Philadelphia University Receives Rigorous ABET Accreditation for Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering Programs

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Philadelphia University has received accreditation for three engineering programs from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET Inc., which the accrediting association says demonstrates a program's commitment to providing its students with a quality education.

PhilaU received accreditation for all three programs for which it applied: B.S. programs in engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and mechanical engineering.  In addition, any minors within those programs, such as the University's new concentration in composites, will be covered by the accreditation.  

"Achieving accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET is a resounding affirmation of the quality of Philadelphia University's engineering programs," said Ron Kander, executive dean of the College of Design, Engineering and Commerce.  "These engineering programs are young and growing, and ABET accreditation will create opportunities for our graduates ranging from pursuing professional engineering licensure to attending top-notch engineering graduate programs."

Philadelphia University's engineering programs are part of the innovative new College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, which offers a transdisciplinary, integrated curriculum that pushes students to think beyond the boundaries of existing disciplines and focus on market-driven innovation through teamwork, collaboration and industry connections. Students must complete rigorous core requirements for each discipline, as well as a new sequence of integrated courses for all majors.

The ABET accreditation, coupled with the new DEC curriculum, "truly differentiates our engineering graduates in the marketplace," Kander said.  

"Philadelphia University is known for its innovative and demanding educational programs, collaborative opportunities and industry partnerships, and these newly accredited engineering programs offer yet another example of the outstanding educational opportunities on this campus," said President Stephen Spinelli Jr.  "With the strength of their core disciplinary knowledge, combined with the integrated curriculum of the new College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, our engineering students have the best possible platform from which to achieve and fuel the innovations of the future."

David Brookstein, executive dean for university research and former dean of the School of Engineering and Textiles, said, "This is a great achievement. These newly accredited engineering programs build on the University's legacy in textile engineering and respond to the needs of employers for highly educated and trained professionals in these critical fields."

Muthu Govindaraj, professor of engineering, who was instrumental to the accreditation process, said, "The best form of recognition is the one you receive from your peers. The accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET assures us that our academic peers and engineering industry leaders, who have contributed much to improve engineering education through the EAC, have recognized the quality of our programs.  PhilaU's innovative approach to engineering programs is helping to define professional education for the future."

ABET is the recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering and technology.  Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process that requires programs to undergo comprehensive periodic evaluations.  The evaluations, conducted by teams of volunteer professionals working in industry, government, academe and private practice within the ABET disciplines, focus on curricula, faculty, facilities, institutional support and other important areas.  

ABET accreditation requires programs to continuously improve the quality of education provided.  As part of this continuous improvement requirement, programs set specific, measurable goals for their students and graduates, assess their success at reaching those goals, and improve their programs based on the results of their assessment.  

Accreditation also helps students and their parents choose quality college programs, enables employers and graduate schools to recruit graduates they know are well-prepared, and is used by registration, licensure and certification boards to screen applicants.

ABET is a not-for-profit organization, owned and operated by its more than 25 professional and technical member societies. For more information, go to www.abet.org.

Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a private university with 3,500 students enrolled in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs.  As the model for professional university education, the University prepares students to be leaders in their professions in an active, collaborative and real-world learning environment infused with the liberal arts.  Philadelphia University includes the innovative College of Design, Engineering and Commerce; the College of Architecture and the Built Environment; and the College of Science, Health and the Liberal Arts.  For more information, go to www.PhilaU.edu.

SOURCE Philadelphia University