Our students are the central focus of our department, benefitting from a cutting-edge curriculum designed for high-caliber thinkers and problem solvers. We offer co-op and internship opportunities, active student organizations, multiple study-abroad programs, numerous undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, and industry-sponsored senior design projects for a robust academic experience that goes beyond the classroom.
A core tenet of our department is our research efforts, providing faculty and students hands-on experience through our world-class labs and centers funded by the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and NIH amongst many others. The department continues to forge strong partnerships with Oak Ridge National Lab, CNS/Y-12, and the State of Tennessee for research collaborations that are making positive system impacts across a range of industries.
Mission Statement
We are committed to providing a sound modern industrial engineering education, to engage in creative research, and to deliver outreach activities through our undergraduate and graduate programs. The department continuously enhances its performance in the creation, integration, and dissemination of knowledge as it relates to the design, implementation, operation, analysis, and improvement of industrial processes as well as in service to the profession of industrial engineering.
Vision Statement
We will be a premier industrial and systems engineering department known for a high-impact approach that integrates:
- pioneering research in the areas of systems analytics and operational excellence,
- strong student preparation, and
- deep engagement with partners from the government, private, and non-profit sectors.
We intend to enhance the quality of all undergraduate engineering programs by incorporating distinctive undergraduate experiences which include undergraduate research and public service opportunities. This ensures that all undergraduates gain the knowledge, perspectives and skills necessary to succeed in today’s complex and interdisciplinary world. We offer graduate programs that compete nationally and internationally for the most highly qualified students. We secure new and improved facilities and resources and promote effective utilization of available ones for the purpose of enhancing the department’s educational, research, and service mission.
Core Values
The department embraces the following guiding principles:
- Commitment to excellence
- Diversity of thought
- Continuous learning
- Mutual respect
- Accountability
- Ethics and integrity
- Teamwork
- Synergy
The Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering is committed to the pursuit and achievement of the following goals:
- achieving excellence via national and international recognition for educational and research programs;
- attracting, retaining, and fostering excellent students, faculty, and superior staff;
- focusing on activities that will enhance the achievement of national rankings;
- and engaging in programs that will facilitate improvement in international interactions and intercultural awareness.
Our department strives to be an engaged, supportive, and diverse community of industrial and systems scientists and engineers who provide leadership through education, creative research efforts, outreach activities, and the creation of knowledge and technology in service to the profession of industrial engineering.