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Engineering and Computer Science Dean Appointed to National Post

Cal State Fullerton's Unnikrishnan To Lead an Accreditation Commission

June 25, 2008 :: No. 258

Raman Unnikrishnan

Raman Unnikrishnan

Raman Unnikrishnan, dean of Cal State Fullerton's College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been appointed to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology's (ABET) Engineering Accreditation Commission.

Unnikrishnan will be formally installed during the organization's summer meeting July 16-21 in Arlington, VA. As commission chair, he will represent the American Society of Engineering Education, a founding member of ABET.

"This is quite an honor," Unnikrishnan said. "Even better, it can help to make our College of Engineering and Computer Science even more visible at a national level."

Founded 75 years ago, ABET is an internationally recognized accrediting body for engineering, technology and computer science programs at colleges and universities.

A longtime member of the organization, Unnikrishnan has served for 12 years as an ABET evaluator of electrical engineering and computer engineering programs. As a commissioner, he will lead a team of evaluators.

Using his own college as an example, Unnikrishnan explained that during an accreditation visit, an ABET evaluator will be assigned for each department - civil and environmental engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and software engineering.

"Professional societies from each of those areas of engineering will designate the evaluators. They will then report back to the team's chair, who ensures consistency and focuses on issues that cut across individual disciplines and universitywide items. The chair then will go back and forth between ABET and the college for further discussions and analysis before a final recommendation is made," said Unnikrishnan.

"The chair's recommendation is binary: it is a 'yes' or 'no.' However, if it is a 'yes,' there are degrees of approval. It could be immediate full approval, or it could be like a highway patrol officer stopping you for a flickering taillight. He can say, 'You have a looseconnection. I won't ticket you now, but have it fixed within 30 days.'"

Before coming toCal State Fullerton in 2001, Unnikrishnan was head of the Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Electrical Engineering in New York. He earned Rochester'sEisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching, the University of Missouri Honor Award for Distinguished Service in Engineering, Xerox Corp.'s Professional Excellence Award and the Harris Corp.-RF Communications Division Certificate of Appreciation for his commitment to both teaching and the engineering profession.

In addition, Unnikrishnan was honored with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Millennium MedalIEEE Region 1 Award for leadership in advancing the education needs of the engineering community.

Last year, he was named a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers - the highest honor the organization can bestow. Unnikrishnanwas nominated for the commission chairmanship by another IEEE fellow, his mentor, Edwin C. Jones, emeritus professor of electrical engineering at Iowa State.

A Fullerton resident, Unnikrishnan holds a doctorate from the University of Missouri.

Phots: Available at www.fullerton.edu/newsphotos.

Media Contacts:
Russ L. Hudson, Public Affairs, 657-278-4007 or rhudson@fullerton.edu