Herff College of Engineering
Herff History Timeline
60s
The 60's
- Feb. 7, 1964- Memphis State University is authorized to accept a gift of $100,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Herff to start a master’s degree program in engineering Science.
- Fall 1964- Engineering courses begin at Memphis State University.
- 1964-1969- Dr. Frederic Kellogg serves as dean.
- 1964- E.C. Ball Hall, first home for engineering courses, is constructed.
- May 1965- State Board approves an undergraduate engineering program.
- 1965- Name is changed to the Herff School of Engineering and later becomes the Herff College of Engineering in 1968.
- 1967- Chao Wathabhanieh of Thailand is the first to receive an engineering degree.
70s
The 70's
- 1970- New engineering building is completed.
- 1970- Enrollment is 351 undergraduate and 76 graduate.
- 1971- The civil engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering technology and manufacturing engineering technology undergraduate programs are first accredited.
- 1971- The College moves into its three-building, $6.5 million complex on Central Avenue.
- 1973- Mechanical engineering undergraduate program is first accredited.
- 1977- Engineering technology is first accredited.
80s
The 80's
- Fall 1988- Enrollment explodes to 1,406 undergraduate and 158 graduate.
- September 1987- The PhD program is inaugurated.
- 1988- Biomedical engineering department is established.
90s
The 90's
- May 1990- First doctoral degree is awarded.
- 1992- Ground Water Institute is established.
- July 1996- Joint graduate program in biomedical engineering is established between the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
- 1997- The first biomedical engineering PhD is awarded to Amy DeJongh Curry.
- June 1999- BS in computer engineering is approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
2000s
The 2000's
- July 2005- PhD in computer engineering is approved.
- 2005- Center for Advanced Sensors is established.
- 2007- Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute is established.
- 2009- Undergraduate programs for computer engineering and biomedical engineering are accredited.