2008 Winter - University Of Southern Indiana

Engineering program gains accreditationThe bachelor’s degree program in engineering at theUniversity of Southern Indiana has received accreditation fromthe Engineering Accreditation Commissionof the Accreditation Board for Engineeringand Technology (ABET), the recognizedaccreditation body for college and universityprograms in engineering, applied science,computing, and technology.USI President H. Ray Hoops said theaccreditation agency recognized the excellentsupport from the state and the regionfor the engineering program. He said,“Perhaps no other program has the abilityto have greater impact on a region interms of economic development than engineering.USI expects this program to havea major effect on the region.”Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett, provost andvice president for Academic Affairs, said,“The presence of an accredited engineeringprogram is a powerful recruitment tool and an importantprogram for economic development. It is a pivotal program thatdraws students. Accreditation also is animprimatur from an external agency thatwe are doing a good job. It is the work ofthe faculty, who know the strength of theprogram and who have worked so hard,that has brought us here.”The engineering program is administeredby the Pott College of Science andEngineering at USI. Dr. Scott Gordon isdean of the Pott College. Eric Sprouls,associate professor of engineering, is chairof the Engineering Department.The accreditation is retroactive fromOctober 1, 2004. The announcement capsa process that began with a self-study in2005, graduation of the first class of fouryearengineering students in May 2006,and a two-day site visit in October 2006.Accreditation affirms the quality of theUSI engineering program.Trustees approve new doctoral and undergraduate degree programsA doctoral-level academic programand a new undergraduate degree programreceived approval at the University ofSouthern Indiana Board of Trusteesmeeting in September. The newdegrees, expected to be implemented in2008, are a Doctor of Nursing Practice(DNP) and a Bachelor of Science inAdvanced Manufacturing.The proposed DNP program wouldserve Master of Science in Nursing(MSN) graduates who are currentlypracticing as nurse educators, nursepractitioners, or nurse administrators.The DNP is an alternative to researchfocuseddoctorates in nursing and iscomparable to practice doctorates inpharmacy and physical therapy.Dr. Nadine Coudret, dean ofthe College of Nursing and HealthProfessions, said the college learned ofinterest and support for the establishmentof a clinical nursing practice doctoratethrough a survey. The 2007President’s Task Force on Workforceand Economic Development supportedthe need for clinical nursing and otherhealth-related programs. The doctoratewill support the education, social, andeconomic growth of southern Indianaby providing expert nurse clinicians,educators, and administrators. The programis offered at 45 universities nationallyand at Purdue University in Indiana.The program will be offeredthrough a hybrid approach to coursedelivery using online learning technologywith on-campus intensives.The DNP program would beginwith 20 students and would be availableto full-time and part-time students.The proposal will be submitted to theIndiana Commission for HigherEducation for approval and first coursescould be implemented in fall 2008.Students seeking admission to theprogram must have completed anM.S.N. degree to be eligible to enroll.The curriculum will build on the currentMSN program.The program in advanced manufacturingevolved from IndianaCommission for Higher Education recommendations.In 2002 the commissionendorsed the agreement betweenPurdue University and USI for deliveryof engineering education alternatives inthe southern part of the state and recommendedthe consolidation of existingUSI engineering technology offeringsinto a Bachelor of Science in manufacturingtechnology.The program will provide skilledbaccalaureate-degreed technologists forthe advanced manufacturing industry.It also will support regional businessand industry in workforce developmentand training by providing professionaldevelopment and certificate-trainingopportunities. The expected implementationdate is spring 2008.December 20072University of Southern Indiana