Telecommunications Engineering

The University of Texas at Dallas

Fall 2006 Industrial Advisory Board Meeting

for Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology
(ABET)

S. Venkatesan
Pete Bernardin
UTD Telecommunications Program
October 28, 2006

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Goal of Today’s Meeting:
Report on the ABET Progress

 Proposed 2006 TE Program Educational Objectives

 Some Examples where TE Program has formally measured
program assessment
 Provide documentation and some evidence that TE Program is
“Closing the Loop” on the assessment processes
 Show that the TE program has had regular program evaluations
and demonstrate that appropriate corrections have been made
to improve the program
 Demonstrate that TE program has published its objectives and
Mission Statement
http://www.ecs.utdallas.edu/welcome/eemission.html
 Present the proposed Non-Tenure Track Faculty Development
Plan and your plan to addresses “level of scholarship” and
“participation in professional societies” issues
 TE’s plan for Program’s Senior Design Course that will provide
the culminating design experience that ABET requires

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 TE Mission and Program Educational
Objectives

2005 Mission and PEOs

The focus of the Telecommunications Engineering degrees is to provide excellent education in
modern communications networks and systems. Our graduates are uniquely qualified to apply
traditional engineering design and problem solving skills in modern telecommunications.

 Goals (Program Educational Objectives)

– Build a foundation for successful, long lived, engineering careers
– Perform, review and assess sophisticated engineering design
– Further the necessities of innovation, functionality, safety, and economy in
engineering
– Critical thinking, decision making and communicating effectively
– Ability to contribute to engineering teams
– Place engineering design and decision making in a market and societal context

Additional Aims of the Telecommunications Engineering program are to grow and maintain
an outstanding faculty that remains motivated and empowered and to maintain excellent
facilities, including teaching laboratories, computing facilities and classrooms.

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 TE Mission and Program Educational
Objectives

Proposed 2006 Mission an PEOs

The mission of the Telecommunications Engineering BS degree program is to provide education
in modern communications networks and systems. The TE BS program provides graduates that
have achieved a senior level command of a variety of subfields of telecommunication
engineering at the systems level. These graduates are key contributors to a variety of
telecommunications fields such as data communications, network architecture, wireless, optical
networking, and next generation networks.

 Goals (Program Educational Objectives) More Measurable than 2005

– Graduates will be able to apply knowledge of mathematics and engineering to solve
a variety of telecommunications problems ( =Criterion a)
– Graduates will be able to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze
and interpret data (=Criterion b)
– Graduates will be able to design a system, component, or process to meet desired
needs (=Criterion c)
– Graduates will be able to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
(=Criterion e)

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 UTD’s Student Satisfaction Survey Data

http://uot.windowssharepointservices.com/TeacherEvaluations.aspx
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
 In-Class Assessments By Faculty
Assessment of TE3307 (DISCRETE MATHEMATICS)
Instructor: C.P.Bernardin Section: 001 Semester: Fall 2005

Use this form to assess the student's performance in the course, based on all or selected
sets of examinations, homework, or projects assigned for this course.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being exceptional and 1 being poor, rate the student's:
ABET Material Criteria
Class learning objectives Rating objective Used Used
1 Understand and use logic, sets, functions 3.67 a,b,k HW1&2, Exam1 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D
2 Know basic algorithmic techniques and recurrences & Numerical Methods 3.75 a,b,e,k HW3, Exam1 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D
3 Understand and use Random numbers 3.94 a,e,k HW4, Exam1, Project 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D
4 Understand and use concept of Central Limit Theorem 3.94 a,e,k HW4,Exam1, Project 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D

5 Ability to design Linear Congruential Uniform Random Number Generators 4.27 a,b,e,k HW5, Exam1 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D
6 Understand Euclid's GCD/LCM algorithm 4.09 a,b,c,k HW5, Final 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D
7 Understand and use basic probability and statistical functions in MS Excel 4.42 a,b,e,k Project 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D

8 Know basic sorting algorithms: selection, insertion, shell, heapsort, 3.66 a,b,e,k HW3 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D
mergesort, quicksort, indirect sorting
9 Know and be able to apply solutions of linear systems of equations, 3.54 a,b,e,k HW6, Final 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D
and the related concepts of determinant, rank, row echelon form, etc.

