A Brief History of the program

Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) Program

Former program title, Electrical and Information Engineering Technology Program was established in Fall 2002 as an update from previous electromechanical systems program (EMS) in the Department of Industrial Technology. In the 1960s, the Industrial Technology Department established two traditional Industrial Technology programs in Automotive Technology and Electronics Technology. In 1980, these programs were combined into a single program called the Energy and Power Technology program. This change was the result of extensive study of the needs of local industry and of extensive interviews with students and the faculty of other academic programs. The notion of this Energy and Power program was that all applications of technology to industry involved a study of electrical, mechanical, fluid, and thermal power and that a program specializing in the study of these four areas provided a good background for students planning to work in any area of industry. In 1988, after an extensive study of the needs of local and regional industry, the program was renamed as the Electro-Mechanical Systems Program and the degree designation was changed from Bachelor of Technology to Bachelor of Science. The major change for the EMS was the addition of more basic math and science courses designed to add more depth to the students’ academic preparation.

The former EMS program experienced serious enrollment problems in late 1990s and based on student surveys, industrial advisory board recommendations, faculty members’ suggestions, and the trends in industry, the program was reengineered as a new major as EIET. The new EIET curriculum was approved by departmental, college, and university curriculum committees during 1998-2000 academic years and after a final approval from Board of Regents of Iowa, the program officially began in Fall 2002. The EIET program is now Iowa’s first and only four year engineering technology program offering a BS degree in a state-supported institution. A number of Iowa Community College graduates with AAS degrees can transfer to UNI EIET program using many of their already earned credits due to an articulation agreement between their college and the department of Industrial technology. The EIET program is one of the non-teaching majors in the Department of Industrial Technology in the College of Natural Sciences. The Program has an excellent support from two local major companies; John Deere Waterloo Works, and Rockwell Collins, Inc.

The last program review in 2001 indicated that low enrollment required an update as well a major revision in the program that lead to the EIET program development. Recommendations were listed as follows:

• continue review of program goals, and mission in light of a new program orientation
• conduct a needs-study for the new program
• conduct a follow up study for program graduates
• seek accreditation for new program
• curriculum revisions should be supported by college and university

Program goals and mission in light of a new program were developed. A major survey for the last 15 years of graduates were completed and there was a consensus to update the program in more depth in electrical engineering technology areas. An ABET (Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology) accreditation application is being filed while this report was prepared. Curriculum revisions have been supported by college and university since the EIET program was established in 2002. The most recent curriculum revision also included an MS in Technology with Electrical Engineering Technology to be started in Fall 2008 and this was approved in department, college, and university curriculum committees.

Beginning April 2009, our new program title is approved by State of Iowa, Board of regents as Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) at the University of Northern Iowa.