The Engineering department of Tarleton State University is one step closer to being able to make changes to the degrees they offer. The Board of Regents has recently approved proposed additions to the number of degrees the department offers, plans have been made to add Electric and Civil Engineering degrees to what is currently being offered by Tarleton.

Now that the Board of Regents has given its approval, the plan must be reviewed and approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

“The Board of Regents was the first step in the approval process,” said Dr. Denise Martinez of the Engineering and Computer Science Department. “They will now send the proposals to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for review.”

Martinez is optimistic about getting approval, and is ready to begin instituting the changes to the department. The proposals indicate changes being implemented within the 2014-15 school year, but the THECB timeline might cause some issues with this plan.

“Their timeline is a variable, but I am cautiously optimistic,” Martinez said, “and when or if they approve, we will get the programs rolling.”

The Department of Engineering is waiting for the day that they get news of approval, so that they can begin implementing the changes they have designed for the department.

“It’ll be a big celebration once they approve,” Martinez added.