the cornerstone of advancement in research and education, and that collaboration must bring together people from all backgrounds and perspectives, in order to address the pressing technological challenges facing our society.
Educational Objectives
Our department's curricula are designed to prepare a diverse group of students to become leaders within and outside of engineering. Our graduates have a strong technical foundation, an ability to attack open-ended problems successfully, and the professional skills to work and communicate in a complex, ever-changing world. With this preparation, graduates can truly become leaders, whether they are pursuing a postgraduate education or entering a career in industry or government.
Continuous Improvement
All of our constituents (students, faculty, alumni, industry, and government) are continually evaluating and improving the department's degree programs to fulfill our mission of excellence in education. Student work is assessed and evaluated to determine the knowledge and skills that students acquire.
For graduate students, important milestones like preliminary candidacy exams, qualifying exams, and thesis proposals are assessed. Senior design projects and sample work from core courses provide feedback on undergraduate courses. Students also provide constructive feedback through town hall meetings, the university's exit surveys, and ongoing informal discussions with faculty.
Both the university and the School of Engineering survey our alumni. Finally, the institutions and industries that educate and employ our graduates are well represented by the department's external advisory committee, which meets annually to review and advise the department on objectives and strategic direction.
Finally, the institutions and industries that educate and employ our graduates are well represented by the department's external advisory committee, which meets annually to review and advise the department on objectives and strategic direction.