Facilities & Resources
The Engineering Center at Carthage College
Brand new in Fall 2023, the Engineering Center at Carthage College is located in Lentz Hall. Phase I opened in August 2023. Phase II will provide additional meeting space, teaching labs, flexible research space, and more. Now open:
Engineering Learning Commons
This central community hub provides a space for students to meet informally with peers, receive tutoring, hold club meetings, and conduct group work. The Engineering Learning Commons also provides a place for presentations and talks by guest speakers, and networking events with industry partners and other visitors.
Design Studios
The Engineering Center has two design studios to house all design-build-test courses. The studios are separated by an accordion wall, so they can hold 48 students together or 24 students each. The studios are located near teaching labs and the Makerspace, so students can work through the engineering design process: understanding needs, ideating ideas, developing and testing prototypes, and constructing final designs. The space will be used to showcase faculty and student work at an end-of-year expo that brings families, alumni, industry partners, and community members to Carthage to see our great engineering work.
Makerspace
The Carthage Makerspace is a campus-community resource with space for digital manufacturing (e.g., laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC routers) as well as space for traditional wood and metal fabrication work. Support staff ensure safe and productive student use as well as provide a space to lead campus-engagement efforts critical to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and thriving making community.
Computing Requirements
Enrollment in Carthage Engineering has a required computing fee of $250 per semester for eight semesters. This computing fee covers the issuance of a laptop computer to each student with specifications appropriate for use of AutoCAD Inventor (System Requirements). Student-issued computers are the responsibility of students with service contracts managed by Carthage College. Following eight semesters, students may choose to purchase their issued laptop for a nominal fee.
Additionally, students may once choose to opt-out of this computing fee. Choosing to opt-out of the computing fee requires students to obtain and maintain their own laptop computer with specifications appropriate for use of AutoCAD Inventor. Computer recommendations follow:
- Operating system: 64-bit Microsoft® Windows® 11 and Windows 10
- CPU recommended: 3.0 GHz or greater, 4 or more cores
- Minimum: 2.5 GHz or greater
- Memory recommended: 32 GB RAM or more
- Disk space: 40 GB
- Graphics: 4 GB GPU with 106 GB/S Bandwidth and DirectX 11 compliant
- Display resolution recommended: 3840 x 2160 (4K)
Software requirements for engineering classes require students to have a computer capable of running the Microsoft® Windows® operating system.