UMD News Releases

UMD Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin has announced the formation of the Iron Range/UMD Graduate Engineering Education Program. The new Program will be offered by the UMD Swenson College of Science and Engineering in cooperation with the Arrowhead University Consortium, and has received financial support from the Iron Range Higher Education Committee. Classes are set to begin this September at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, and will be taught by UMD faculty. Iron Range students will also have access to additional related courses offered on the UMD campus and to ITV and on-line courses.

The purpose of the Graduate Engineering Education Program is to provide better access to advanced engineering degree programs for people living and working on the Minnesota Iron Range. Upper division/graduate engineering courses designed to meet the specific needs of unemployed engineers--along with those engineers needing to maintain licensure, upgrade their engineering skills, or broaden their areas of employability--will be offered.

"The courses being offered on the Iron Range are directly applicable to the professional development and career needs of engineers working in the public and private sectors on the Minnesota Iron Range," said James Riehl, Dean of the UMD Swenson College of Science and Engineering. "And we are focused on setting class times and advisement scheduling to meet the needs and availability of the Iron Range professional."

The goal of the Program, when fully implemented, will be to offer 6-8 courses every academic year on-site at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College.

Chancellor Martin said, "UMD is proud to introduce this innovative and important program for the Iron Range. Offering advanced technical education opportunities is an important component for economic growth and the ability to maintain a skilled workforce for the future of Northeastern Minnesota.

Courses in the Iron Range Program will be offered as part of UMD's current graduate degree programs: the Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM), and the Master of Environmental Health and Safety (MEHS), and a proposed new Master of Engineering degree program with specializations in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.