By Natalie Vaughan
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

The UH-Clear Lake's Natural and Applied Sciences changed its name June 3 to better identify itself within the community.

The university administration suggested a name change to more adequately describe the school's offerings. The Texas Education Coordinating Board agreed and it is now known as the School of Science and Computer Engineering.

"The name finally reflects what we have been doing for 28 years," said Charles McKay, dean of School of Science and Computer Engineering. The courses continue to be the same only the name has changed.

"No one knew what we meant by Applied Sciences," Mckay said. "It was too generic and failed to identify the work we did to serve the community."

UH-Clear Lake has more opportunities available in the community than most universities.

"The school is located in a community that contains some of the world's leading organizations in human exploration and development of space, petrochemical processing, biochemical research and other high technologies," said Provost Edward J. Hayes UH-Clear Lake senior vice president.

The school's computer systems engineering program is among the first in Texas to receive accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The program was cited by the ABET visitation team as exemplary.

Sadegh Davari, chair of the Division of Computing and Mathematics, helped lead the documentation team that applied for the accreditation.

"ABET is one of the most prestigious and well respected organizations that develops and maintains rigorous standards for program accreditation," Davari said. SCE has experienced a 54 percent increase in semester credit hours in engineering and computer science courses over the past five years.

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