MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
A new tradition: Iron pin ceremony welcomes first-year engineering students into program

By Jackey Locke

The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science held its first iron pin ceremony recently.

The ceremony formally welcomes first-year students into the engineering community and encourages them to think about the values that are fundamental to the profession: responsibility to the common good; public safety and the environment; honour and trustworthiness; and inclusivity and respectfulness.

Each student receives an iron pin to wear on their lapel at their discretion.

Welcome to the community

"We want the students to feel part of the engineering community, to feel welcome at the beginning of their program," said Dr. Dennis Peters, associate dean, undergraduate studies, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. "The faculty is committed to providing its students with the best teaching and learning experience and the iron pin ceremony formally recognizes that commitment."

Traditionally, students could enter into the engineering program by completing courses as a Faculty of Science student and once all first-year engineering courses were completed they could transition into the engineering program. In 2017 the admission process changed.

Currently, the only way into the engineering program is through Engineering One, the first year of the program. The new admission process provides the faculty with an opportunity to engage all engineering students at the start of the program.

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