Process Engineering Technology or Process Technology

Southern University Shreveport (SUSLA) recently launched two new programs in the Department of Engineering Technology, which are Process Technology, and Petroleum Technology. Dr. Barry Hester, Interim Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development, and Dr. Kenie Moses, Department Head of Engineering and Technology established the two concentrations with the expectation of attracting area state and local petrochemical industries as part of a holistic approach to the development of SUSLA’s Engineering Technology programs.

Both concentrations were established to equip the next generation of technicians and operators in oil and gas companies and chemical manufacturing plants. Through a generous grant from the Department of Energy, SUSLA was able to negotiate locating the Process and Petroleum Technology concentrations on the Southern University in Baton Rouge (SUBR) campus near where a large number of petrochemical industries operate. In addition, the grant enabled the purchase and set up of state of the art equipment to ensure students were provided with the latest technology in the area of Process Technology.

The goal of these new Engineering Technology concentrations seeks to serve the students and the industries and the growing opportunities in oil, gas, and chemical manufacturing sectors as well as provide resources to meet area employment demands of workforce-ready graduates.

SUSLA admitted the first cohort of students to the program in the spring of 2022 on the Baton Rouge campus and the University intends to gradually increase enrollment as the program grows.

Students in this program are on track to get an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Engineering Technology with a concentration in Process Technology. Students will have the opportunity to obtain a Certificate of Technical Study (CTS) as a Process Technology Operator or Petroleum Technology Operator. For both of these concentrations, students will take the

Process Instrumentation I course in their first semester, which utilizes modules from the Matrix Process Controls to provide hands-on experiential learning.

The Process Control training system allows students to effectively learn about the principles of industrial process control, including temperature, pressure, flow, and level. Much of the equipment comes as desktop-sized kits, making them ideal for portability and storage in classroom environments.

The courses are made up of lectures and labs and students learn industrial process control principles through classroom interaction and apply their knowledge in the lab. 

In the lab, instructors demonstrate how devices are used, and students can perform tests, processes, and configurations to apply what they learned in the classroom. Students can complete multiple activities during each lab session demonstrating their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs).

The  Matrix Process Control system has individual modules for each principle which is unique to experiential learning. This allows the students to work on the kits individually and in teams which provide an ideal setup for group work as the program numbers increase. 

At the end of the semester, students will be tested on their ability to implement procedures and retest safely from start to finish. 

Most importantly, the goal of the two concentrations is to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities that are expected from employers. 

Before the program launch, the University formed an Industry Advisory Committee composed of members from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, local oil and gas companies, consulting companies, and manufacturing companies. This diverse committee has helped the University advise on curriculum around topics that will most effectively serve the students and industry partners.

Southern University has engaged this advisory committee often when considering online course options, new equipment, and what skills would be most important for students entering these industries. Their frontline experience in the industry has been incredibly valuable in advising these program concentrations. 

These advisory members have expressed their commitment to support the program in any way, including having several discussions about employment opportunities and internships as the students progress through the program. 

We are excited to reconnect with Dr. Atashbari closer to the end of the semester to hear his impressions of the Matrix Process Controls over the first semester and hear from students about their experience as the pioneers of these new programs! 

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