Indiana State University Newsroom

A revamped College of Technology is the latest example of Indiana State University reshaping itself to better serve students and the state, university officials said in announcing the restructuring.

"We decided to look at the existing departments and see how they would better fit based on our growth, and look at some new areas that we want to move into," said Bradford Sims, dean of the College of Technology, "so we restructured from three departments to five departments."

The changes include several departments and programs previously affiliated with other ISU colleges. While aviation technology remains the same, the other departments in the College of Technology are now applied engineering and technology management, built environment, electronics and computer engineering technology, and human resource development and performance technologies.

The College of Technology now houses the programs of interior architecture design and textiles, apparel and merchandising, which were in the College of Arts and Sciences; and safety management, formerly in the College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services.

Interior architecture design and safety management are two of the three bachelor's degree programs in the new built environment department. The programs' association with the College of Technology helps show that they are industry-based programs, Sims said.

The term "built environment" is used globally and encompasses any manmade structure that is used recreationally or for habitation, Sims said.

He also said the term isn't used as frequently in the United States as it is in other parts of the world.

"I think it'll be of interest to students because the term is more globally acceptable about what we're doing than just pure architecture or construction," Sims added, and that younger students understand the terminology better because it hasn't been used in the U.S. until more recently.

Management of the information technology program, which is shared with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Scott College of Business, has been moved from the College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Technology.

"This restructuring is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the university continues to offer programs that best meet the needs of its students and that serve the ever-changing demands of the workplace and our society," said Jack Maynard, ISU's provost and vice president for academic affairs. "The College of Technology has thousands of graduates working in a variety of careers throughout the country and around the world. This restructuring will not only ensure that a technology degree from Indiana State remains viable but also that even more industry leaders recognize that our graduates have the real-world training and experience to hit the ground running."

The restructure of the college will help Indiana State students have "more visibility in the marketplace," Sims said, as employers can more easily understand what is offered by searching the college's departmental titles and programs.

"We'll be able to market the College of Technology at a greater level, where I think there will be more interest because we're not trying to compete head-on with" other Indiana universities, Sims added.

Sims said the goal of the College of Technology is to have programs that have "a different flavor, a niche market" that may be different than other colleges, and some programs that may not be offered elsewhere.

The changes can be seen on the College of Technology Web site, which is available at http://technology.indstate.edu.

Contact: Bradford Sims, dean, College of Technology, Indiana State University, 812-237-3166 or bradford.sims@indstate.edu

Writer: Austin Arceo, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or austin.arceo-negrich@indstate.edu