Copyright © 2014 by ABET Amanda Reid, Esq. ABET Adjunct Accreditation Director for Applied Science BACKGROUND

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 2. Understanding ABET

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 3 CHEA (Council for Higher Ed Accred)  Association of 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities  National advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation  60 recognized institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations State Licensure & Certifying Boards Federal & State Governments  Scholarships, Grants, Employment Accrediting bodies outside the US Who Recognizes ABET?

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 4 A global program accreditor A federation of 33 member societies A 501 (c) 3 nonprofit A peer-review process with 2,200 volunteers What is ABET?

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 5 ABET’S ACCREDITATION DONE BY FOUR COMMISSIONS Applied Science Accreditation Commission Computing Accreditation Commission Engineering Accreditation Commission Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 6 Construction Management Environmental, Health and Safety Health Physics Industrial Hygiene Safety Surveying, Geomatic Applied Science Accreditation Commission Curricular Areas

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 7 ASAC can accredit programs that meet the general criteria but there is no program specific criteria. ASAC has accredited the following: General Engineering Option in Applied Science, AAS Integrated Science and Technology, BS Organizational Leadership and Supervision, B.S. Petroleum Geosciences, B.S. Transportation Systems Applied Physics BS ACCREDITATION UNDER ASAC’S GENERAL CRITERIA

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 8 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. Anticipate and prepare for the changing environment and the future needs of constituencies. ABET’s MISSION

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 9 The Value of ABET Accreditation

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 10 Quality assurance Helps prepare to enter “the profession” Entry into profession via licensure, certification Enhances employment opportunities ABET Value: Students & Parents

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 11 “Third party” confirmation of quality of programs Prestige, recognition by “the profession” Acceptability of transfer credits Some external funding depends on accreditation status ABET Value: Institutions

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 12 Encourages “best practices” in education Structured mechanisms for self-improvement Institution is serious about improving quality  Facilities, financial resources, training, etc. ABET Value: Faculty

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 13 Ensures educational requirements to enter “the profession” are met Aids industry in recruiting: ensures some “baseline” of educational experience Enhances mobility Opportunity to help guide educational process ABET Value: “The Profession”

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 14 Assuring Confidence in the educational process Engages multiple constituents: academe, industry, public Identifies programs for investment of public and private funds Some assurance to taxpayers: funds for higher education are appropriately spent ABET Value: Greater Society

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 15 What’s New in next accreditation cycle

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 16 ABET requires a preliminary Self-Study Report from programs seeking initial accreditation that are housed in institutions which currently have no ABET-accredited programs in that same commission. A review of this preliminary Self-Study Report - which is called the Readiness Review - will help ABET determine whether an institution is ready to submit a formal Request for Evaluation (RFE) for that program. READINESS REVIEWS

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 17 A program may receive one of three non- binding recommendations as the outcome of a Readiness Review; A recommendation to submit the Request for Evaluation in the immediate upcoming accreditation review cycle; A recommendation to postpone the submission unless substantive changes in the Self-Study preparation and documentation are made; or A recommendation not to submit the program in the immediate upcoming accreditation review cycle because it is likely to be rejected. READINESS REVIEWS cont’d

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 18 Programs that complete a Readiness Review and continue in the review process must update their Self-Study Reports for the final Self-Study Report submission which is due July 1 annually. READINESS REVIEWS cont’d

Copyright © 2014 by ABET 19 Questions?