Peter Salter and his wife, Nancy, made a $1.5 million gift to the College of Engineering for a new biomedical device lab and course development. Starting next spring, third-year students will conduct hands-on design, including construction of medical devices, in a purpose-built makerspace.

The Salters' gift furthers the college’s emphasis on collaborative, experiential learning, allowing students to work together in a laboratory environment and to learn by doing. 

Currently, all engineering undergraduates design and test solar ovens as freshmen and complete ambitious design projects as seniors. Sophomores studying biomedical engineering build machines to sort Skittles candies by color. The new class bridges the gap, creating a four-year design experience.