Sustainability of a surveying engineering program through collaboration with constituents and stakeholders: The penn state approach

A surveying engineering (SUR E) degree program offers an opportunity for students to experience and place into practice theory and practicum. However, sustainability of degree programs requires recognition of the fact that a dynamic and changing field requires continuous monitoring of program educational objectives as well as course offerings, expected outcomes, and their relevance to the industry. There is no greater need than assembling a team of collaborators to accomplish these tasks. It is widely known and accepted that industry leaders and employers are key stakeholders who can advance the technology and provide guidance to degree programs. As such, this study aimed to demonstrate the Penn State approach for maintaining the quality of a SUR E program, through contributions from stakeholders and constituents, while satisfying Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation requirements for sustainability and continuous improvement. The approach involves developing an ongoing process of updating the program content through the collective collaborative efforts of stakeholders and constituents by consulting regularly to review program content in relation to student needs, employer expectations, and institutional and faculty resources.