SPSU Schools Undergo Big Changes for 2012

has added a fifth school to its academic structure this week by elevating the home of its engineering programs from Division of Engineering to School of Engineering.

Nearly one in five SPSU students major in engineering, close to 1,100 students who generate more than 20 percent of the credit hours at the institution, according to a news release.

Dr. Thomas R. Currin, the dean of the new school, describes the change in status as the next logical step in the development of SPSU’s engineering programs, according to the release.

“Our Construction Engineering program recently became the first SPSU engineering program to be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology," said Dr. Zvi Szafran, vice president for Academic Affairs at SPSU, in the release. "We’ll be seeking accreditation for the mechatronics engineering programs this spring.”

The School of Engineering will establish three departments:

• Civil & Construction Engineering, which will serve students in the bachelor’s programs in civil engineering and construction engineering;

• Electrical & Mechatronics Engineering, which will serve students in the bachelor’s programs in electrical engineering and mechatronics engineering; and

• Mechanical & Systems Engineering, which will serve students in the bachelor’s programs in mechanical engineering and systems engineering and the master’s in systems engineering.

The Civil Engineering Technology program is now part of the School of Engineering Technology and Management. The former School of Architecture, Civil Engineering Technology and Construction Management will be known as the School of Architecture and Construction Management.

SPSU’s other schools are the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Computing and Software Engineering.