Welcome from the Dean
Welcome to the Tennessee Tech University College of Engineering website. Students are the focal point of our faculty and staff. At Tech, we have a distinguished and long-standing heritage of producing some of the most outstanding engineers, computer scientists and industrial technologists in the United States.
Our graduates have the potential to transform society through creative and innovative applications of technology to improve our quality of life.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to prospective students, parents and others who have shown an interest in our programs. It is my hope that you will find in Tech an engineering college that is both challenging and rewarding.
The bachelor’s degrees offered by the college include chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, industrial technology and mechanical engineering.Undergraduate students can live in the Engineering Village.The Engineering Village is a smaller and more personal group within the university to enhance student-faculty interaction beyond the classroom and to increase positive student connections. TTU also has seamless transfer programs with all community colleges in the state.The College of Engineering recently established a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology with Volkswagen Chattanooga and Chattanooga State Community College.
Master’s degrees are offered in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. A Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering is available through the chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering departments.The College has three Centers of Excellence: the Center for Management, Utilization, and Protection of Water Resources; the Center for Energy Systems Research; and the Center for Manufacturing Research.Undergraduates carry out research projects in these centers and other laboratories in the College and across campus.
Undergraduate students can also get a leg up on earning a graduate degree by enrolling in a fast-track program and getting their MS degree in five years.
Tech student teams participate in many exciting design competitions, and tend to do extremely well. The Society of Automotive Engineers Baja team is a world leader, taking first place 12 times. The closest competitor has six first-place finishes.
Tennessee Tech University is a special place, and an education in engineering, computer science or industrial technology here offers special opportunities.Our alumni have distinguished themselves in many fields, and we believe that our current students will achieve even more. The faculty, staff and administration of the College of Engineering are dedicated to producing undergraduate and graduate students who will shape the future in which we live.
I invite prospective students to visit campus, tour our facilities, meet our dedicated faculty and students and discover whether Tech is the place for you.
With warm regards,
Joseph J. Rencis, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASME, F.ASEE
Dean of Engineering, Clay N. Hixson Chair for Engineering Leadership and
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Tennessee Technological University
1010 North Peachtree
Clement Hall 201
Cookeville, TN 38505
Office: 931-372-3172
FAX: 931-372-6172
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Joseph J. Rencis Biographical Sketch (Hyperlink to bio)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOSEPH J. RENCIS
Dr. Joseph J. Rencis, born and raised in northwestern New Jersey, received a B.S. from Milwaukee School of Engineering, M.S. from Northwestern University and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. From 1985 to 2004, he was an assistant, tenured associate, and tenured full professor of mechanical engineering at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. At WPI, he was director of engineering mechanics from 1995 to 2004. From 2004 to 2010, he was department head and the inaugural holder of the Twenty-first Century Leadership Chair in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Rencis was a tenured professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas from 2004 to 2011. Dr. Rencis is an inaugural fellow of the Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium Leadership Development Program. Since 2011, he has been Dean of Engineering, the Clay N. Hixson Chair for Engineering Leadership, and professor of mechanical engineering at Tennessee Technological University.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rencis’ principal research interests have been in boundary elements, finite elements, mechanics of materials, multiscale modeling, and engineering education. His research is supported by National Science Foundation and industry. Dr. Rencis has published over thirty five journal articles and over one hundred conference articles. He is an associate editor of the International Series on Advances in Boundary Elements, Journal of Online Engineering Education, and The Open Numerical Methods Journal. Dr. Rencis serves on the editorial board of Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, The Open Mechanics Journal, and ISRN Applied Mathematics. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), and Wessex Institute of Great Britain. Dr. Rencis was recognized as the Cambridge Professional of the Year in Mechanical Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts. Dr. Rencis received the ASEE New England Section Outstanding Teaching Award. He is completing, as co-author with Hartley T. Grandin at WPI, an innovative undergraduate textbook, Mechanics of Materials: An Introduction with Integration of Theory, Analysis, Verification, and Design.
Dr. Rencis is active in various professional organizations at the local and national levels. He was the Chair of the ASME Mechanical Engineering Department Heads Committee from 2008 to 2010 and was on the ASME Board of Directors for the Center for Education from 2006 to 2010. Rencis currently serves on the ASME National Nominating Committee, ASEE Midwest Section Chair, ASEE Professional Interest Council III Chair, and ASEE Board of Directors. Other positions include current Past Chair of ASEE Mechanical Engineering Division and Past Chair of ASEE Mechanics Division. Dr. Rencis is an ABET program evaluator and member of the National Collaborative for Engineering Graduate Education Reform. He has conducted reviews of new M.S. and Ph.D. engineering programs. Currently he serves on the advisory boards of United Arab Emirates University, John Brown University (past President), and Springdale High School Engineering/Architecture Academy. He received the ASEE New England Section Outstanding Leader Award, ASEE Mechanics Division James L. Meriam Service Award, and ASEE Midwest Section Outstanding Service Award. Rencis is listed in several Who’s Who publications.
Dr. Rencis and his spouse Minerva, an elementary teacher, and daughter Christina, a sophomore at Boston University, enjoy a variety of recreational, film, and theater activities.