10 Ability to apply basic number theory and understand Sieve of Eratosthenes 4.78 a,b,e,k HW5, In-Class Lab 5=A, [3,4=B], 2=C, 1=D

Mean ABET Score 4.00

a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering http://assess.utdallas.edu/ee_abet_forms/index.html

b. An ability to design and construct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
e. An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems
k. An abilitiy to use the techniques, skills,and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 First Senior Design Presentation to IAB
Senior Design Presentation Day, Monday, May 1 , 2006
in
TI Conference Room
Projects Supervisor Project Title Group No. Presentation
Time
1 Marco Tacca VoIP management and operation and TCP/IP I 9:00 AM
analysis
2 Marco Tacca VoIP management and operation and TCP/IP II 9:20 AM
analysis
3 Andy Blanchard Antenna measurement and Design I 9:40 AM
4 Farokh Bastani Context-Aware Tele-Presence Anywhere I 10:00 AM
Conferencing (CATPAC) System
5 Farokh Bastani Context-Aware Tele-Presence Anywhere II 10:20 AM
Conferencing (CATPAC) System
6 Andrew Cilia Autonomous Robotic Cat I 10:40 AM
7 Andrew Cilia Wireless keyless entry system I 11:00 AM
8 Andrew Cilia Autonomous Underwater robot I 11:20 AM
9 Andrew Cilia Autonomous Underwater robot II 11:40 AM
10 Andrew Cilia Autonomous Underwater robot III 12:00 PM
11 Muhammad Kalam Design and Configuration of a SONET ring from I 12:20 PM
a linear setup
12 Muhammad Kalam Design and Configuration of a 3-node Optical I 12:40 PM
Network with Gigabit Switch Router
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
 TE Senior Design Course
Improvement Plan

 Senior Design Proposals for Fall 2006 – A list of all

proposals have been collected and evaluated
 Senior Design Presentation Day – A suitable day
during the second half of November will be chosen
and announced.
 Industrial Advisory Board Meetings held in October
 Posting of Senior Design Activities on the Web page
– Department heads would initiate this process.
 Please read your handouts on Senior Design
Courses (note: last 2 pages which are for IAB Course
Evaluation)

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Non-Tenure Track Faculty Development
Plan
Non Tenure Track
Development Process
Goals
The goal of this policy is to further the Erik Jonsson
School of Engineering and Computer Science’s
goals in education and dissemination of knowledge
Performance evaluation for past year (n-1) plus
development plan for next year
through the following:
• Fostering the development and continuance of
excellence among the faculty.
• Aiding the administration of the Jonsson School
and University in understanding the motivations,
strengths, accomplishments, goals, and plans of
individual faculty members.
Implement Plan • Furtherance of communication and understanding
between the faculty and the Jonsson School and
University administrations.
• See Handout

Include
Performance evaluation for year (n) plus evaluation of
development plan for next year (n+1) development for
past year

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Closing the Quality Loop
with ABET

Provide students, faculty, facilities, and

resources that are consistent with Objectives

Develop
Develop
Determine, and Document
Develop Educational
Update, Publish Processes to
Program Program, including
Objectives Produce
Curriculum
Outcomes

Determine Program
PEO’s: Determine How
Outcomes Outcomes: Outcomes will
Long-Term Needed to Achieve
Objectives Short-Term be Assessed
Goals
Goals
Assess Outcomes
Graduation
Establish Goals
Deliver educational for Outcomes
Evaluate program, including that will lead to
Achievement of curriculum Achievement of
Demonstrate
Objectives Achievement of Objectives
Outcomes

