MATE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY

In 1958, the School of Engineering produced a plan for additional majors. Richard C. (R.C.) Wiley, who was running the engineering weld shop, was asked by the dean to put together a metallurgy department. Despite lacking money and space, Wiley was able to start the department out of the weld shop and put together a proposal for the new major that was approved by Cal Poly. He scraped together additional funds and began hiring professors, and was able to get the department up and running. The first class graduated in 1962 and included only 12 students. Over the years, the department has grown larger while keeping its culture of fostering close relationships between faculty and students. ■

— Trevor Harding, MATE Department Chair