MTU Mining Engineering Program Earns Rigorous ABET Accreditation

Michigan Technological University’s bachelor’s diploma software in mining engineering has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the world accreditor of faculty and university courses in utilized and normal
science, computing, engineering and engineering technological innovation.

ABET accreditation assures that courses fulfill criteria to deliver graduates all set
to enter crucial technological fields that are foremost the way in innovation and emerging
systems, and anticipating the welfare and safety desires of the public.

Michigan Tech’s mining engineering software is one particular of only 13 these types of diploma courses
throughout the nation to get paid ABET accreditation. In whole, 13 unique ABET-accredited
diploma courses are now presented by the University of Engineering at Michigan Tech.

“ABET accreditation is a significant accomplishment,” claimed Aleksey Smirnov, chair of the Office of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences (GMES). “We have worked challenging to ensure that our software meets the high quality criteria
set by the career. And, since it demands extensive, periodic evaluations,
ABET accreditation demonstrates our continuing determination to the high quality of our software
— both of those now and in the future.”

“This is a recognition by ABET that our college students and the software fulfill the accreditation
criteria,” claimed Leonard Bohmann, Michigan Tech’s affiliate dean of educational affairs in the University of Engineering.
“It alerts to college students that when they come here they will acquire a strong schooling
in mining engineering that has been rigorously reviewed. It informs employers that
they can be confident that our college students have an fantastic schooling in mining engineering.
And, with an ABET accredited diploma, college students can become certified qualified engineers.”

“This accomplishment arrived by way of the devoted and indefatigable initiatives by Professor John Gierke, who served as office chair from 2014 to 2020, and our fantastic mining engineering
faculty, Affiliate Professor Snehamoy Chatterjee and Senior Lecturer Nathan Manser,” additional Smirnov. “Outstanding clerical assistance was supplied by office personnel Brittany
Buschell and Carol Asiala.”

The pandemic produced supplemental challenges throughout the accreditation procedure, but also
prospects, mentioned Gierke. “The responses to the onset of the pandemic in 2020 disrupted
the set up of mine air flow lab machines. In addition, videos and video
contacting ended up necessary for the facilities excursions as section of the virtual website check out.
The have to have to thoroughly assessment the facilities was additional complicated in the virtual
format.”

In spite of the point that their closing couple months had to be done remotely, the adaptability
of the college students throughout their mining engineering senior capstone venture — alongside with
their advisor, Nathan Manser — allowed that venture to conclude on numerous substantial notes.
“The senior college students rapidly realized how to use mine style and design software program remotely, how
to fulfill on Zoom and collaborate on the net,” Gierke claimed. “They most likely did not recognize
it at the time, but with their elevated use of remote collaborations in qualified
operate, the college students all received some accelerated follow.”

Michigan Tech’s diploma software in mining engineering was reinstated in 2019 soon after
a 15-year hiatus. In buy to implement for accreditation, however, GMES had to hold out till
at minimum one particular pupil graduated with the diploma. “We graduated our first three college students
in the spring of 2020,” claimed Smirnov.

“The University is proud to see mining returning as an ABET-accredited software,” claimed
Jacqueline Huntoon, provost and senior vice president for educational affairs. “Michigan Tech was initially
started to assistance the mining industry and it is remarkable to see us reaffirm our determination
to excellence for this phase of industry.”

Sought globally, ABET’s voluntary peer assessment procedure is really highly regarded since
it adds crucial value to educational courses in the technological disciplines, where high quality,
precision and safety are of the utmost importance.

Developed by technological professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET requirements aim
on what college students knowledge and master. ABET accreditation testimonials appear at software
curricula, faculty, facilities and institutional assistance, and are done by teams
of really qualified professionals from industry, academia and governing administration, with knowledge
in the ABET disciplines.

ABET is a nonprofit, nongovernmental firm with ISO 9001:2015 certification. It
at the moment accredits 4,307 courses at 846 colleges and universities in forty one international locations
and spots.

Michigan Technological University is a public investigate university started in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to much more than 7,000 college students from fifty five international locations close to the world. Regularly rated between the ideal universities in the region for return on financial commitment, the University offers much more than a hundred twenty five undergraduate and graduate diploma courses in science and technological innovation, engineering, computing, forestry, organization and economics, wellbeing professions, humanities, arithmetic, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is positioned just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan’s Higher Peninsula, giving year-round prospects for outside experience.