Architectural and Engineering Examiners Board Awards $300,000 in Grants to 12 State Universities

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance announces today grants totaling $300,000 have been awarded to 12 Tennessee universities from the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners. 

Since the program began in 2002, the board has awarded over $2.9 million in grant funds. Funding is provided annually from the board’s revenues or reserve funds.  The Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Haslam authorized funding for the grants (2014 Public Acts, Chapter 919, Section 7, Item 26).

“The board appreciates the opportunity to assist in the education of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and interior design students,” said John Cothron, board executive director. “Education is the foundation for developing the knowledge and skills needed to practice the design professions and to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare.”

Grant funds cover a range of uses including purchasing computers, laboratory or instructional equipment, library resources, or paying the costs of intern development program fees or examination fees for students in accredited architectural, engineering, landscape architectural and interior design programs.

Universities receiving grant funds this year include:

• Christian Brothers University — $14,477 to the School of Engineering. Funds will be utilized to purchase a horizontal band saw, materials testing equipment, a glass digital temperature controller, microprocessor stations, and flowmeters.
• Lipscomb University — $13,501 to the College of Engineering. Funds will be utilized to pay Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination fees for students and to purchase 3D printers, 3D digitizers, and a servomotor, which is used to introduce students to basic control concepts. The FE exam is typically the first step in the process leading to licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE), and may be taken by students in the senior year of an engineering curriculum.
• Middle Tennessee State University, — $1,372 to the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences for the interior design program. Funds will be utilized to purchase LED light meters and reference materials.
• O’More College of Design—$1,342 to the School of Interior Design. Funds will be utilized to purchase an interactive projector for a lecture room.
• Tennessee State University—$18,867 to the College of Engineering. Funds will be utilized to purchase a solar concepts learning system, a light meter, infrared thermometer kits, and desktop computers.
• Tennessee Technological University—$39,813 to the College of Engineering. Funds will be utilized to purchase video conferencing equipment to facilitate distance education partnerships with other higher-education institutions in Tennessee.
• Union University—$12,306 to the Department of Engineering. Funds will be utilized to pay FE examination fees for students and to purchase a 3D printer.
• University of Memphis—$21,624 to the College of Engineering; $22,798 to the College of Communication and Fine Arts for the architecture and interior design programs. Funds will be utilized to purchase a four-axis milling machine for the College of Engineering, and enhancements to instructional and presentation spaces for the architecture and interior design programs.
• University of Tennessee-Chattanooga—$26,036 to the College of Engineering and Computer Science; $1,593 to the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies for the interior design program. Funds will be utilized to purchase equipment and software for mechanical engineering classes and laboratories, and cameras with accessories for the interior design program.
• University of Tennessee-Knoxville—$43,095 to the College of Architecture and Design; $42,973 to the College of Engineering. Funds will be utilized to purchase a desktop scanning electron microscope for the College of Engineering, and computer software, a plotter, and large LCD displays for the College of Architecture and Design.
• University of Tennessee-Martin—$14,822 to the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences.  Funds will be utilized to purchase a tool room mill that will be used to make parts used in student and faculty projects and to teach courses that deal with computer numerical control (CNC) technology.
• Vanderbilt University—$25,381 to the School of Engineering. Funds will be utilized to pay FE examination fees for students and to purchase an experimental photo-elastic stress measurement system.

For more information on the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, visit http://tn.gov/regboards/ae/ or call (615) 741-3221 or 800-256-5758 (toll-free).

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