Celebrating a Century of Excellence
From its roots as an engineering drawing program, ISE dates back to the formation of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign when Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862.
An "engineering drawing program" may sound oddly specialized today. Still, before 1900, even before 1980, you communicated your engineering ideas — schematic, equations, text and all — using a typewriter and hand drawing, whether on a thesis, a poster presentation, or to try to impress an employer.
Thus clear communications became and remains one of the unique cornerstones of the ISE department.
By 1921, the drawing program had become so essential to the emerging engineering curriculum that it was re-established as The Department of General Engineering Drawing. The Department of General Engineering Drawing moved into the Transportation Building, so called because, at the time, the building also housed Aeronautical Engineering and The Department of Railway Transportation (which has since closed up shop, but subtle architectural railroad motifs can be found throughout the art-deco styling on that vintage building).
It was also in 1921 that the Transportation Building's north end was completed.
Since 1921, there have been hundreds of events that have advanced and defined our department, most notably the merger with Industrial Engineering (formerly with the Department of Mechanical Science) to make the department of General Engineering into a fully contemporary ISE department. The Industrial Engineering department was not as old as the General Engineering department ("Drawing" was eventually dropped from the name) but it was a world-class department with scientists who are very often cited by our senior alumni.
A few more milestone events include the formation of the graduate program, the formation of the Master's Degree in Financial Engineering professional program, changing the name of the General Engineering degree to Systems Engineering and Design, and the founding of an Online Industrial Engineering degree.
Contemporary ISE research comprises the study of engineering systems, and the explosive growth of technology in the past century has only allowed our disciplines to grow into bigger, digital, more important and increasingly global domains. We have roots in manufacturing, but a future in sustainable design, clean energy, health care, yet-unknown technological innovations and bettering life on earth in every human domain.
View the ISE interactive timeline
Here are documents for those who wish to learn more about our storied history:
- Read a summary of ISE and the Transportation Building
- Jerry Dobrovolny's History of the Department of General Engineering 1868-1995 (facsimile PDF / searchable PDF)
- Browse the archive of General Engineering Alumni Newsletters
- Brief, graphical timeline of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering
William Gillespie and Chelsey Coombs researched this timeline. Much assistance was provided by College of Engineering archival specialist Bethany Anderson and Jerry Dobrovolny's History of the Department of General Engineering 1868-1995 (facsimile PDF / searchable PDF). (We have found no similar document for Industrial Engineering but have worked from archived newsletters). This timeline is a work in progress. This was originally posted in ISE Annual Report.
Department and Interim Department Heads
Jeff Shamma
2020-present
Deborah Thurston
Interim 2019-2020
Rakesh Nagi
2012-2019
Jong-shi Pang
2007-20212
Interactive Historical Timeline
Staff moved to DCL; work on facilities begins in earnest
Staff moved to DCL; work on facilities begins in earnest
2023ISE (and its building) recognize 100th birthday
ISE (and its building) recognize 100th birthday
2021Jeff Shamma appointed Head and Dobrovolny Chair
Jeff Shamma appointed Head and Dobrovolny Chair
2021Master of Science in Health Technology Program launches
Master of Science in Health Technology Program launches
2020Deborah Thurston appointed Interim Head
Deborah Thurston appointed Interim Head
2020New Department Head
Deborah Thurston becomes head of ISE.
2019ISE introduces online degree programs, including a certificate in Advanced Analytics
ISE introduces online degree programs, including a certificate in Advanced Analytics
2017General Engineering major's name changes to Systems Engineering and Design
General Engineering major's name changes to Systems Engineering and Design
2016Building upgrades
$250,000 of changes to Transportation Building approved.
2014New Department Head
Rakesh Nagi becomes head of ISE.
2013New Program
Master of Science in Financial Engineering approved.
2009Lab Renovation
Senior Engineering Project lab undergoes $1.1 million renovation.
2008New Department Head
Jong-Shi Pang becomes department head.
2007First two Systems and Entrepreneurial Engineering Ph.D.s granted
First two Systems and Entrepreneurial Engineering Ph.D.s granted.
2006Departments Merge
Industrial Engineering and General Engineering merge to become IESE, later renamed ISE.
2006Mark Spong becomes Department Head
2003Research Park
Research Park opens.
2001Harry Cook becomes Department Head
New Lab
Mechatronics Lab established by Professors Tsao and Spong with grant from John Deere.
1998Grainger Engineering Library
Grainger Library, the largest engineering library in the United States, opens.
1994Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering moves out
Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering moves out, leaving General Engineering the only tenant of Transportation Building.
1993New Research Lab
Henrique Reis builds Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation Research Laboratory.
1987New Department Head
Thomas F. Conry becomes department head.
1987Robotics
Mark Spong introduces a course on robotics.
