2/20/2023 Taylor Tucker
Written by Taylor Tucker
MechSE’s Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.ME) program, which began in 2015, attracts more and more students each year, with 65 enrolled last spring and 86 currently enrolled.
“The M.Eng.ME program is tasked to serve the society by providing highly skilled engineers and industry leaders,” said MechSE Teaching Assistant Professor Jiajun He, who serves as faculty director. “To accomplish this task, building a strong and supportive community for our students is an essential component. The M.Eng.ME program strives to create a community that students can call home.”
The mechanical engineering M.Eng degree is one of many possible options for the Master of Engineering track, which also offers autonomy & robotics, bioengineering, digital agriculture, electrical & computer engineering, engineering with an energy systems concentration, instrumentation & applied physics, plasma engineering, and aerospace systems engineering. Several of these programs, including mechanical engineering, may be completed in person or online.
Mechanical engineering program coordinator Susan Roughton has dedicated many resources over the past three years to ensure that a supportive community grows along with the program.
“I ensure that students are well-supported and know that they have someone in their corner, helping them to maximize their potential and to utilize the vast resources offered by MechSE and our university.” Roughton said. “Many students have said that our community is a draw for them and that it is unique.”
“I think Susan does a great job in creating the community,” said student Jathin Premjith, who will graduate this spring.
Siddharth Agrawal, who specialized in design and graduated in December 2022, found the M.Eng community to be very welcoming and supportive. “I felt like Susan was the center point,” Agrawal said of becoming acquainted with the program while still in Hong Kong, where he studied previously.
One of Roughton’s community initiatives was to create a WhatsApp group for prospective, current, and past students to communicate. The group now has more than 100 participants, with roughly half actively contributing at a given time.
“Many alumni stay active on the chat and offer helpful suggestions as well as share information about internships and job openings at the companies where they are employed,” Roughton said.
Rajat Nidoni, who just completed his first semester in the program with an interest in controls, also found the WhatsApp group helpful in connecting with fellow students and making informed decisions regarding courses and scheduling.
“I had so many questions,” said Nidoni of exploring the program while completing his undergraduate studies in India. “[Susan] put me in contact with some seniors to get information. It increased the bonds I had with other people in the program. Once I came to the group, I saw how strong the community was. It was really amazing. Even in undergrad, I hadn’t seen that.”
Premjith, who completed his undergraduate studies at UIUC, had a similar experience. “MechSE is quite big,” Premjith reflected. “Because M.Eng is our own little group, it feels like a stronger community.”
Graduate assistant Saba Setayeshi, now in her third semester in the program, also appreciates the program’s inclusivity. “As both a woman in STEM and an international student, this unique community has helped me feel a sense of comfort and inclusivity at the U of I, especially during hard times—something I truly appreciate,” Setayeshi said. “The staff and students are always more than happy to help whenever you reach out and that is something I try to exemplify in my life.”
In addition to the WhatsApp group, Roughton has hosted potlucks to support in-person community engagement.
“[Susan] wanted to make sure all the graduating students could meet and have fun before they left,” Agrawal said of the December 2022 potluck that Roughton hosted in her home. “People made so many different dishes, and all the graduates gave little speeches to pass knowledge to the newcomers.”
“The various online and in-person meetings have allowed students to form meaningful relationships and offer excellent networking opportunities,” Roughton said of organizing community events.
The students suggested offering outdoor activities in the future, such as having a picnic on the quad or going for a hike. “Susan has created an environment where people are ready to come to these events,” Nidoni said. “They try to make time for them, even during winter break.”
“I think some students feel like they’re in the worst position, but they don’t realize that everybody’s in the same boat,” Agrawal added. “It’s nice to have casual events where we can just meet and de-stress.”
Roughton also has plans for future professional development events. “I would like to see students having increased opportunities for hands-on learning with greater exposure to industry,” she said. Her enthusiasm for the program is second only to her pride for students’ accomplishments.
“[The students] show up with their A game day after day for one of the most rigorous coursework-based mechanical engineering graduate programs in the nation,” she said. “They push themselves to new levels of mastery, and they are proud Illini.”