Gateway Engineering Education Coalition Background on ABET Overview of ABET EC 2000 Structure Engineering Accreditation and ABET EC2000 – Part I

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition2 Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology EC Criteria for Evaluating Engineering and Engineering Technology Programs Web Source - What are ABET & EC 2000?

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition3 Primary organization responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and certifying the quality of engineering, engineering technology, and engineering related education in the U.S. Recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education Federation of 28+ professional technical societies representing over 1.8 million practicing engineering professionals What are ABET & EC 2000?

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition4 Vision ABET will provide world leadership to assure quality and stimulate innovation in engineering, technology and applied science education.

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition5 Mission ABET serves the public through the promotion and advancement of education in applied science, computing, engineering and technology.

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition6 Mission ABET will: Accredit educational programs Promote quality and innovation in education Consult and assist in the development and advancement of education worldwide in a financially self-sustaining manner Communicate with our constituencies and the public regarding activities and accomplishments Anticipate and prepare for the changing environment and the future needs of constituencies Manage the operations and resources to be effective and fiscally responsible

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition7 Accreditation Objectives Serve the public, industry, and the profession by stimulating the development of improved engineering education Encourage new and innovative approaches to engineering education Assure that graduates of an accredited program are adequately prepared to enter and continue the practice of engineering Identify programs that meet the ABET criteria for accreditation

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition8 ABET Today (1999 data) 1555 accredited engineering programs at 323 institutions 729 accredited engineering technology programs at 242 institutions 53 accredited related-engineering programs at 37 institutions Staff of 19 Home Page on the World Wide Web

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition9 Other Standing and Ad-hoc Committees Engineering Accreditation Commission Technology Accreditation Commission Computing Accreditation Commission Related Accreditation Commission Industrial Advisory Council International Activities Committees Executive Committee Board of Directors Participating Societies ABET Structure

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition10 What does ABET accredit? ABET accredits programs of study that lead to degrees in engineering ABET does not accredit departments, colleges, degrees, or institutions

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition11 ABET EC 2000 Input Accounting Focus on having the right courses Every six years get information ready for review Outcomes Assessment – EC 2000 Focus on graduates and program’s components Continuous assessment OldNew vs

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition12 Engineering Criteria 2000 Philosophy & Emphasis

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition13 Philosophy Institutions and Programs define mission and objectives to meet needs of constituencies – enable program differentiation Emphasis on outcomes – preparation for professional practice Curricular requirements limited to 3 years Programs demonstrate how criteria and educational objectives are being met

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition14 Emphasis Practice of continuous improvement Input of Constituencies Process focus Outcomes and Assessment linked to Objectives Knowledge required for entry to the engineering profession Student, Faculty, Facilities, Institutional Support and Financial Resource issues linked to Program Objectives

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition15 Evaluation & Assessment Cycles “A 2-loop Process” Establish Indicators for Outcomes to Lead to Achievement of Objectives Determine How Outcomes will be Assessed Determine How Outcomes will be Achieved Determine Outcomes Required to Achieve Objectives Determine educational objectives Assess Outcomes/ Evaluate Objectives Input from Constituencies Formal Instruction Student Activities

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition16 Process Perspective for Evaluation and Improvement – OSU Version Input from Constituencies (PEOS) Program Educational Objectives System Assessment of Student Learning (POS) Program Outcomes System Program Outcomes Program Educational Objectives Long Term Short Term

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition17 8 Basic Level Accreditation Criteria 1. Students 2. Program Educational Objectives 3. Program Outcomes and Assessment 4. Professional Components 5. Faculty 6. Facilities 7. Institutional Support and Financial Resources 8. Program Criteria Resource Process

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition18 Outcomes (a - k) – Criterion 3 Engineering programs must demonstrate that their graduates have: a.An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering appropriate to the discipline b.An ability to design and conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data c.An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition19 Outcomes (a - k) – Criterion 3 d.An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams e.An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems f.An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility g.An ability to communicate effectively

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition20 Outcomes (a - k) – Criterion 3 h.The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a societal context i.A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning j.A knowledge of contemporary issues k.An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition21 Educational Objectives – Criterion 2 Development Process to include inputs gained from Constituencies Advisory Groups Students All faculty Alumni Industry

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition22 Chemical Engineering Example 1.Provide chemical engineers with the tools required to meet the technological challenges of the future. 2.Educate chemical engineers to understand and properly address the impact of technology in other areas, and to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams with other engineers, scientists, and non-technical personnel. 3.Provide chemical engineers with the ability to integrate material learned from different sources and to apply state- of-the-art technologies to identify and solve problems. 4.Instill students with the desire to engage in life-long learning and provide them with the ability to succeed in this endeavor.