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Mapping Mission Statement and IAB Input

to PEOs and Assessing Performance

Input from
Industrial UTD MISSION
Constituents & GOALS
(IAB) PEO’s:
Long-Term
Goals

PEOs:Program Educational Objectives

Constituents assess if objectives met if yes

& Documents
If no
Constituents take corrective action
& Documents
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
 Telecommunications Engineering
The University of Texas at Dallas

APPENDIX
Introduction to the Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology
(ABET)

Pete Bernardin
UTD Telecommunications Program

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Accreditation: raison d'être

In the United States, accreditation is used to ensure quality in educational

institutions and programs. Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process
of peer review. It requires an educational institution or program to meet certain,
defined standards or criteria. Accreditation is sometimes confused with
certification. In general, institutions and programs are accredited, and individuals
are certified.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is a professional
accrediting organization that accredits engineering programs, not institutions
Accreditation serves to notify:
 Parents and prospective students that a program has met minimum standards
 Faculty, deans and administrators of a program’s strengths and weaknesses and
of ways to improve the program
 Employers that graduates are prepared to begin professional practice
 Taxpayers that their funds are spent well
 The public that graduates are aware of public health and safety considerations
A general requirement of most Professional Engineering (PE) licenses is graduation
from an ABET accredited school
ABET website - http://www.abet.org

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Definition of Key ABET Terms

Program Educational Objectives -- statements that describe the

expected accomplishments of graduates during the first few years after
graduation

Program Outcomes – statements that describe what students are

expected to know and are able to do by the time of graduation

Assessment – one or more processes that identify, collect, use and

prepare data that can be used to evaluate achievement of program
outcomes, educational objectives or for program improvement

Evaluation – one or more processes for interpretation of the data and

evidence accumulated through assessment practices that a) determine
the extent to which program outcomes or educational objectives are
being achieved; or b) result in decisions and actions taken to improve
the program (e.g. curriculum or methodology)

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Accreditation Criteria:
Evaluator’s Check List

1. Students
-Documented Process for Advising, Monitoring, Evaluation?
-Policies for accepting and transferring students equitably?
2. Program Educational Objectives
- Are they published and consistent with UTD’s Mission Statement?
- Is there a process to determine and update PEO’s?
- Are they based on the needs of (Industrial) Constituencies?
- Are the results used to Improve the effectiveness of the Program?
3. Program Outcomes
- Is there an assessment process with documented measurements?
- Are the results used to improve the Program?
- Does the Process demonstrate that graduates have “Criteria a-k”?
4. Professional Component
- Major Design Experience
- One Year of Math and Basic Science
- One and one-half years of Engineering Topics
- General Education Component that complements technical curricular
content

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Accreditation Criteria:
Evaluator’s Check List (continued)

5. Faculty
-Sufficient Number and Competencies to Cover All Curricular Areas
-Levels of Student-Faculty Interaction
-Student Advising and Counseling
-University Service Activities
-Professional Development
-Interaction with Practitioners and Employers
6. Facilities
-Classrooms
-Laboratories
-Equipment and Tools
-Computing and Information Infrastructure
7. Institutional Support and Financial Resources
-Sufficient to Assure Quality and Continuity of the Program
-Sufficient to Attract and Retain a Well-Qualified Faculty
-Sufficient to Acquire, Maintain, and Operate Facilities and Equipment

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Closing the Quality Loop
with ABET

Provide students, faculty, facilities, and

resources that are consistent with Objectives

Develop
Develop
Determine, and Document
Develop Educational
Update, Publish Processes to
Program Program, including
Objectives Produce
Curriculum
Outcomes

Determine Program
PEO’s: Determine How
Outcomes Outcomes: Outcomes will
Long-Term Needed to Achieve
Objectives Short-Term be Assessed
Goals
Goals
Assess Outcomes
Graduation
Establish Goals
Deliver educational for Outcomes
Evaluate program, including that will lead to
Achievement of curriculum Achievement of
Demonstrate
Objectives Achievement of Objectives
Outcomes

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Program Educational Objectives (PEO’s)

The PEOs are statements that describe the expected

accomplishments of graduates during the first few years after
graduation

 Two types of PEO’s:

1) those for all graduates
2) those for top graduates

 The audiences for PEO statements are external constituents:

– Industrial Advisory Board (IAB)
– prospective students, employers
– transfer institutions
– student sponsors
 Programs may choose to have objective statements that would be
much broader or longer-term indicators of program success than
the definition used here would imply

 PEOs are long-term post graduation goals.

