Can Engineering And Engineering Technology Programs Reside Within The Same Department?
- Conference
- Location
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Chicago, Illinois
- Publication Date
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June 18, 2006
- Start Date
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June 18, 2006
- End Date
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June 21, 2006
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Engineering Technology
- Page Count
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10
- Page Numbers
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11.304.1 - 11.304.10
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--450
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/450
- Download Count
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808
Paper Authors
Tim Brower Oregon Institute of Technology
TIM L. BROWER is an associate professor and department chair in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering and Technology at Oregon Institute of Technology. He received his BS in General Engineering at Idaho State University, MS in Mechanical Engineering from Montana State University and PhD in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University. Before teaching at OIT seven years ago, he worked as an aerospace engineer with the Lockheed Martin Corporation in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Brower is the Associate Director of Oregon Space Grant and Affiliate Director for Project Lead The Way - Oregon. He is an active member of ASEE, ASME and AIAA. Representing ASME, Dr. Brower has served as a program evaluator for ABET for the past three years.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Can Engineering and Engineering Technology Programs Reside within the same Department?
Abstract
According to the October 2005 listing of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, there are 272 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and 72 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology accredited programs located throughout the United States. Of those, 40 reside within the same institution. An examination of these 40 institutions reveals that the BSME and BSMET programs seldom reside within the same department. In fact, some reside in different schools or colleges within the same institution. This paper will address some of the myths and biases surrounding engineering and engineering technology and explore a model that could enhance a more collaborative relationship between faculty of engineering and engineering technology programs.
In September 2005 Oregon Institute of Technology launched a new BSME program that complemented its mature BSMET program, first accredited in 1970. Both programs reside in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering and Technology. A discussion of the evolution of this relationship and its many positive attributes is presented along with a thorough description of the differences and similarities between these two programs.
The discussion within this paper centers specifically on BSME and BSMET programs. However, the issues and conclusions can extend to all similarly titled engineering and engineering technology programs.
I. Introduction
Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) is the only public institute of technology in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1947, OIT is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, and is part of the Oregon University System. All engineering technology (ET) programs (mechanical, manufacturing, electrical, and computer engineering technology) at OIT are 4-year Bachelor of Science programs and are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission1 (TAC) of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). One of OIT’s engineering programs, civil engineering, is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission2 (EAC) of ABET. The newest program, mechanical engineering, was introduced in the fall 2005 and must wait for its first graduate in 2007 before applying to EAC of ABET for accreditation.
Although conclusions are not drawn from this fact, OIT’s administrative structure is somewhat unique in that there are no school deans. Administrative governance is derived from the institution’s president, provost, associate provost, and finally department chairs. Department chairs are volunteer faculty members within the various departments that fill a three year term with half release time.
Brower, T. (2006, June), Can Engineering And Engineering Technology Programs Reside Within The Same Department? Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--450
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