Is there such a school anywhere in the country?

[housemouse]

Is there a school that would fit the bill for:

 

1. has to be east of Mississippi

2. smallish- under 10,000 students preferred

3. has to have engineering- chemical engineering and/or material engineering and/or petroleum engineering etc.

4. conservative student/teacher body

5. can be private or public

 

So far I have not found one. Am I missing something? Would love some help from moms who have experience and already gone through the college searching stage?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

Edited January 30, 2017 by housemouse

[8filltheheart]

I responded on the high school board.

 

UA-H

TN Tech

[Ann.without.an.e]

Wake Forest has a new engineering program.

 

What about Furman's dual program - staying at a smaller, conservative school for three years and finishing out the program at Clemson or NC State and graduating with two degrees seems like a good deal to me but I am not an engineering pro.

http://www.furman.edu/academics/physics/ProgramOverview/Pages/EngineeringDualDegree.aspx

Edited January 30, 2017 by Attolia

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Virginia Tech is 30,000, but because my son is in the Corps of Cadets his main experience outside classes is within that smaller group of around 1500 cadets.

[Ann.without.an.e]

Is there a school that would fit the bill for:

 

 

4. conservative student/teacher body

 

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

 

Also, can you expound on conservative?  Most colleges are pretty liberal. 

[Caroline]

Alfred University in New York had a good materials science reputation.

[housemouse]

Wake Forest has a new engineering program.

 

What about Furman's dual program - staying at a smaller, conservative school for three years and finishing out the program at Clemson or NC State and graduating with two degrees seems like a good deal to me but I am not an engineering pro.

http://www.furman.edu/academics/physics/ProgramOverview/Pages/EngineeringDualDegree.aspx

I was actually looking at that, but then after a few phone calls their dual program will only give you Chemistry from Furman and Engineering from Clemson, not chemical engineering. To have chemical engineering we would need an extra year to year and a half based on what I was told.

[housemouse]

Also, can you expound on conservative? Most colleges are pretty liberal.

I don't know if I can in a short answer. I know quite a few people including all of my siblings who went to liberal/uber liberal schools and now they are the centers of their own universe (which they were not before). And heaven forbid you do not agree with what ever agenda they are pushing. They are never wrong. Maybe somewhere between BJU university and GA Tech but closer to BJU University. Furman is also another good example of conservative, probably better than BJU.

Edited January 30, 2017 by housemouse

[Riverland]

I had many of the same requirements that you do (except geographic location and your specific engineering disciplines).  We zeroed in on the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). They offer chemical engineering and also fit your other requirements.

 

Grove City College almost fits. They have engineering, but only electrical, computer and mechanical. Otherwise, it is exactly what you are looking for. It's hard to find a more conservative campus than GCC.

[amy58103]

Geneva College is a small (<2,000 students) christian school with an ABET accreditation for Engineering and offers a Chemical Engineering major.  Its located in Beaver Falls, PA, about 1 hour north of Pittsburgh.  I did a phone interview with someone graduating from their Civil Engineering program a couple of years ago for an entry-level position.  He seemed knowledgeable and capable ... although we ended up offering the job to someone else so I don't have any information beyond that .... the owner of the company I worked for wanted someone that was already local to our area (Philadelphia) as he believed they tend to stick around longer and therefore, a better investment.

[Serenade]

Just bumping for more responses.  This is a topic I'm interested in, too.

[angela in ohio]

Calvin College has ChemE

Very conservative, fairly small (3,990), east of the Mississippi (Grand Rapids, MI - a lovely area)

[JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst]

If you have a daughter-- Sweet Briar College in Virginia is under 1,000 students, has an accredited engineering program, and a comparatively conservative to middle of the road faculty and student body.  For co-ed, another option is Sewanee in Tennessee, they have a 3/2 engineering program.  There would also be Elon University in North Carolina-I just can't speak to how conservative the campus environment is.

[justasque]

I don't know if I can in a short answer. I know quite a few people including all of my siblings who went to liberal/uber liberal schools and now they are the centers of their own universe (which they were not before). And heaven forbid you do not agree with what ever agenda they are pushing. They are never wrong. Maybe somewhere between BJU university and GA Tech but closer to BJU University. Furman is also another good example of conservative, probably better than BJU.

