Accreditation, AIChE

The new research frontiers in chemical engineering, some of which represent new applications for the discipline, have important implications for education. A continued emphasis is needed on basic principles that cut across many apphcations, but a new way of teaching those principles is also needed. Students must be exposed to both traditional and novel applications of chemical engineering. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) has set in motion a project to incorporate into undergraduate chemical engineering courses examples and problems from emerging applications of the discipline. The committee applauds this work, as well as recent AIChE moves to allow more flexibility for students in accredited departments to take science electives. 

Instruments favoring the standardization of chemical engineering curricula quickly multipled after 1921. First of all, a textbook based on unit operations was needed. Principles of Chemical Engineering written by W. H. Walker, W. K. Lewis, and W. H. McAdams appeared in 1923. Two years later, the first list of accredited institutions was drawn up, and its impact must have been rather great since its main characteristic was strict selectivity. Only fourteen universities shared the honor of appearing in the select list of AIChE. This policy was not a... 

In 1925, the AIChE began accreditation of chemical engineering programs in the United States, awarding it to 15 institutions. This year is also remanbered for the presentation of McCabe and Thiele s graphical method for computing the number... 

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