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Engineering program gains accreditation

The bachelor’s degree program in engineering at the University of Southern Indiana has received accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the recognized accreditation body for college and university programs in engineering, applied science, computing, and technology.

USI President H. Ray Hoops said the accreditation agency recognized the excellent support from the state and the region for the engineering program. He said, "Perhaps no other program has the ability to have greater impact on a region in terms of economic development than engineering. USI expects this program to have a major effect on the region.”

Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said, “The presence of an accredited engineering program is a powerful recruitment tool and an important program for economic development. It is a pivotal program that draws students. Accreditation also is an imprimatur from an external agency that we are doing a good job. It is the work of the faculty, who know the strength of the program and who have worked so hard, that has brought us here.”

The engineering program is administered by the Pott College of Science and Engineering at USI. Dr. Scott Gordon, dean of the Pott College, said, “Accreditation is a testament to the time, effort, and quality of so many people involved in the USI engineering program. A strong engineering program will produce graduates who will advance the workforce and economic development of the region.”

Eric Sprouls, associate professor of engineering, is chair of the Engineering Department.

The accreditation is retroactive from October 1, 2004. The announcement caps a process that began with a self-study in 2005, graduation of the first class of four-year engineering students in May 2006, and a two-day site visit in October 2006.

With the ABET accreditation, USI now has additional, program-specific accreditation for all degrees for which such a credential is available--an impressive accomplishment for a university.

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