Electrical Engineering

Image from the Picture file (SCA-1026), Courtesy of Special Collections, Schaffer Library, Union College.

General Electric engineers became the first instructors

President Andrew Van Vranken Raymond (1854-1918) chose electrical engineering as a new program to reinvigorate Union College after a slump in enrollment and prestige in the late 19th century. The program was officially announced in 1894 and classes began in 1895 as an option within civil engineering. Dr. Byron Brackett (1865-1937) was hired as the first instructor, with help from nearby General Electric (GE). The first students graduated from the program in 1898.

In 1902, President Raymond invited Charles Steinmetz to head a separate Electrical Engineering Department at Union. To elevate his status from practitioner to professor, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the College. The department was housed in North Colonnade until GE helped underwrite the construction of an electrical engineering building. In exchange for funds and equipment, GE expected the College to offer master’s degrees for its employees. Prior to the 1903 academic year all electrical engineering courses were given in the senior year.

Image from the Picture file (SCA-1026), Courtesy of Special Collections, Schaffer Library, Union College.

Electrical Engineering Building c. 1910

In the early years, the department attracted nearly all the foreign students attending Union. In 1946, the first courses on electro-magnetic engineering (radio and television) were taught by GE employees, Simon Ramo (1913-2016) and John R. Whinnery (1916-2009). In 1959, the first course in computers was taught.

In 1965, the College was reorganized into two centers – the Center for Humanities and Social Sciences and the Center for Science and Engineering. A major curricular change occurred in 1966 when Union switched to a trimester term. Although the change was passed, it was opposed by much of the engineering faculty on the grounds that cutting course credits would be detrimental to the program.

Image from the Picture file (SCA-1026), Courtesy of Special Collections, Schaffer Library, Union College.

An early computer used by electrical engineering students

In 1974 the department expanded to include computer science until 1981 when the computer science program diverged and received its first co-chair. Professor Yu Chang followed Edward J. Craig (1924-2015) as co-chair of Electrical Engineering in 1983.

In 1985, the programs were judged to be deficient by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). A revised curriculum was approved by the accreditation team in 1988, finally solving the problems created by the curricular reforms of the 1960s.[1]

[1] Somers, 251-254.