CUE 2008 >> Academic Programs >> Enrollment Surges, Student Society Reestablished

CUE 2008

Environmental Engineering Program

Enrollment Surges, Student Society Reestablished

Student enrollment in the Environmental Engineering Program (EVEN) surged in 2007 with an incoming class of 25 first-year students as the restart of the student Society of Environmental Engineers, known as "SEVEN," enhanced student activities.

After a three-year hiatus, SEVEN elected new officers, sponsored Engineering Days activities including a Boulder Creek clean-up, and submitted and won a grant from Sustainable CU, a program of the student-funded Environmental Center. The grant project involves installing occupancy sensor lighting in a dozen classrooms in the Hellems Arts and Sciences Building, which will save the university energy and money since lights are frequently left on unnecessarily. The group, which will audit the energy savings from the $3,000 installation to determine the viability of other such projects on campus, hopes the project also will raise awareness about energy conservation.

"SEVEN is a great group to get involved in because it incorporates a social aspect as well as professional/academic focus," says Anna Herring, a senior in environmental engineering who serves as co-president along with Nicki Seminara and Rajat Srivastav.

The reinvigoration of the student group also may help to grow the EVEN program, which is now at its highest enrollment to date with 85 students. "More environmental engineers will be needed to meet strong demand in the future," says Program Director Angela Bielefeldt. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that of all engineering majors, EVEN will experience the highest growth in demand between 2006 and 2016.

Program website: www.colorado.edu/engineering/EnvEng