It's official-- the US Government says we are a profession! Thank you, ISA!

July 16, 2009

Through the good offices of Kim Miller Dunn, ISA Past President:

Everyone,
I am pleased to tell you that the US Department of Education has released its 2010 Classification of Instructional Programs and the automation technician and automation engineer have been recognized as
new classification codes. The CIP is the accepted federal government statistical standard on instructional program.

Through the good offices of Kim Miller Dunn, ISA Past President:

Everyone,
I am pleased to tell you that the US Department of Education has released its 2010 Classification of Instructional Programs and the automation technician and automation engineer have been recognized as
new classification codes. The CIP is the accepted federal government statistical standard on instructional program.

This is a significant recognition by the Department of Education for these automation fields.  This recognition by DOE will also aide in the Automation Federation's efforts to include these occupations in the SOC.

Below is the announcement from DOE.

Mike Marlowe

The Classification of Instructional Programs is used to report data collected on postsecondary education program completers (2 and 4 year colleges, as well as private business and technical schools.)by the
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)  The NCES survey program at the postsecondary education level provides statistical information used by planners, policymakers, and educators in addressing a multitude
of issues. One major source of this information is the annual Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey which provides a variety of data on the nation's 9,800 public and private postsecondary
institutions. Special studies of students, financial aid, postsecondary faculty, and bachelor's degree recipients, doctoral degree recipients, transcript studies, and various longitudinal studies, complement IPEDS.

The revision to the 2010 Classification of Instructional Programs includes new codes for:

Automation Engineer Technology/Technician.
<
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=55&cipid=89355>  A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals
engaged in developing, installing, calibrating, modifying and maintaining automated systems. Includes instruction in computer systems; electronics and instrumentation; programmable logic controllers (PLCs);
electric, hydraulic and pneumatic control systems; actuator and sensor systems; process control; robotics; applications to specific industrial tasks; and report preparation.

http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/searchresults.aspx?y=55&ca=2

Electromechanical Engineering.
<
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=55&cipid=89343>  A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the problems associated with combining electrical and
mechanical components with special emphasis on manufacturing and automated processes. Includes instruction in applied mechanics, instrumentation and monitoring, machine design, automated control techniques, fluid and thermal dynamics, circuit analysis, and solid state electronics.

Integrated Circuit Design.
<
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=55&cipid=89354>  A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to design circuits in microelectronics. Includes
instruction in circuit design, circuit layout, circuit analysis, computer-aided drafting, and semi-conductor technologies. Examples: [Integrated Circuit Design], [Integrated Circuit Design and Layout], [Microcircuit Mask Design]

Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering.
<
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=55&cipid=89345>  A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of
computer controlled electro-mechanical systems and products with embedded electronics, sensors, and actuators; and which includes, but is not limited to, automata, robots and automation systems. Includes
instruction in mechanical engineering, electronic and electrical engineering, computer and software engineering, and control engineering. See also: 11.0102 - Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
<
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=55&cipid=87243>

NCES is planning to start using this version of the CIP in the Fall 2010 IPEDS Completions Survey which will include program completions during the 2009-10 school year.