By: Megan Williams / Photos Courtesy: Randolph College
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mechanical engineering jobs are expected to increase by 11 percent by 2030—a rate much faster than the average.
Mechanical engineers are responsible for designing power-producing machines—from internal combustion engines to refrigeration systems. With the ever-growing use of computer systems, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI), mechanical engineers are requiring even more specialized education to meet the demand of such technology-centric tasks.
In the Lynchburg region, manufacturing is a primary industry, including IT, engineering, and emerging tech; materials and machinery manufacturing; transportation and autonomy manufacturing; and life sciences and biotechnology, and that footprint is only expected to grow alongside the nation’s demand for qualified engineers.
Randolph College has met that demand head-on by creating a new Robotics and Mechatronics engineering program, which launched this fall semester.
An interdisciplinary branch of engineering, mechatronics involves mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. Robotics is a subset of that offering and focuses on applied systems to design, build, and operate smart machines.
“With manufacturing engineering, tasks have to happen in a certain order—kitchen cabinet assembly, cell phone assembly, or making beer cans, for example, all of which is manufacturing that’s done in Lynchburg,” explained Peter Sheldon, a Charles A. Dana Professor and Chair of Physics and Engineering at Randolph College.
“We are training manufacturing engineers but, more than that, we are training mechanical engineers. Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary major where we are training students for all types of jobs. The impetus of this program was manufacturing, but they can really become any sort of engineer.”
Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, Randolph College is offering a Bachelor of Science Degree in Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, a Minor in Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, and a FANUC Robotics Certification.
The program boasts hands-on experience with actual robots from day one and professors who work closely with students to create experiences that fit their vision.
That hands-on experience is thanks, in large part, to a GO Virginia grant the college received, which enabled them to purchase $340,000 worth of equipment for their lab. GO Virginia is a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries.
In addition to GO Virginia’s financial support, matching funds are used for faculty and staff—Sheldon reported the addition of two professors to the program—additional equipment, community engagement and outreach, and recruiting prospective students into the program.
“Engineering programs are expensive because they are so equipment intensive,” Sheldon said. “GO Virginia is helping fund the equipment for the program, so now we can get the equipment that students should be learning on and getting the necessary experience for the manufacturing industry.”
Sheldon explained that Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) also played a large role in the creation of this new program.
“I have to give credit to CVCC,” he said. “They already offer mechatronics. I don’t think this program would have flown if CVCC didn’t also offer mechatronics and didn’t loan us some of their equipment. They are also sending students to us after they complete their Associates at CVCC.”
Sheldon explained that GO Virginia-funded equipment as well as equipment on loan from CVCC has helped fill the college’s machine shop, with everything from CNC mills to robotic arms available for students to learn on.
“We are also purchasing a universal testing machine,” Sheldon said. “One of the things our engineers specialize in is material science and the universal testing machine will allow us to test material strength.”
In addition to the CVCC partnership, Randolph College is looking to partnerships with local businesses and organizations to bolster the program. They are actively working with local employers such as Framatome and BWX Technologies to develop robust internship programs. They are also working with local nonprofit Vector Space to connect with high school students who may have interest in the program.
“Vector Space is starting a new FRC Robotics team and we are partnering with them on it,” Sheldon said.
FRC (which stands for FIRST Robotics Competition) Robotics is a competitive robotics program for high school students designed to give them hands-on experience in engineering and programming. Students work in teams to design and build robots that compete in regional and national competitions.
While the Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering program is still in its infancy, Sheldon is already seeing incredible engagement among the program’s students.
“I asked students who wanted to come to the FRC launch event and six students raised their hands,” he said. “That’s what you need—you need students who are engaged. We are looking for students who have grit and who have resilience, and students who are curious and want to be engaged.”
The program’s primary objectives over the next five to ten years are simple but steadfast: Twenty to forty students in the program per year, significant partnerships within the industry, a robust internship program with 100 percent of students placed in an internship, and to equip a lab that is as good as any lab at a larger college or university.
