Changing, Innovating And Recreating The World Of Science At UCA
During UCA’s Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the exciting announcement of the creation of the College of Science and Engineering (COSE) was made.
The college also announced the expansion of its Department of Physics and Astronomy to the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Engineering. Additional departments in the college include: Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science and Engineering, Geography, and Mathematics.
These new upgrades are in response to the university’s most recent ABET accreditation for the engineering physics program. ABET accredits college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. These accreditations and the creation of the college were decades in the making, showing that the university and COSE are working together to meet the need for innovative schools and career paths for UCA’s students – now and in the future.
In 2002, as the associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and chair of the physics and astronomy department, Stephen Addison – now the dean of COSE – began considering the types of programs the college would need in the future.
Addison reflected, “One of the things I was thinking about was what sort of programs we would need to develop so that the university met the needs not just of 2002 but of the future. So, I had those discussions with several people and recognized opportunities in and around physics and data science that could be developed. I compiled a list of programs and recognized that data science would be important.”
He continued, “In future years, I also recognized that engineering programs would be of interest. I saw that many areas didn’t involve single departments. Still, there were many opportunities between departments and opportunities at the university to bring in new things. So it was a recognition of opportunities, not just from me, but through discussions with many other people, particularly the department chairs.”
Then, in collaboration with the physics and computer science departments, exploring new possibilities and programs began in 2012. Engineering became a big focus for both departments. “There are lots of what I like to call ‘engineering adjacent fields,’” explained Addison, “so it is possible to develop those degree programs in both departments because it’s not just a College of Engineering. It is a college of Science and Engineering.” Once the goals were identified came the rigor of earning ABET accreditation.
ABET accreditation is not easily attained, but it is an integral part of ensuring the credentials of engineering program graduates. Accreditation ensures the goals of the programs in question while maintaining timeliness of learning objectives and outcomes. It also reviews any changes made to the program to ensure they align with the objectives previously set by the college.
“It is a very rigorous process,” said Addison. “You have to design a continuous improvement plan for your programs, and that plan has to show how everything is tied to the stated goal of those programs. If you change the programs, you must show how they respond to the overall goal. You cannot just add a new course without approval. It is a rigorous process to ensure that you have coherent programs that keep up with the times. It assures that your programs are both relevant and high quality at all times.”
The importance of ABET accreditation looks to the student’s future as they enter their career field. “Having that accreditation is important because if an engineering program is ABET accredited, its graduates can become licensed professional engineers. You may only call yourself an engineer in many states if you’ve graduated from an ABET-accredited program or achieved that licensed professional engineer status. So it’s critically important that such programs be accredited,” Addison stated.
Additionally, ABET also accredited UCA’s computer science and cybersecurity programs. “We are one of 16 apprenticeship programs for a B.S. in cybersecurity,” said Addison. The ABET accreditation in computer science was received in 2006. The university’s cybersecurity program was the first in Arkansas to receive ABET accreditation.
“Our campus works to cultivate a culture of innovation and ensure programmatic distinction. This ABET accreditation is a testament to our faculty and staff and the overall excellence in the College of Science and Engineering,” said UCA President Houston Davis.
The COSE’s creation made sense to ensure students know that engineering is here in central Arkansas and that COSE is always looking ahead for students in central Arkansas and beyond. Addison said, “It’s to say that we have engineering. It makes it visible and also says that it is intentional. For our students, it means that they can see UCA continues to offer programs and develop new programs that will be in the future.”
“The goal is to contribute to our region’s economic development and the state’s economic development and to provide opportunities for people to live and work in Arkansas,” Addison stated.