19861st Super Computer
First supercomputer installed in Illinois.
1985End of IE?
University considers terminating IE for budgetary reasons and is flooded by letters of protest from many esteemed sources, including Republic Steel, Anahuser-Busch, Eastman Kodak, General Dynamics, Illinois Power, United Airlines, International Business Machines, Fort Motor Company, United States Steel, along with other University of Illinois departments, including Accountancy and Civil Engineering.
1982Computer Labs
Fourth floor of Transportation Building converted to computer labs.
1981First MSGE students graduate.
First Master of Science Degree in General Engineering (MSGE)
1981Birth of the Capstone Senior Design Project
Ford Foundation grant runs out; Senior Engineering Project continues as a corporate-sponsored endeavor. ABET will eventually recommend that all engineering curricula adopt such a capstone senior design project, and institutions nationwide emulate it.
1971Boneyard Creek beautification project
Inspired by a visit to San Antonio, Dobrovolny inspires a student-led project to beautify the polluted Boneyard Creek, which the City of Champaign had planned to pave over. The fruits of this 100-year project can be enjoyed today.
1969CAD introduced
Michael Pleck introduces CAD in GE 103
1968Senior Engineering Projects
Ford Foundation grant creates industry collaboration that would become the Senior Engineering Project, then GE 242.
1966Design sequence
Design sequence introduced into GE curriculum
1961Departments Merge
Industrial Engineering merges with Mechanical Science and Engineering to become MechSE/IE
1960New department head
Jerry S. Dobrovolny becomes department head
1959Randolph P. Hoelscher retires. Department continues on.
Randolph P. Hoelscher retires; university decides to continue Department of General Engineering after publishing a study entitled the Luke Report (p17).
1959Department renamed
Department renamed Department of General Engineering
1953Industrial Engineering BS program
Industrial Engineering is established as a BS program
1952Mechanical Engineering building opens
Mechanical Engineering building opens
1950New Department Head
Randolph P. Hoelscher named head of the Department of General Engineering Drawing
1949Secondary field options activated
Secondary field options activated on a petition basis; initial options were management, marketing, technical writing, and mining–numerous others would follow, notably law and accounting.
1949Grace Wilson 1st female engineering instructor
Grace Wilson becomes first female engineering instructor, becoming a full professor in 1972.
1946First College of Engineering Parade
First College of Engineering Parade
1924New Department Head
Harvey H. Jordan becomes department head
1921General Engineering Drawing becomes a department
Harvey H. Jordan took the reins of the newly designated Department of General Engineering Drawing.
1921Transportation Building Finished
Transportation Building finished, the total cost was $168,000.
1921Harvey Halordan becomes head of general engineering drawing curriculum.
Harvey Halordan becomes head of general engineering drawing curriculum.
19171st half of Transportation Building Completed
First half of Transportation Building completed in 4 months for $86,000; third floor dedicated to General Engineering Drawing; building houses Department of Railway Engineering--railway motifs can still be found in exterior and banister designs, notably winged locomotive wheels on upper exterior corners.
1912
Harry W. Miller placed in charge of general engineering
Harry W. Miller placed in charge of general engineering drawing curriculum; in 1912 he publishes two textbooks: Mechanical Drafting and Descriptive Geometry.
1908Assistant Dean Fred Duane Crawshaw in charge
Assistant Dean Fred Duane Crawshaw in charge of general engineering drawing curriculum, vesting responsibility for this program in the Office of the Associate Dean.
1908New GE Department
General Engineering Drawing Department requested
1904
Engineering Experiment Station
First Engineering Experiment Station in America established at Illinois, it’s first experiments are an investigation of reinforced concrete.
1903First African-American Student Graduates from Illinois
Illinois graduates its first African-American student.
1900Engineering Hall completed
18941st Professor of General Engineering
James David Phillips first professor tasked to coordinate general engineering drawing curriculum.
1893Graduate School
Graduate school and Extension program established.
18931st General Engineering Curriculum
General engineering drawing curriculum founded–the roots of ISE
18871st African American student admitted
Illinois admits first African-American student
1887University Renamed
Illinois Industrial University renamed University of Illinois
1885Women in Department
Trustees allow women to attend.
1870Instructional program in engineering created with four departments
Instructional program in engineering created with four departments: Mechanical Science and Art, Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering and Metallurgy, and Architecture and Fine Arts. Stillman Williams Robinson, Illinois’ first professor and later dean of Engineering, designs an innovative engineering curriculum that includes both science-based lectures and experimental laboratory practice.
1870University's first student
James Newton Matthews becomes the University's first student
1868Illinois Industrial University
Illinois Industrial University, as it was first called, opens
Engineering curriculum founded
Lincoln signs Morrill Act
Abraham Lincoln signs Morrill Act establishing 37 public land-grant institutions.
1862