UCM recently received three degree program accreditations and two re-accreditations from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity was accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Bachelor of Science of Occupational Safety and the and the Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management also received new ABET accreditation, according to a press release.
The Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health and the Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene programs were reaccredited, according to the release. They were approved by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Xiaodong Yue, chair of the computer science and mathematics department, said the cybersecurity program started at UCM in 2015 and is the first program in Western Missouri and the greater Kansas City area to achieve this designation.
“Achievement of ABET accreditation is an indicator that our program exhibits the level of quality demanded by industry and that we are able to produce graduates that are workforce ready,” Yue said. “ABET accreditation means (it’s) a tremendous accomplishment and recognition for our undergraduate cybersecurity program.”
Yue said students who graduate from ABET accredited programs demonstrate they are equipped with the knowledge necessary to be successful in the information security fields.
“It is definitely a value added to our students’ degree which provides an edge for them to compete in the job market,” Yue said.
Alice Greife, dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology said the ABET accreditation for the programs is significant because it affirms the faculty prepare graduates to be ready for the fields of occupational safety and health and cybersecurity.
“Graduates from these ABET-accredited programs have a solid educational foundation and will be future leaders in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public,” Greife said. “ABET accreditation is an international recognition of program quality and recognizes our faculty for using best practices in educating our students.”
Reanna Geddes, a graduate student in cybersecurity, said there are 637 ABET-accredited schools and 13 of them are in Missouri.
“Being (an) ABET-accredited student is a great honor. To be ABET accredited as (a) student in technology is a wonderful feeling,” she said. “ABET gives me the ability to say that my education meets the global standard for technical education.”
Geddes said ABET allows her to have expanding employment opportunities and said most multinational companies only hire those who have an ABET-accredited education.
“This gives students in cybersecurity a chance to compete with jobs among bigger schools who offer ABET programs, such as Rolla (Missouri University of Science and Technology) and Mizzou,” Geddes said.
Ty Flandermeyer, senior occupational safety and health major, said he is excited about the ABET accreditation because of the possibilities it will open for him as a student.
“The certifications will set me apart from other candidates,” he said. “I will be able to graduate with a certification (in) graduate safety professional and then (it) gives me the opportunity to have an accelerated path to take the certified safety professional exam. This proves my ability and knowledge in my career field.”
Greife said ABET accreditation for new programs can be challenging.
“The cybersecurity faculty, however, were easily able to demonstrate program relevancy, content and quality to highly trained ABET expert reviewers during their initial program review,” Greife said. We are very fortunate to have faculty in cyber security and safety sciences that provide an education that prepares our graduates to advance innovation and excel professionally in these fields, which are of critical importance to society.”