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
 Mapping Mission Statement and IAB Input

to PEOs and Assessing Performance

Input from
Industrial UTD MISSION
Constituents & GOALS
(IAB)

PEOs:Program Educational Objectives

Constituents assess if objectives met if yes

& Documents
If no
Constituents take corrective action
& Documents
The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
 Provide Proof PEO’s are
Created and Updated

 Describe the processes used to establish and review

the PEOs and the extent to which the program’s
various constituencies are involved in these
processes. Provide documentation that
demonstrates that the processes are working.

 Describe how the program curriculum and your

processes ensure achievement of the PEOs.
 Provide documentation that describes the ongoing
evaluation of the level of achievement of these
objectives, the results obtained by this periodic
evaluation and evidence that the results are being
used to improve the effectiveness of the program.

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Program Outcomes

Program Outcomes are statements that describe what students

are expected to know and are able to do by the time of
graduation
 Program Outcomes relate to the skills, knowledge and
behaviors that students acquire in their matriculation through the
program
 Achievement of all of the program outcomes should indicate that
the graduate is equipped to achieve the program educational
objectives
 Achievement of program outcomes by each student should be
verified before certification for graduation
 The program outcomes of ABET accredited programs must
embrace the eleven (a) through (k) requirements
 Program Outcomes are Short-Term Pre-Graduation Goals,
potentially measured annually

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 ABET 11-Key Quality Criteria a-k

a) An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and

engineering
b) An ability to design and construct experiments, as well as to
analyze and interpret data
c) An ability to design a system, component or process to meet
desired needs
d) An ability to function on interdisciplinary 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
h) The broad education necessary to understand the impact of
engineering in a global and 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

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Mapping ABET Quality Criteria to Program
Outcomes and Assessing Performance

Curricular
11 ABET Engineering
Constituents:
Quality Criteria
TE Governing
(a-k)
Committee

Program Outcomes

Constituents assess if objectives met if yes

& Documents
If no
Constituents take corrective action
& Documents

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Provide Proof Outcomes Assessment is working

 Describe the assessment process, documented assessment results,

evidence that results are applied to further development and improvement,
and a demonstration of the achievement of each program outcome important
to the mission of the institution and the objectives of the program, as
required by Criterion 3 (= Program Outcomes)

 List the Program Outcomes that have been established based on the
Program Educational Objectives and describe how these Program Outcomes
relate to the Program Educational Objectives.

 Describe how the Program Outcomes chosen by the program encompass

and relate to the outcome requirements of Criterion 3.

 Describe the processes used to produce and assess each of the program
outcomes.

 Provide metric goals for each outcome that illustrate the level of quality of
outcomes achievement felt necessary to produce graduates that will
ultimately achieve the Educational Objectives following their graduation

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

 Provide Proof Outcomes Assessment is working
(continued)

 Provide qualitative and quantitative data gathered on a regular basis that

are used to assess the quality of achievement of the outcomes and your
analysis of those assessment results.

 Describe the process by which the assessment results are applied to

further develop and improve the program.

 Document changes that have been implemented to further develop and

improve the program. Provide qualitative and quantitative data used to
support these changes.

 Describe the materials, including student work and other tangible

materials, that will be available for review during the visit to demonstrate
achievement of the Program Outcomes and Assessment.

 The programs are encouraged to organize these materials on the basis of

outcomes, rather than on a course-by-course basis.

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science