黑洞社区鈥檚 Engineering Technology program, a part of the College of Engineering, received initial accreditation from the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, .
The program was launched in 2012 to offer a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) degree through a hands-on program. It鈥檚 based on engineering technology fundamentals and principles, instrumentation, mathematics, science and practical design principles needed to equip students for employment or further education.
The program offers emphasis in the areas of engineering technology management, mechatronics technology and renewable energy technology.
Royce Bowden, dean of the College of Engineering, says the accreditation establishes the standard for engineering technology programs.
The program started with 14 students in fall 2012 and has seen more than 20 students complete the degree program while overall enrollment is approaching 100 students.
Graduates are now working as energy engineers, engineering technologists, first level managers, project managers and tooling engineers. Students are supported by co-op, internship and employment opportunities through companies such as Cargill, Knipp Services, Koch Industries, Kroger, Quality Solutions Inc., Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation and Westar Energy.
The program continues to grow alongside the College of Engineering, which hit the highest undergraduate enrollment in its history at 2,176 students.
ABET accredits more than 3,500 programs at universities and colleges, assuring that they meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields and anticipate the welfare and safety needs of the public.
鈥淲e owe this success to the dedication of students, faculty members, advisory board members and the support we have received from the university,鈥� said Deepak Gupta, Engineering Technology program director.