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition23 1.Our program will prepare students for successful careers, for graduate or professional studies, and for life-long learning 2.Our students will learn the fundamental tool of mechanical engineering analysis, will be trained in mathematical and computational methods of analysis, and will acquire engineering problem solving skills. 3.Our students will develop skills pertinent to the design process, including the ability to formulate problems, to analyze and synthesize information, to think creatively, to make informed decisions, to communicate effectively, and to work collaboratively. Mechanical Engineering Example

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition24 Mechanical Engineering Example 4.Our students will learn to use current experimental and data analysis techniques for engineering. 5.Our students will understand the function of engineering in solving societal problems and their professional and ethical responsibilities.

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition25 Example: ME Matrix Cross-check

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition26 Process2. Program Educational Objectives 3. Program Outcomes and Assessment Resource1. Students 4. Professional Components 5. Faculty 6. Facilities 7. Institutional Support and Financial Resources 8. Program Criteria Basic Level Accreditation Criteria

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition27 Professional Component – Criterion 4 Faculty must assure curriculum devotes adequate attention and time to each component, consistent with objectives of the program and institution Preparation for engineering practice Major design experience Subject areas appropriate to engineering

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition28 Professional Component – Criterion 4 Major Design Experience A culminating experience, based on knowledge and skills acquired in earlier coursework Must incorporate engineering standards and realistic constraints, including most of the following considerations: – Economic – Environmental – Sustainability – Manufacturability – Ethical – Health and Safety – Social – Political

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition29 Subject Areas One year of a combination of college level mathematics and basic sciences (some with experimental experience) appropriate to the discipline One and one-half years of engineering topics, to include engineering sciences and engineering design appropriate to the student’s field of study A General Education component that complements the technical content of the curriculum and is consistent with the program and institution objectives Professional Component – Criterion 4

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition30 Faculty – Criterion 5 Sufficient number Adequate levels of student-faculty interaction Student advising and counseling University service activities Industry interaction Professional development Competent to cover all curricular areas of program Ensure proper guidance of the program, its evaluation and development

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition31 Facilities – Criterion 6 Must provide opportunities for students to learn use of modern engineering tools Classrooms, laboratories and equipment must be adequate to: Accomplish program objectives Foster faculty-student interaction Encourage professional development Computing and information infrastructure must be adequate to support: Scholarly activities of students and faculty Educational objectives

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition32 Institutional Support and Financial Resources – Criterion 7 Constructive Leadership Financial Resources Sufficient to acquire, maintain and operate facilities Sufficient to attract, retain, and provide for continued professional development of faculty Technical and Clerical Services

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition33 Program Criteria – Criterion 8 Each program must satisfy applicable Program Criteria Curricula topics Faculty qualifications Current Program Criteria are on the ABET server on the World Wide Web Must satisfy all Program Criteria implied by title of program

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition34 Process Perspective for Evaluation & Improvement - The OSU Approach (PEOS) Program Educational Objectives System Assessment of Student Learning (POS) Program Outcomes System Program Outcomes Program Educational Objectives Long Term Short Term Input from Constituencies

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition35 Inputs Suggested Exit Survey of all Graduating Seniors Monitoring of Professional Exam Results Monitoring of Student Progress Survey of alumni (2 nd, 6 th and 15 th )

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition36 Survey Elements for Seniors and Alumni 1. Educational Outcomes – General – Focus on ABET EC 2000 Criterion and Program Outcomes 2. Educational Experience – Quality of Instruction at The Ohio State University 3. Program Specific Questions – Focus on ABET EC2000 Criterion 2 and Program Specific Objectives 4. Additional Comments and Suggestions 5. Background/Demographic Information

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition37 Educational Outcomes Summary

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition38 Educational Experience Alumni 4. & 8. Curriculum 5. Faculty 6. Facilities 7. Support 1. Students Resource Perspective

Gateway Engineering Education Coalition39 Engineering Accreditation and ABET EC2000 – Part I Detailed Example for Ohio State Provided in ABET II