For what it's worth, there is very little time in an engineering program to take courses in which there is "agenda" type content.  You're doing math, more math, and math on top of that in every class.  Chemistry, Physics, Dynamics, Fluids, Thermodynamics, Statics, Vibrations - these classes just don't have any room for a political or religious or even cultural slant,  And it is WORK - no time to be the center of your own universe.  Something to consider if you have to make a choice between limited options.

[clementine]

Hope College - Michigan

 

Milwaukee School of Engineering

 

 

 

 

[teachermom2834]

If you have a daughter-- Sweet Briar College in Virginia is under 1,000 students, has an accredited engineering program, and a comparatively conservative to middle of the road faculty and student body.  For co-ed, another option is Sewanee in Tennessee, they have a 3/2 engineering program.  There would also be Elon University in North Carolina-I just can't speak to how conservative the campus environment is.

 

My ds looked seriously at Sewanee.  I wouldn't call it conservative, really. Greek life is really big and I don't think it is what the OP is going for.  But I could be wrong so take that for what it is worth ;)

 

But perhaps Berry College in Rome, GA fits the description if you are willing to look at the 3/2 programs.  I believe they have an agreement with Ga Tech.  

[matrips]

Villanova University in PA might fit. It was pretty conservative when I went there. I was an engineering major.

[domestic_engineer]

Here are some additional schools that are small and have ChmE.  I don't know if their campuses are conservative or not.

Rose-Hulman in Indiana

Trine University in Indiana

Case Western in Cleveland

 

Have you considered looking at some State schools with engineering, but attending at a regional campus to get the class size you want?

 

ETA:  As already mentioned, Calvin, Hope, Grove City would also fit the criteria.

Edited February 4, 2017 by domestic_engineer

[fdrinca]

Here are some additional schools that are small and have ChmE.  I don't know if their campuses are conservative or not.

Rose-Hulman in Indiana

Trine University in Indiana

Case Western in Cleveland

 

Have you considered looking at some State schools with engineering, but attending at a regional campus to get the class size you want?

 

I came to recommend Rose-Hulman, which should meet all of your criteria.

[Arch at Home]

If you were flexible on location, Benedictine College in Kansas is conservative. It's engineering program is in conjunction with South Dakota University (I think) but all class are taken at BC. I have two nephews who have gone through this program and have been very pleased with it.

Is there a school that would fit the bill for:

 

1. has to be east of Mississippi

2. smallish- under 10,000 students preferred

3. has to have engineering- chemical engineering and/or material engineering and/or petroleum engineering etc.

4. conservative student/teacher body

5. can be private or public

 

So far I have not found one. Am I missing something? Would love some help from moms who have experience and already gone through the college searching stage?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

If petroleum engineering is a career goal, keep in mind that most of the petroleum engineering jobs are west of the Mississippi (or east of the Atlantic ocean...)

[*LC]

Have you tried the ABET search to see if there are any schools that offer all those possible majors and meet size and geograhical preferences?

 

http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx

[73349]

I'm not sure how conservative it is, but you might look at WPI.

[KarenNC]

I don't know if I can in a short answer. I know quite a few people including all of my siblings who went to liberal/uber liberal schools and now they are the centers of their own universe (which they were not before). And heaven forbid you do not agree with what ever agenda they are pushing. They are never wrong. Maybe somewhere between BJU university and GA Tech but closer to BJU University. Furman is also another good example of conservative, probably better than BJU.

 

I graduated from Wake Forest in the mid-80s and, while I would say it was pretty moderate overall at the time based on my experience then, I'm not sure it will fit the conservative Christian-focused aspect  you are looking for overall if BJU or Liberty are even anywhere on your radar. I will say that I was raised a very sheltered, very conservative Calvinist and found Wake at the time to be much, much more liberal (especially socially) than anything I had experienced, so it will depend on your starting point. I'm sure my parents blame Wake for my currently being what you would likely describe as "uber-liberal," but it was likely more conservative overall than many places I could have gone, and really just started the process. :)  We did do things like read one of John Updike's Rabbit books in a theology and modern lit class (along with Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, CS Lewis, and Flannery O'Conner), and my roommate kept the keg for a party in our room at one point (drinking age was 18). Now there was also a very active InterVarsity chapter on the campus at the time, as well, and WF Baptist Church did meet on campus. I wasn't terribly political at the time, so don't remember how I felt it came down in that aspect.

 

The NC State Baptist Convention dropped their affiliation with WFU in the 80s http://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/12/us/north-carolina-baptists-sever-ties-to-wake-forest.html 

 

It looks like all the first year dorms, at least, are now co-ed (wasn't the case when I attended, though there were a couple of relatively new co-ed options), and they now even offer some gender-neutral housing http://rlh.wfu.edu/current-students/you-choose/processes/room-selection/#gender-neutral-housing. 

