1. Accreditation!!!
ABET
CAC
8/25/2005

2. Overview
Who, what, when, where, why?
What to do?
Areas of concern.

3. Why? Reasons from ABET web site:
Accreditation provides you with a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve the quality of your program.
Accreditation helps students and their parents choose quality college programs.
Accreditation enables employers to recruit graduates they know are well-prepared.
Accreditation is used by registration, licensure, and certification boards to screen applicants.

4. More Reasons Why:
Time to engage in scholarly activity is encouraged by ABET.
Support for reduced course load from the “normal” 12 hrs.
National recognition as a quality program.
We all agreed that it is worth it.
197 programs accredited as of 2003.

5. When? VISIT: October 9th through October 11th (Sunday through Tuesday)
Findings to President, et al, on last day.
SFA RESPONSE: during 14 days following visit.
ABET Preliminary Statement: Jan-Feb ’06.
SFA RESPONSE: Mar-Apr. ’06.
ABET notifies SFA of final action: Aug ’06.

6. Who? Team chief – Dr. Anthony (Tony) Ruocco
CS Program Director, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island
Team member - Dr. David Cozart
Professor and Chair, CS, Mercer University
Team member - Dr. Richard Enbody
Assoc. Professor, CS, Michigan State University
6 visits
Ruocco – retired military;
Cozart – networks, graphics, microprocessors
Enbody –security, architecture, par. Proc.,

7. Where?
Wherever they want!
Room dedicated to the team (TBA).

8. What? Agenda not finalized. General format:
Sunday: Team meets, confers, begins review.
Monday: Meetings with faculty and administrators; luncheon; meeting with students.
Tuesday: Outgoing briefing.

9. Oh, what to do, what to do?
Submit your graded student work; assignments, tests, & handouts exhibits; textbooks, syllabus, & policies for each of the affected courses (see forms).
Be aware of our departmental objectives.
Be able to discuss how each of your courses relates to (supports) specific objectives and desired outcomes.
Handout here.

10. Other Things To Do Update our online syllabi.
Put assessment data on web.
Describe our assessment process clearly.

11. Areas of Concern Assessment.
Methods to determine progress toward objectives.
Faculty time devoted to scholarly activities.
Who knows?

12. Summary The evaluators are coming, the evaluators are coming!
Boy Scout Motto: Be prepared.
We don’t have much time left.
Once the visit is done, most of your work is over.
Thanks!