site visit

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ABET Engineering Criteria Changes
David L. Soldan
March 18, 2005
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History

• Current criteria developed in the early 90s
• Most schools have undergone visits
• Clarification has been sought on interpreting
  criteria
• Current changes originated with IEEE
• 2004-2005 had significant changes
• More significant changes implemented for
  2005-2006 criteria

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2004-2005 Changes

• Criterion 2 program educational objectives
  defined expected accomplishment of graduates
  during the first several years changed again in
  2005
• Criterion 2c prepare student for the
  achievement instead of ensure the achievement
• Criterion 3 program outcomes defined what
  students are expected to know and be able to do
  by the time of graduation

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2004-2005 Changes

• Criterion 3 Delete list of evidence
• Criterion 3 Delete important to the mission of
  the institution and the objectives
• Criterion 4 Add definitions of engineering
  science and engineering design
• Criterion 8 Delete faculty qualifications
  section of Criteria for Software Engineering

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2005-2006 Changes

• Criterion 1 The institution must evaluate
  student performance, advise students regarding
  curricular and career matters, and monitor
  student progress to foster their success in
  achieving program outcomes, thereby enabling them
  as graduates to attain program objectives.

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2005-2006 Changes

• Criterion 2 -- program educational objectives are
  broad statements that describe the career and
  professional accomplishments that the program is
  preparing graduates to achieve.
• Criterion 2c an educational program, including
  a curriculum, that prepares students to attain
  program outcomes and that fosters accomplishments
  of graduates that are consistent with these
  objectives

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2005-2006 Changes

• Criterion 2d a process of ongoing evaluation of
  the extent to which these objectives are
  attained, the results of which shall be used to
  develop and improve the program outcomes so that
  graduates are better prepared to attain the
  objectives

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2005-2006 Changes

• Criterion 3 - Each program must formulate program
  outcomes that foster attainment of the program
  objectives articulated in satisfaction of
  Criterion 2 of these criteria. There must be
  processes to produce these outcomes and an
  assessment process, with documented results, that
  demonstrates that these program outcomes are
  being measured and indicates the degree to which
  the outcomes are achieved. There must be evidence
  that the results of this assessment process are
  applied to the further development of the
  program.

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2005-2006 Changes

• Criterion 3 - Engineering programs must
  demonstrate that their students attain
• Criterion 3c an ability to design a system,
  component, or process to meet desired needs
  within realistic constraints such as economic,
  environmental, social, political, ethical, health
  and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability

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2005-2006 Changes

• Criterion 3h - the broad education necessary to
  understand the impact of engineering solutions in
  a global, economic, environmental, and societal
  context
• Criterion 3 - In addition, an engineering program
  must demonstrate that its students attain any
  additional outcomes articulated by the program to
  foster achievement of its educational objectives.

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2005-2006 Changes

• Criterion 4 - The faculty must ensure that the
  program curriculum devotes adequate attention and
  time to each component, consistent with the
  outcomes and objectives of the program and
  institution.
• Criterion 4 Delete list of constraints

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2005-2006 Changes

• Criterion 4 - Students must be prepared for
  engineering practice through the curriculum
  culminating in a major design experience based on
  the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier
  course work and incorporating appropriate
  engineering standards and multiple realistic
  constraints.

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EAC Criteria

• ABET has instituted a process to improve the
  criteria
• Changes are intended to improve understanding of
  criteria
• You need to stay current!!
• Questions??