Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has received support from Cummins Inc., including a Cummins ISB 6.7L engine, further strengthening the long-standing partnership between the two organizations and enhancing hands-on learning opportunities for students.

The engine will serve as a training platform in Rose-Hulman’s Internal Combustion Engines course. Students will use the system for diagnostics, teardown, and rebuild exercises, gaining practical experience with modern engine technologies and systems.

The training module reflects current industry standards and supports instruction in areas such as power cylinder, valve train, fuel systems, and air handling - including exhaust gas recirculation.

“This donation provides our students with direct access to the kinds of systems they will encounter in industry,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “Experiences like this—where students can take apart, analyze, and rebuild real-world systems—are central to how we prepare graduates to contribute on day one.” 

The effort was led by Brett Fathauer, a 1991 mechanical engineering alumnus of Rose-Hulman and longtime Cummins employee, who also serves as chair of the Institute’s Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board. Fathauer will retire from Cummins on April 30, following a distinguished career spanning more than three decades with his most recent role as Executive Director - Research and Engineering.

“Cummins has long been a valued partner of Rose-Hulman, and Brett’s leadership has played an important role in strengthening that relationship,” said Department Head of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Richard Onyancha. “We are grateful for his many contributions to our students and programs.”

The donation was made possible through Cummins’ Equipment for Education (EfE) initiative, part of the company’s global education strategy – Cummins READY™. Introduced in 2024, Cummins READY aims to create equitable pathways to education and career success for individuals around the world, advancing toward its goal of supporting 1 million learners and workers by 2030. The EfE program supports technical and vocational education by providing industry-relevant equipment and opportunities for employee engagement, including mentoring and training support.

In 2025, Cummins piloted EfE donations at select institutions across North America, including Rose-Hulman, helping to bring advanced training equipment directly into educational settings.

“Brett’s leadership and commitment to education have made a meaningful difference at both Cummins and Rose-Hulman,” said Danette Howard, global education director at Cummins. “This work reflects what is possible when Cummins employees bring their expertise and passion to the communities where they live and work. Through EfE, an important part of our Cummins READY strategy, we are helping connect learners to hands-on, industry-relevant experiences that create more equitable pathways to education and career success.”