A Historic Day for Engineering Technology

April 28 was an eventful day for Western’s department of engineering technology: in the afternoon, President Vartabedian signed an agreement with the University of Missouri-Kansas City to allow students to receive dual degrees from engineering technology and UMKC’s School of Computing and Engineering. A few hours later, engineering technology held its first awards banquet.

The dual degree agreement is the result of many months of planning by faculty and administrators on both campuses.

“We’re pleased to partner with UMKC’s outstanding engineering program,” President Vartabedian said. “Students who take advantage of this opportunity will have earned two highly coveted and highly marketable degrees in about the same amount of time most students earn one.”

“We are thrilled Missouri Western wants to be a partner with us,” said Dr. Kevin Truman, dean of the UMKC School of Computing and Engineering. “Western has done a fine job of educating individuals, and we want those individuals to come to UMKC. I see this as a bridge to do more collaborative efforts in the future.”

Students in the new program will be eligible to complete two Bachelor of Science degrees in five years. The first three years of study will be completed in engineering technology at Western, with two additional years in engineering at UMKC.

“In late 2009, when Dr. Truman approached me with this idea, I was really thrilled,” said Dr. George Yang, chair of Western’s engineering technology department. “Both institutions share the same mission of serving our communities and industries. We are excited and eager to start to implement this dual degree agreement.”

Engineering technology and engineering are distinct but complementary fields. Engineering technology education is more focused on hands-on applied knowledge and skills, Dr. Yang said, while engineering is more theoretical.

Both programs are accredited by ABET, Inc., the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering and technology. Western’s construction engineering technology and electronics engineering technology are accredited by the ABET’s Technology Accreditation Commission. UMKC’s civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission, while their computer science and information technology programs are accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission.

Both President Vartabedian and Dr. Truman expressed the belief that the dual degree agreement will provide a bridge for more collaborative efforts in the future.

At the awards banquet, Matthew Moffitt, a senior construction engineering technology major from Savannah, Mo., received the Engineering Technology Student Excellence Award, which recognizes a current student for academic excellence, leadership and service. Students must be declared engineering technology majors, have a 3.0 GPA, and participate in at least one applied learning activity such as an internship, practicum, research project or service project. After graduation, Moffitt hopes to become a construction project manager and take on a leadership role in his community.

Eric Bruder, executive vice president and chief operating officer for WireCo WorldGroup, received the Engineering Technology Community Excellence Award, which recognizes a member of the engineering technology industry who has shown outstanding and continuous commitment to advancing the field as well as support for Western’s mission, vision and legacy. Bruder graduated from Western in 1993 with a degree in electronics engineering technology, and later received an MBA from Rockhurst University. His career at WireCo began as an intern while attending Western.

The banquet also recognized recipients of the Beavers Heavy Construction Scholarship, which was established at Western in 2008. Recipients for 2010-2011 were Reid Atha of St. Joseph; Brian Breit of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Anthony Brandt of Koeltztown, Mo.; Mark Diggs of Oregon, Mo.; Kody Kemerling of Fairfax, Mo.; and Moffitt. Recipients for 2011-2012 are Yien Douth of Omaha, Neb.; John Dunlap of Agency, Mo.; Nicole Kerr of Brisbane, Australia; Jeremy Lawing of St. Joseph; and Joseph Mace of Grant City.

Plaques of appreciation were presented to the four industry leaders who created and co-chair the Engineering Technology Advancement Committee: Alan L. Landes of Herzog Contracting Corp.; Ronald H. Auxier of Ellison-Auxier Architects Inc.; Zane Brickey of Lawhon Construction Company; and Ryan Schultz of R/S Electric Construction LLC. They created the committee in 2009 to provide private industry support to the engineering technology department by raising funds for scholarships, equipment and other special needs; providing internship opportunities; making guest speakers available; promoting construction related careers in northwest Missouri; and providing funding and support for Western’s student chapter of the Association of General Contractors.

The banquet was presented by Lockton Companies. Table sponsors included Altec Industries Inc., DCM Contractors LLC, Ellison-Auxier Architects Inc., Herzog Contracting Corp., Idecker Inc., Lawhon Construction Company, Lee Grover Construction Company, Midland Steel Company, R/S Electric Construction LLC, and WireCo WorldGroup. Dean Foods Company and St. Joseph Electric Supply Company also contributed to the event.

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