The Order of the Engineer
Students that have completed an engineering program are welcome to join the Order of the Engineer.
Every fall and spring semester we invite graduating seniors to take part in a special ceremony where they can join the Order by taking an oath and accepting a stainless steel ring which they wear on the little finger of their working hand.
Each engineering department is plans a special online or in person ceremony for their graduates that want to become members. Watch your UMD email from Engineering departments for departmental ceremony information.Â
Contact the Swenson College Dean's Office with questions at 218-726-7804 or [email protected].
Membership Details
This group got started in the U.S. in 1970 to foster a spirit of pride and responsibility in the engineering profession, to bridge the gap between training and experience, and to present to the public a visible symbol identifying the engineer.
Ceremonies are typically held at the end of fall and spring semesters where graduating students can join the Order by taking an oath. Once they've accepted the Obligation of the Engineer they are presented with a stainless steel ring to wear on the little finger of the working hand. The Obligation is a creed similar to the oath generally taken by medical graduates which sets forth an ethical code. Initiates, as they voluntarily accept the obligation, pledge to uphold the standards and dignity of the engineering profession and to serve humanity by making the best use of Earth's precious wealth.
The Order is not a membership organization. There are never any meetings to attend or dues to pay. Instead, the Order does foster a unity of purpose and honoring of one's pledge lifelong. UMD was the first university in Minnesota to have initiation of its graduating engineers on campus. The initiation is held at the end of each term. All graduating engineering students are invited to join the Order of the Engineer. There is a small, one-time only initiation fee for the paper work and the special ring.