The Advisory Council Role in ECE ABET Accreditation

1
The Advisory Council Role in ECE ABET
Accreditation

• John T. Welch
• ECE Undergraduate Advisor

2
ABET Accreditation Process

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and
  Technology
• Academic/Industry Team visits on 6 year cycle
  our visit was last September
• Initial report at end of visit
• 14 day response to initial report
• Draft report and 30 day response
• Final ABET decision in July

3
ABET 2000 Evaluation

• General Criteria
• Student admission, monitoring, advising
• Graduation requirements, enforcement
• Curriculum vs. ABET and IEEE Program Criteria
• Faculty
• Facilities
• Quality Improvement Process

4
ABET 2000 Program Goals

• Department, with program constituencies,
• Identifies constituencies
• Formulates educational objectives (EOs) what
  graduates are expected to accomplish in early
  career
• Formulates program outcomes (POs)- abilities
  that graduates possess at graduation

5
ECE Program Constituencies

• Students
• Alumni
• Current students
• Employers

6
Educational Objectives Program graduates

• EO1 achieve competitively compensated positions
  or entry into programs of advanced study, in
  areas of their interest,
• EO2 prove to be highly competent and productive
  in engineering and related practice,
• EO3 continue to develop professionally through
  both practical experience and a lifelong
  commitment to learning,
• EO4 exhibit high standards of ethical conduct
  and societal responsibility in engineering.

7
ECE Program Outcomes 1-3

• Graduates of the program
• PO1 are able to apply mathematics, science, and
  engineering knowledge to the identification,
  formulation, and solution of engineering
  problems,
• PO2 have specialized engineering knowledge in
  areas of interest related to career objectives,
• PO3 are able to design a systems, components, or
  processes to meet desired needs,

8
ECE Program Outcomes 4-6

• Graduates of the program
• PO4 can design experiments and interpret
  technical data,
• PO5 are able to work effectively in
  interdisciplinary teams and within engineering
  organizations,
• PO6 are proficient in technical communications,
  oral, written, and visual,

9
ECE Program Outcomes 7-10

• PO7 are able to use tools of modern engineering
  practice effectively, including standard
  instruments, computational and presentation
  software, engineering libraries and the Internet,
• PO8 have the ability and motivation to extend
  their competence into new areas,
• PO9 understand safety, environmental,
  intellectual property, and societal impact
  issues in engineering, and related professional
  ethics,
• PO10 are aware and tolerant of cultural
  diversity in the practice of engineering.

10
ABET 2000 ABET Goals Review

• EOs are consistent with University mission
• POs are consistent with EOs and ABET criteria
• Constituencies participate in selection and
  maintenance of EOs and POs
• Achievement of EOs and POs are quantitatively
  measured

11
ABET 2000 Quality Assurance/Improvement Review

• EOs are evaluated
• achievement is measured and reported
• EOs are reviewed and adjusted
• POs are assessed
• achievement is measured and reported
• POs are reviewed and adjusted
• Program improvements are made in response to
  assessment
• Goals are being achieved

12
Advisory Council Role in ABET

• Represent the employer constituency in evaluation
  and assessment (along with engineering co-op
  employers and alumni employers)
• Assist the department faculty and University
  administration in improving the ability of the
  ECE programs to serve the student constituency

13
Evaluation and Assessment Information Flow
Faculty
Faculty Representatives Advisory Council
Program
Desired Program Objectives
Curriculum Decisions
Program Outcomes
PO Assessment
PO Assessment Results
Assessment data
EO Evaluation Results
Sr. design project reviews Outcome checks
Employer co-op reports Student co-op reports
Sr. exit interviews Sr. design presentations
Sr. exit co-op evaluations Elective choices
reports
Evaluation data
Alumni survey Placement/Salary data Employer
reports
EO Evaluation
14
Advisory Councils ABET Agenda

• Fall Meeting
• Review alumni survey results, alumni employer
  reports, placement and other EO achievement data,
  national and regional trends
• Formulate recommendations on EOs
• Spring Meeting (starting 2003)
• Hear selected Senior Design Presentations
• Review PO achievement data
• Recommend PO, curriculum changes