Accreditation Strategy for the BYU CE En Dept. Presentation to External Review Board October 20, 2000

ABET  Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology  Department is accredited every six years  Next review => Fall 2002  Importance

ABET 2000  Less focus on “bean-counting”  Department defines objectives  All students must be aware of objectives

General Criteria  Students  Educational objectives  Outcomes and assessment  Professional component  Faculty  Facilities  Institutional support  Program criteria

Students  Advisement  Monitoring  Transfer credit evaluation procedures

Educational Objectives  Published educational objectives  Process for determining and periodically evaluating objectives  Curriculum and processes designed to achieve objectives  A system of ongoing evaluation

Outcomes and Assessment  Students must demonstrate ability to:  apply knowledge of math, science, and engineering  design and conduct experiments  design a systems  Etc.  Must have an assessment process with documented results

Professional Component  One year of math/science coures  One and one half years of engineering courses  General education component  Culminating design experience

Faculty  Number  Qualifications  Scholarship  Professional organizations  Diversity of backgrounds  Good teaching records  Professional registration

Facilities  Laboratories  Equipment  Computers

Institutional Support  Commitment to program  Salaries  Capital equipment

Program Criteria - CE  Curriculum  Math/science proficiency  Proficiency in at least four CE disciplines  Ability to design  Understanding of licensing issues  Faculty  Faculty teaching design courses must be qualified  Program must not be critically dependent on one individual

Education Objectives  Attribute/Competency Strategy  Objectives are defined as a list of attributes we want all graduates to have  Each attribute includes a list of specific competencies  Forms basis of assessment strategy

Attributes 1.An understanding of fundamental principles of mathematics and science 2.An understanding of fundamental engineering science 3.An understanding of geotechnical engineering 4.An understanding of structural engineering

Attributes, pt II 5.An understanding of transportation engineering 6.An understanding of water resource and environmental engineering 7.The ability to design civil engineering systems and solve open-ended problems 8.The ability to communicate ideas effectively

Attributes, pt III 9.The ability to use modern engineering tools 10.An understanding of professional practice and a commitment to life-long learning. 11.An awareness of cultural, societal, and environmental issues 12.A commitment to serve as professional engineers of integrity and faith

Assessment “Each program must have an assessment process with documented results. Evidence must be given that the results are applied to the further development and improvement of the program. The assessment process must demonstrate that the outcomes important to the mission of the institution and the objectives of the program, including those listed above, are being measured.”

Assessment, Cont. “Evidence that may be used includes, but is not limited to the following: student portfolios, including design projects; nationally-normed subject content examinations; alumni surveys that document professional accomplishments and career development activities; employer surveys; and placement data of graduates.”

Assessment Strategy  Competency based exam assessment  Results of FE exam  Alumni survey  Exit interviews  Annual external review

Exam Assessment  Competencies listed on all course syllabi  Each question on mid-term and final exams will be linked to a competency.  After grading, secretaries will record scores by competency in database.  Overall performance for each competency reviewed each semester.

FE Exam  All CE En majors are required to take FE exam  State FE exam board now records major and school of all examinees  Detailed listing by subject area is provided  Preliminary results are excellent

Exit Interviews  All graduating faculty are interviewed by chair.  Graduates also fill out questionnaire  Questionnaire is being redesigned to better assess attributes/competencies

Alumni Survey  Alumni survey being coordinated with BYU survey sent to all students.  Questions tied directly to attributes

On-line Review Documents