TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Institute of Industrial Engineers student chapter received the Gold Award in the 2003 IIE national chapter recognition competition. It marked the third consecutive year the UA chapter earned the award.

The Gold Award is the highest chapter recognition award from IIE. It recognizes chapter improvements and progress. Only 18 out of the more than 150 student chapters worldwide received the award. The UA chapter was the only chapter in the state to receive the Gold Award.

"I am very proud of the students involved with our chapter," said Dr. Gary Moynihan, professor of industrial engineering and UA's IIE student chapter advisor. "They continually work hard as a team, and it's great when they're recognized through awards such as this."

Founded in 1948, IIE is the premier society dedicated to serving the professional needs of industrial engineers and all individuals involved in improving quality and productivity. IIE has more than 15,000 members and more than 150 chapters in 13 countries.

In 1837, UA became the first university in the state to offer engineering classes and was one of the first five in the nation to do so. Today, the College of Engineering, with about 1,900 students and more than 90 faculty, is one of the three oldest continuously operating engineering programs in the country and has been fully accredited since accreditation standards were implemented in the 1930s.