Future Engineers Commit to Integrity and Public Responsibility

Nearly 100 seniors from the Francis College of Engineering gathered in Alumni Hall recently to take the Order of the Engineer oath, pledging to uphold integrity and public responsibility as they prepare to enter the profession.

Chancellor Julie Chen, who began her academic career in mechanical engineering, told inductees that the meaning of the ceremony may not resonate immediately, but would in time.

“At some point in your career, there will be a time where you have to make a difficult decision,” Chen said. “At that point, I want you to think back to this day where you stood up and you took this oath — the oath of the engineer to make decisions for the public good, to make decisions that you can be proud of, to make decisions that instill humanity.”

The ceremony, which also included several engineering alumni, centers on a public pledge and the presentation of a stainless steel ring worn on the small finger of the working hand — a visible reminder of an engineer’s obligation to society.

Senior computer engineering major Christopher Worthley, president of the university’s chapter of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, led inductees through the pledge.

“The professional purpose of engineering involves the pursuit of a learned art and the spirit of public service,” Worthley said.

Presiding over her first Order of the Engineer ceremony as Francis College dean, Susan Roberts hosted a question-and-answer session with plastics engineering alumna Charlotte Ward ’13, director of engineering and program management at SMC Ltd., a global manufacturer for the medical, diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries.

“Ethics is probably the most important part of my daily job,” said Ward, who, as a student, was among the first cohort of plastics engineering majors to take part in UMass Lowell’s Professional Co-op Program.  

“I don't believe I'd be where I am today without the experience I had at UMass Lowell,” Ward said. “The industry exposure that you get at a university like UMass Lowell really shapes your ability to enter the industry.” 

The evening concluded with a surprise moment when Chen presented Roberts with her own Order of the Engineer ring.

“My best friend from grad school had one of these rings, and I always wanted one,” said Roberts, who earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Cornell. 

Looking out at the students who had just taken the oath, Roberts reflected on what the moment represented.

“Seeing your dedication to the profession, it’s amazing,” she said.