New Engineering Program to Expand into the Rest of Thurmond Hall

At OBU, students are being prepared to shape the future. Banners say it, students say it, employers say it. But take notice: OBU students are also being prepared to engineer a cutting-edge future. 

The OBU engineering program began in the fall of 2023 with 37 students, more than three times the original goal. This fall, around 30 new students were added to the electrical and mechanical engineering programs as the semester began. 

“It is so exciting and encouraging to see God at work in our new engineering program,” said Dr. Chuck Baukal, director of the program.  

 It was initially determined that engineering would be based on the first floor of Thurmond Hall and then gradually expand. However, the overwhelming success created an immediate need for the renovations of the second and third floors. 

OBU is committed to converting the remainder of Thurmond Hall into cutting-edge classrooms and state-of-the-art laboratories tailored to the needs of the quickly growing engineering program. Plans are to begin the demolition and construction process in January of 2025.  

Why the rapid growth of the new program? Dynamics and demand.  

Baukal emphasizes that small class sizes and dedicated faculty possessing real industry experience allow students to learn directly from experts who know the field inside and out.  

“Whether students choose mechanical or electrical engineering, our engineering degrees equip them with the skills and knowledge to excel in any industry that requires these disciplines,” he said. “Their minds are challenged as they work with equipment and technology that at other universities are only used by graduate students. But at OBU, this equipment is used by our undergraduate engineering students. We have state-of-the-art classrooms with features such as video boards with 4K resolution, 3D printers and laser cutters.”  

Those are the dynamics of the program. Add to that the demand for quality, workforce-ready engineers and the fast program growth is easily understood. 

OBU’s program is built on connections to industry partners like Ace Thermal, Airgas, Boeing, CEC Engineering, Georg Fischer, Kratos Defense, Northrup Grumman, Olifant Energy II, ONEOK, Schlumberger, Tinker (U.S. Air Force), United Dynamics, Williams and Zeeco. 

“Students won’t just be studying theory; they’ll have the opportunity to work on real-world projects that make a difference,” he said. “Our hands-on approach to engineering education means they’ll graduate not only with a degree, but with practical experience that employers value.” 

The team OBU has assembled is that of industry partners, faculty and advisors committed to ensuring that students are educated on the actual operations of the engineering industry. 

“At OBU we offer them the opportunity to study engineering in a Christian environment that balances theory and application,” Baukal said. “Investing in Thurmond Hall is an opportunity to invest in the students who are set to engineer a very impressive future.”