The university Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new degree program for the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday.

The new degree will offer students enhanced experiential learning through hands-on experiences within each project and lab class. It will also give them opportunities to participate in cooperative education and internships along with an active student organization.

“The proposed Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) program directly supports USI’s mission by enabling students to engage in learning, to advance in education and knowledge, and to enhance civic and cultural awareness. Through the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program, students will develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and critical thinking necessary to become successful civil engineers,” according to the Board of Trustees written agenda.

The new degree will require 127 credit hours of class material, which include university’s Core 39, an additional 39 credit hours from introductory engineering, math, and science courses, and 49 credit hours from the civil engineering core civil engineering electives, and engineering electives.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development projections show Indiana having a 14 percent increase in new civil engineering jobs over the next ten years. University officials said they expect the new BSCE program to better prepare them to meet the current and future demand for civil engineers in the region.

In other business:

Vice President for Marketing and Communications Kindra Strupp said that all commencement ceremonies this spring in the new Screaming Eagles Arena will not require tickets to attend. The new arena will have about 4,300 seats which is about 2,000 more seats than the current PAC. The university has previously limited the number of guests graduates can invite due to the PAC’s limited space.

Officials said they expect the new arena, which is still under construction, to be completed before the arrival of former Secretary of State Colin Powell to speak on campus on April 4.

The Trustees also approved the list of candidates for doctor’s, master’s, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees from all four colleges that will be awarded on April 26 and 27.