Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's civil, electrical and mechanical engineering programs have been fully accredited by ABET, Inc., the professional organization responsible for accreditation of engineering programs.

"Accreditation demonstrates what we're doing here is high quality and that we are second to none," said Dr. John Reis, engineering department head.

The accreditation is retroactive and covers all of the students who've graduated with engineering degrees since the inception of the programs. "All those students now have accredited degrees," he said.

The department began offering bachelor's degrees in the fall of 2001. Western has been working toward accreditation since February 2001 when the Council on Postsecondary Education approved joint engineering programs with the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

"Completing the accreditation process was the next critical step in building a nationally competitive engineering program," WKU President Gary Ransdell said. "With this step behind us, we can now recruit a new cadre of students and seek new private and public support and ensure that these engineering disciplines have an optimum impact on the economy of this region of Kentucky. My congratulations are extended to the faculty for a job well done."

Dr. Reis also commended the department's faculty members. "This is a tribute to the dedication and commitment of our faculty to the students," he said. "The accreditation process is a lot of hard work. I give the faculty the credit for the efforts that led to this."

The accreditation team visited campus in November 2004.

"Accreditation of engineering programs is one of the standards of quality," he said. "All accredited programs have to meet a certain level of requirements. We have satisfied those requirements."

Western's engineering program has a philosophy of project-based learning where faculty members engage students in hands-on experience. Students are involved with numerous competitions, such as concrete canoe, steel bridge and robotics, as well as projects for area industries.

"What accreditation means is that our students are now eligible to attend graduate school and to continue the process of getting their engineering license," Dr. Reis said. "Accreditation says that we're a quality program to stand among any other program in the world."

Private support from area industries has been vital as the engineering programs have moved toward accreditation, Dr. Reis said. And he expects area businesses and industries to continue their support and to hire more Western graduates.

"We're here to support regional industry and to enhance economic development," Dr. Reis said. "Now we have external validation attesting to the quality of our programs."

ABET, Inc., which was established in 1932, is the recognized U.S. accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering and technology. Accreditation ensures the quality of the postsecondary education students receive. For more on ABET, visit www.abet.org

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Dr. John Reis at (270) 745-2461.