Grambling, La. – February 22, 2022 – After the accreditation of two of its three concentrations was recently reaffirmed, Grambling State University’s Department of Engineering Technology is looking to build toward a better future for both its students, graduates, and department.
During the Fall 2021 semester, the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ETAC/ABET) officially reaffirmed accreditation for GSU’s concentrations in Drafting and Design Engineering Technology and Electronics Engineering Technology.
“Program accreditations are reaffirmed by ETCA/ABET every seven years, and the process of reaffirming them is lengthy,” said Dr. Edwin Thomas, interim department head and associate professor for GSU’s Department of Engineering Technology. “We start a self-study a year in advance of an accreditation board team visiting the campus. Then the evaluation team visits within three or four months of the date they receive the self-study and lets the program know whether or not it meets its accreditation criteria.”
According to Dr. Thomas, the Drafting and Design Engineering Technology (DDET) Program’s mission is to provide GSU graduates with the knowledge they need to help be able to meet the drafting design technology manpower needs of the state of Louisiana and the nation. This is accomplished by producing graduates that possess the skills and knowledge that are necessary to be productive practicing drafting and design engineering technologists.
The Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) Program is focused on preparing individuals for a wide variety of educational and responsible positions in schools, industry, business, and governmental agencies. In addition, it equips the student with a broad theoretical and practical background to meet the new and demanding problems of our technological society.
Thomas said his department is currently in the process of preparing for the accreditation of its Construction Engineering Technology Program. That program is concerned with preparing individuals for a wide variety of educational and responsible positions in schools, industry, business, and governmental agencies. In addition, it aims to equip students with a broad theoretical and practical background to meet the new and demanding problems of today’s technological-based society.
“The state Board of Regents mandates all programs that have accrediting bodies be accredited,” Thomas said. “The accreditation is crucial because it shows we meet the same standards as every other engineering technology program in the country.”
GSU’s Department of Engineering Technology is also looking toward the future and hopes to add a concentration in Computer Engineering Technology.
“It’s no secret that drones are being used more and more in all kinds of ways, so we believe that will continue being a growing field in the future,” Thomas said. “And with all the talk these days about cybersecurity, we’re considering a concentration that could help provide GSU graduates with the know-how to set up network systems and keep them safe.”
Dr. Thomas noted that the department is investigating opportunities with the Environmental Protection Agency, National Telecommunications agencies, and entities with increasing attention on broadband infrastructure.