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Session 1347

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS AT MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY

Mike Kemp, Steve Schneiderman Murray State University, Kentucky

Introduction

Traditionally, engineering technology programs stressed hands-on, applied engineering fundamentals used in manufacturing, production, electronics, electrical power, and construction. Environmental engineering technology historically concentrated on two-year programs for water and wastewater treatment plant operations. Environmental issues and solutions have become increasingly diverse, complex, and multidisciplinary over the past 15 years. The separation of several environmental engineering programs from civil engineering has also led to the development of four-year environmental engineering technology programs leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. In Who’s Who in Environmental Engineering (AAEE, 1997), 16 schools were listed as having ABET accredited environmental engineering or related programs, and 5 schools were listed as having accredited environmental engineering options within the civil engineering programs. Only three environmental engineering technology programs were listed as being accredited, and since publication, two of the three technology programs have converted to engineering programs. Murray State University (MSU) offers the remaining accredited environmental engineering technology program.

Unfortunately, some potential employers, some state registration boards, and other schools often share the views editorialized by Dr. William Rezak (Rezak, 1997); graduates of four-year engineering technology programs must compete with engineering graduates for the same jobs and job titles but have insufficient education. The bachelor’s degree in engineering technology is not widely recognized or appreciated, and continual justification of the adequacy of the program is necessary. Although the Commonwealth of Kentucky does not allow engineering technology graduates to become registered as professional engineers, several MSU graduates have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering examination in other states and some have gone on to become registered engineers. Regionally, MSU environmental engineering technology graduates are highly sought by manufacturing companies, chemical plants, municipalities, and environmental management consultants.

The graduate employment survey and academic program comparisons described in this paper were conducted to address the following questions:

1. In what positions do environmental engineering technology graduates work? 2. What salary levels are typical? 3. What is the level of job satisfaction from both the employer and employee viewpoints? 4. How does the course content compare between environmental engineering, civil engineering,

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Kemp, M., & Schneiderman, S. S. (1998, June), Environmental Engineering Technology Getting Down To Business At Murray State University Paper presented at 1998 Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/1-2--7104