The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering recently achieved a milestone – receiving accreditation status from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) for its Occupational Safety and Ergonomics and Occupational Injury Prevention programs. This is the first year the program has achieved this level of accreditation according to Sean Gallagher, associate professor in the department.

“The HFES accreditation is a great honor for both programs,” he said. “Our faculty, staff and students have all worked hard together to earn it, and we are excited this recognition will set us apart from similar programs across the nation.”

To become accredited, the department submitted a sample curriculum for both programs to HFES, along with information on practical experience within the program. The five-year accreditation is significant because all students who graduate from either program will automatically receive the designation of associate ergonomics professional from the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics. This distinction elevates the programs on a national scale, and ultimately will encourage more students to pursue education in these areas.