The business programs in Eastern Kentucky University's College of Business and Technology have received a Level 1 Quality Interest Award from the Kentucky Quality Council. Eastern is the first university in the Commonwealth to win the award.

Created by Gov. Paul Patton in 1997, the quality awards model the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, a nationwide recognition program established by the U.S. Congress in 1987 to enhance competitiveness and promote quality awareness.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for the college to further develop its competitive edge in the Commonwealth," said Dean Dr. Robert Rogow. "It was also a great learning opportunity for our students."

Rogow and several faculty members attended the recent awards banquet, at which 27 Kentucky businesses and organizations were recognized for their commitment to excellence and "world-class" quality.

"This award is recognition of our positive continuous quality improvement initiatives, and our efforts to develop quality academic programs for the students and citizens of the Commonwealth," Rogow said.

The original application was completed by a group of students in Dr. Terry Friel's Continuous Improvement in Operations course taught last spring.

The Kentucky Quality Council, housed at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, administers the Commonwealth of Kentucky Quality Award. This year's award program was open to manufacturing firms, business and service firms, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, government agencies, health care institutions and non-profit organizations.