The Kansas Board of Regents approved Engineering Technology as the newest department in Wichita State University's College of Engineering this month.

College of Engineering Dean Royce Bowden said the addition of the new department is part of the college's ongoing effort to help grow the Kansas economy by placing more engineering and computing talent into the workforce.

“The engineering technology faculty and staff have worked hard to expand the program into a premier department, and I am very proud of their achievement,” said Bowden.

The College of Engineering first began offering a B.S. degree in engineering technology in 2013.  Starting with 14 students, the program now has over 140 enrolled students with 54 graduates. The faculty earned ABET accreditation for the degree program in 2016, and the program offers four degree concentrations: cybersecurity, engineering management, mechatronics and civil engineering.

“Achieving department status is tremendously significant and gives our rapidly expanding program and our exceptional students and faculty a sense of community that will help students persist to graduation,” said Gary Brooking, director of the engineering technology program.

Cybersecurity, the newest four-year degree concentration, includes hands-on learning in a state-of-the-art cyber-range laboratory in partnership with electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) faculty. The undergraduate program complements the EECS Graduate Certificate in information assurance and cybersecurity. 

“We expect Wichita State University to become certified as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense,” said Brooking. “The certification is jointly sponsored by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.”

Members of the faculty have nominated Brooking to serve as the inaugural department chair of the newly established department. 

“Gary is an exceptional leader as evidenced by the progress achieved within the engineering technology program,” Bowden said. “I enthusiastically endorse his selection as the inaugural department chair.”

The Department of Engineering Technology's growth plan includes the introduction of a number of undergraduate certificates that students can stack together to tailor a four-year degree. The department expects to add two faculty members during the 2018/2019 academic year to serve the growing student enrollment.

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