The Management & Engineering for Manufacturing (MEM) program is an independent academic major that is part of both the School of Engineering and the School of Business. Students graduate with a B.S. degree conferred by both the School of Engineering and the School of Business.

MEM graduates have immense flexibility to work as practicing engineers or to focus more on the business side. Companies find MEM graduates to be well-rounded engineers that see the “big picture” due to their unique curriculum. This positions our graduates to be very successful in getting coveted internships and “Leadership Development Pro­gram” positions at major companies, introducing them to multiple facets of the business, and preparing them for a “fast track” to promotion. Due to this, MEM graduates tend to secure higher starting salaries than their peers who pursue other engineering and business majors. Given the level of competition in seeking employment, employers look to hire people who are educationally well-suited for their fields.

Mission

The mission of UConn’s MEM Program is to develop professionals with a solid foundation in engineering and business skills, plus a total enterprise vision, and intimate knowledge of production in manufacturing and in the service industry.

History of the MEM Program

The School of Engineering and the School of Business at the University of Connecticut educate undergraduates who are highly valued in their respective fields. Both schools, however, have recognized that students who plan to pursue careers in manufacturing can benefit from a perspective that integrates subjects that have traditionally been available only in business programs or engineering programs. Given the level of competition in many manufacturing sectors, it is essential that firms employ people who are educationally well suited for the challenges to be faced.

In 1990, a task force composed of leaders from industry, state government and academia worked with faculty from the University of Connecticut’s School of Engineering and the School of Business to develop an innovative manufacturing education program – the Management & Engineering for Manufacturing (MEM). The MEM Program integrates business and engineering, with an emphasis on preparing students for careers with firms engaged in manufacturing at a world-class global level.

MEM students graduate with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree conferred by both the School of Engineering and the School of Business. At graduation our students are part of an elite cohort who have earned the right to hang two tassels from their mortarboards: an orange one for the School of Engineering and a pale brown one (official color name: drab) for the School of Business!

Accreditation

In 2007, the MEM program was accredited by ABET in two separate areas in the School of Engineering: Engineering Management and Manufacturing Engineering. ABET is the same organization that accredits all engineering programs at UConn and other national peer institutions.

The program is also accredited in the School of Business by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), as part of UConn’s School of Business.

These accreditations affirm the University of Connecticut’s commitment to academic quality and educational excellence.

The MEM Program Educational Objectives are to prepare our graduates to:

• Practice their profession with solid engineering and business knowledge and skills with a total enterprise vision, tackling ever-evolving real-world challenges with an innovative mindset and balanced engineering and business perspectives;
• Progress towards leadership roles, successfully applying manufacturing and engineering management principles to various products and processes;
• Apply high professional standards and practice life-long learning.

To achieve these program educational objectives, our students shall demonstrate the following outcomes by the time they graduate from our program:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies