Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Achieves Gold Level Status
October 19, 2010
To achieve Gold Level status the society must promote students' professional development in a variety of ways.
Written by Kate Lepard
The society has a new level of standard and wants to continue earning Gold Level.
For the third year in a row, the Texas Tech student chapter of the National Human Factors and Ergonomics Society was awarded Gold Level status for its contribution to the field and students' professional development.
The Texas Tech Human Factors and Ergonomics Society is advised by Keith Jones, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, and James Smith, professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering. The chapter combines both departments' expertise in human behavior and design to develop technology better suited for work environments.
"We're sort of like two sides of a coin," Jones said. "We work together pretty frequently. Our students will take classes in industrial engineering, and their students will come over here to take classes."
To achieve Gold Level status, the local chapter must prove that it has promoted students' professional development in a variety of ways including tours of facilities related to the field of study, attendance of guest speakers with real-world experience and the availability of networking possibilities for students.
"Achieving Gold Level status has become our new standard," Jones said. "We're going to get this every year. We're going to continue to make this happen."
Additionally, three students in the Department of Psychology, Kerstan Cole, John Morris and Paul Derby will be elevated to student members with honors for succeeding in their courses, research and professional development.
Jones said Texas Tech students were four of the six to receive the award. He said this brings visibility to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Program, the Departments of Psychology and Industrial Engineering and the university.
"This award helps separate our students from the pack," Jones said. "Graduate programs are full of really smart, motivated people, and that's not enough anymore to differentiate them in the job market. By doing this their resume will float to the top, and employers will see that they won awards for their personal accolades."
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