Purdue Calumet gains approval to offer civil engineering, 3 other engineering degrees

Proposals to initiate bachelor of science degrees in civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer engineering were approved Friday (6/9) by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE). 

The civil engineering degree is being introduced in response to a need for engineers to address northwest Indiana transportation and environmental issues.

''Two of the biggest issues facing northwest Indiana are the transportation infrastructure as a major transportation hub between Chicago/the Midwest and the northeastern United States, as well as the many environmental problems within our region,'' Purdue Calumet Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nabil Ibrahim said.

Added Ron Hunter, chief executive officer of Hammond-based Superior Engineering LLC and chair of Purdue Calumet's Engineering Advisory Committee, ''I cannot remember a time during my 42 years as a consulting engineer when qualified degreed engineers and other technical staff were in such short supply. This seems especially true for registered professional civil/structural engineers.''

The new, individual degrees in electrical, mechanical and computing engineering, according to Ibrahim, represent a necessary change from Purdue Calumet's current, more general bachelor of science in Engineering program that offered study options in the aforementioned disciplines.

''The need for specialization from the more general B.S. in engineering degree has occurred as engineering as a discipline has become more specialized, as the quality of our faculty has improved and as the needs of northwest Indiana have become more demanding,'' he said. ''Our new administrative structure in engineering reflects this move toward greater specialization.''

Chenn Zhou, head of Purdue Calumet's Department of Mechanical Engineering, interim head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering, said the restructuring ''will provide excellent, new learning opportunities for our students and enable the university to increase and strengthen partnerships with business and industry.''

The four new degree programs are fully articulated with the Associate of Science in Pre-Engineering recently approved at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.

''The resulting articulation agreement will have long-lasting impact on students throughout Indiana and especially Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana students in northwest Indiana,'' Ivy Tech Dean of Academic Affairs Debbie Halik said. ''Now that Purdue Calumet has these added programs, Ivy Tech students will have a much wider choice of options after they receive their associate degree. This is an example of how institutions of higher education, by working together, can make strides in improving educational opportunities for everyone.''

Advancement of Purdue Calumet's four new degrees previously received approval from the Purdue Board of Trustees. All four programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

CONTACT: Wes Lukoshus, Campus: 219-989-2217, Other: 219-746-0440

SOURCE:Chenn Zhou, Campus: 219-989-2472