 

I like to look at the directory of student clubs/organizations at a school to try to get at least a bit of a feel for the likely atmosphere on campus. https://wfu.collegiatelink.net/organizations It may be telling that there is a College Republicans group but not a College Democrats or Libertarian group, so it probably leans more conservative than a lot of schools. They have several Christian-focused groups and some that describe themselves as conservative, but they also have an active LGBTQ Center on campus http://lgbtq.wfu.edu/programsandevents/, which I don't tend to see on campuses I consider really conservative. You could also take a look at their religion department course descriptions http://college.wfu.edu/religion/program-of-study/course-descriptions/ to get a feel for their approach in that area.

 

Another school you might consider is Berry in the mountains of Georgia http://www.berry.edu/academics/nursing/. It's supposed to have a gorgeous campus, and is one that we considered very iffy for our daughter's search because we are concerned it will be too conservative. They have a large program funded by Chic-Fil-A (Win Shape Foundation).

[FaithManor]

Calvin College has ChemE

Very conservative, fairly small (3,990), east of the Mississippi (Grand Rapids, MI - a lovely area)

Yes. Very lovely area. Unfortunately not known for generous merit aid. Many of the students I know who are going there - numerous students from around here (I am three hours northeast of the school) are drowning in private loans. Most expect to be $80,00-100,000 in debt for their undergrad with two students expecting to exceed that.

 

Grand Rapids really is a great college town!

[Miss Marple]

Just throwing this out there...3 of my 4 sons have majored/are majoring in engineering fields, specifically petroleum, chemical, and mechanical.  I would suggest that you not limit your pick of school to geographical area if you can avoid it.  The school a student attends, particularly in petroleum, will make a difference in the student's ability to gain internships and later, jobs.  Chemical is similar, although not as affected.  If you are going to pay the bucks, make sure you get your money's worth.  Check out the success of the graduates in obtaining jobs.  In Petroleum, it really does matter if you go to one of the top schools.

[KarenNC]

Another consideration regarding Wake Forest is that its engineering department is extremely brand-new. I wondered, because when I was there they only offered a 3-2 program with NC State.

 

http://college.wfu.edu/engineering/

 

Rollout of the Major

Establishment of the Department of Engineering and the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program will phase in over four years, beginning in the fall of 2017. The first graduating class of majors is planned for the class of 2021. Faculty, staff, students, and courses will be gradually established over the four-year period 2017-2021.  It is anticipated that the culminating major design experience will be offered (in 2020-2021) in a new classroom specifically designed as Innovator Space that has an open format so student teams and faculty mentors can work on projects with maximum flexibility and creativity.

ABET Accreditation

The planned curriculum has been designed to satisfy the requirements necessary for ABET accreditation. However, an Engineering program cannot apply for ABET accreditation until after the program has graduated its first class. Since Wake’s program is being planned with the class of 2021 in mind, we expect to apply for ABET accreditation in the year following the graduation of the class of 2021. Any program that earns ABET accreditation, has the accreditation applied retroactively to the previous year’s class, i.e. to the class of 2021.

[northcoast]

While not east of the Mississippi, have you looked at Missouri University of Science & Technology?  I know a conservative family who just visited there and was quite impressed.  It fits school size and has most of the majors you asked about.  Trine University has Chemical Engineering and an excellent job placement rate.  Not all departments are "conservative" but engineering is great there.

[Caroline]

While not east of the Mississippi, have you looked at Missouri University of Science & Technology? I know a conservative family who just visited there and was quite impressed. It fits school size and has most of the majors you asked about. Trine University has Chemical Engineering and an excellent job placement rate. Not all departments are "conservative" but engineering is great there.

I believe we have a prof from MUS&T on this board.

[AFwife Claire]

While not east of the Mississippi, have you looked at Missouri University of Science & Technology?  I know a conservative family who just visited there and was quite impressed.  It fits school size and has most of the majors you asked about.  Trine University has Chemical Engineering and an excellent job placement rate.  Not all departments are "conservative" but engineering is great there.

Yeah, we have (conservative) friends whose daughter is there (in engineering).  She's been happy there, and my friends have been happy with the school.  Its engineering department is definitely good!

[Woodland_Mom]

We just visited Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Currently, 8,500 students live on campus. They have an engineering program.