Greetings , Colleagues .
I am excited to report another year of accomplishments , excitement , and teamwork . Despite the COVID pandemic challenges , we have found new ways to work together in changing circumstances . There has been tremendous excitement at regathering together , following a year of working separately , and new appreciation and energy for teamwork .
Our students , faculty , and staff have continued to make significant strides and discoveries . Of equal importance , our alumni , advisory board , and friends continued to bless us with their contributions and support , generating more resources for our successes . I invite you to see several examples of our department ’ s productivity in this annual report .
We are proud that some of our faculty ’ s imaginative works have been picked up in national media . For example , Popular Mechanics and the ASME Mechanical Engineering magazine have highlighted and published our faculty and their students ’ projects , excerpts you can see in this report .
As always , we are proud to showcase our students ’ work . Senior Capstone Design had a fantastic season despite COVID interruptions , with the teams producing some very promising and exciting projects .
Our revamped undergraduate curriculum started last year with three new instructional laboratories : Fluid Dynamics , Mechanical Design , and Control Systems Labs . We introduced two new majors within ME : Robotics and Mechatronics , and Automotive Engineering , and a new minor in Nuclear Engineering , all of which have become instant attractions to students . Students could officially enroll in these programs in the current academic year .
Our graduate program has also received some accolades . Both the Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering programs have received the University and State Council of Higher Education for Virginia ( SCHEV ) approvals to offer Masters degree programs online .
We are excited about our new programs , the new flexibility and options for our students , and their opportunities to excel . I hope you enjoy reading about our progress . As always , we welcome your feedback and invite your continued support of our Department .
Azim Eskandarian Nicholas and Rebecca des Champs Professor and Department Head Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering