ABET Requirements and Procedures

ABET Requirements and
Procedures
ACE Workshop
8 November 2017
Presenter: Joe Turner

Professor Emeritus of Computer Science
Clemson University
USA
Who am I? (1)
• Retired Professor of Computer Science,
Clemson University
• Former Professor and Dean of Information
Systems, Zayed University (UAE)
• Over 30 years of experience in computing and

engineering accreditation with ABET and CSAB
• Multiple officer/leadership positions
• Chair of more than 30 evaluation teams, member of
4 more
ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 2

Who am I? (2)
• Initial Chair of Seoul Accord, an international
mutual recognition accord among accreditors
for computing programs.
• Substantial consulting experience in

preparation for ABET accreditation
• Chaired a team of consultants that reviewed

some engineering programs at three ACEs
relative to preparation for possible ABET
accreditation.
Intended outcomes for this
session
• Participants will have a basic understanding of
the requirements to obtain accreditation by
ABET.
• Participants will have a basic understanding of

the ABET accreditation process and what is
needed to prepare for an ABET review.
• Participants will be introduced to options for

international accreditation of STEM programs.
Some definitions
In this presentation, the following definitions apply:
Course: A collection of student learning activities

that takes place during a semester or other term.
Program: A collection of course requirements that

leads to granting of a degree or certification by an
educational institution.
Student outcomes: What students are expected to

know and be able to do at the time of graduation
from a program.
Session outline
1. What is ABET?
2. ABET Criteria for Accreditation
3. ABET Policies and Procedures (APPM)
Requirements
4. ABET Accreditation Process
5. International Accreditation for Computing and
Engineering Programs
6. Final Notes

Session outline
1. What is ABET?
Requirements
6. Final Notes

What is ABET? (1)
• ABET is a US-based organization that
• Is non-governmental and non-profit.
• Accredits tertiary-level (university) programs in

• Applied and natural science
• Computing
• Engineering
• Engineering technology
• Does not accredit departments, colleges, or other

administrative units.

What is ABET? (2)
• Has been accrediting engineering programs
since 1932
• Currently accredits 3,852 programs at over 776

colleges and universities in 31 countries
• 677 programs (18%) at 122 colleges and
universities (16%) in 30 countries outside the US
• Web site: www.abet.org

ABET accreditation (1)
• ABET baccalaureate-level accreditation in
STEM programs is intended to recognize
programs that adequately prepare graduates
for entry into relevant professional practice.
• A decision to seek ABET accreditation is

voluntary.
• ABET makes no inference about the adequacy of
programs that do not seek accreditation.

ABET accreditation (2)
• ABET accreditation is based on a set of
standards (criteria) that programs must satisfy
in order to be accredited.
• There are non-US engineering and computing

accrediting organizations that have different
sets of standards for accreditation.
• ABET recognizes the programs accredited by some
of these other organizations as also producing
graduates who are prepared for entry to
professional practice.
ABET Commissions
• The four commissions of ABET carry out the
accreditation processes:
• Applied and Natural Science Accreditation
Commission (ANSAC)
• Bachelor, Master, 2-year
• Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC)
• Bachelor only
• Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC)
• Bachelor, Master
• Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission
(ETAC)
• Bachelor, 2-year, 3-year

ABET commission
determination
• The name (title) of a program determines the
commission that must review and make an
accreditation decision for the program.
Examples:
• Computer science: CAC
• Computer engineering: EAC
• Computer engineering technology: ETAC
• Industrial Hygiene: ANSAC
• Information Systems Engineering: CAC and EAC

ABET volunteers
• All ABET Directors, Commissioners, and
review team members are volunteers.
• They serve without compensation of any kind in

service to education and the profession.
• They are only reimbursed for actual expenses in

conducting ABET activities.
• More than 2000 volunteers contribute to ABET

activities.

Session outline
1. What is ABET?
Requirements
6. Final Notes

Basis for determining whether
a program is accredited
• Primary: ABET Criteria for program
accreditation.
• Also: ABET Accreditation Policies and

Procedures Manual (APPM)
• Qualification requirements for accreditation
consideration.
• Administrative procedures and requirements.

Requirement for accreditation
• A program can be accredited only if every

applicable criterion and policy is satisfied.
• That is: If any applicable criterion or policy is not

met, then the program cannot be accredited.

ABET criteria documents
• There is one criteria document for each
commission:
• ANSAC: Criteria for Accrediting Natural and Applied
Science Programs
• CAC: Criteria for Accrediting Computing Programs
• EAC: Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs
• ETAC: Criteria for Accrediting Engineering

Technology Programs

Structure of criteria
• The structure of the undergraduate (bachelor’s)
criteria for each commission is the same:
• General Criteria: Criteria that apply to every

program accredited by the commission.
• Program Criteria: Additional criteria that apply to

specific program names.

General Criteria
Same for all commissions:
1. Students
2. Program Educational Objectives
3. Student Outcomes
4. Continuous Improvement
5. Curriculum
6. Faculty
7. Facilities
8. Institutional Support
Program Criteria
• Additional criteria requirements for individual
programs, determined by the name (title) of the
program

General Criteria details
• In this section the details for each General
Criterion are discussed.
• The criteria are the same for all commissions

except:
• Criteria 3 (Student Outcomes), 5 (Curriculum), 6
(Faculty)

Criterion 1. Students
Criterion statement (part 1):
Student performance must be evaluated.
Student progress must be monitored to foster
success in attaining student outcomes, thereby
enabling graduates to attain program
educational objectives. Students must be
advised regarding curriculum and career
matters.

Criterion 1. Students
(continued)
Criterion statement (remainder):
The program must have and enforce policies for
accepting both new and transfer students,
awarding appropriate academic credit for
courses taken at other institutions, and awarding
appropriate academic credit for work in lieu of
courses taken at the institution. The program
must have and enforce procedures to ensure
and document that students who graduate meet
all graduation requirements.

Criterion 2. Program
Educational Objectives
Definition: Program educational objectives are
broad statements that describe what graduates
are expected to attain within a few years of
graduation.
Note: PEOs are the expected professional

accomplishments of graduates a few years after
beginning their careers.
Example: Graduates will be successful in designing
solutions for complex computing projects.

Educational Objectives (1)
The program must have published program
educational objectives that are consistent with
the mission of the institution, the needs of the
program’s various constituencies, and these
criteria.

Educational Objectives (2)
There must be a documented, systematically
utilized, and effective process, involving
program constituencies, for the periodic review
of these program educational objectives that
ensures they remain consistent with the
institutional mission, the program’s
constituents’ needs, and these criteria.

Criterion 3. Student Outcomes
Definition: Student outcomes are descriptions of
what students are expected to know and be able
to do by the time of graduation.
Example: Graduating students will have an

ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex
computing problems.
Note: Criterion 3 is different for each

commission. Criterion 3 for the EAC is shown
here.
Criterion 3. Student Outcomes (EAC)
The program must have documented student
outcomes that support the program educational
objectives. Attainment of these outcomes
prepares graduates to enter the professional
practice of engineering. Student outcomes are
outcomes (1) through (7), plus any additional
outcomes that may be articulated by the
program.
1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve
complex engineering problems by applying
principles of engineering, science, and
mathematics

2. an ability to apply engineering design to
produce solutions that meet specified needs
with consideration of public health, safety, and
welfare, as well as global, cultural, social,
environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a

range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional

responsibilities in engineering situations and
make informed judgments, which must consider
the impact of engineering solutions in global,
economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team
whose members together provide leadership,
create a collaborative and inclusive
environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and
meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate
experimentation, analyze and interpret data,
and use engineering judgment to draw
conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new
knowledge as needed, using appropriate
learning strategies.
Criterion 4. Continuous Improvement
• Note: The “student outcomes” in this criterion

refer to all student outcomes defined in
accordance with Criterion 3.

Definitions:
Assessment refers to processes for identifying

and collecting data to evaluate the attainment of
student outcomes.
Evaluation refers to processes for interpreting

the data obtained through assessment
processes.

The program must regularly use appropriate,

documented processes for assessing and
evaluating the extent to which the student
outcomes are being attained.

The results of these evaluations must be

systematically utilized as input for the
continuous improvement of the program.
Other available information may also be used to

assist in the continuous improvement of the
program.

Continuous Improvement
36
Processes Cycle
For each student outcome:
Identify sources Collect Evaluate

of assessment assessment assessment
data data data
No Action
needed
?
Determine
Implement Yes
action
action
needed
37
Continuous Improvement Notes
• Details on ways to implement good continuous

improvement processes require far more time
than is available today.
• ABET provides multi-day workshops on

implementing good continuous improvement
processes.
• It is difficult to implement good processes

without knowledgeable help.
38
Criterion 5. Curriculum
• Note: Criterion 5 is different for each

commission.
• Criterion 5 for engineering programs is shown

here.
39
EAC criterion statement (part 1):

The curriculum requirements specify subject areas
appropriate to engineering but do not prescribe
specific courses. The program curriculum must
provide adequate content for each area,
consistent with the student outcomes and program
educational objectives, to ensure that students are
prepared to enter the practice of engineering. The
curriculum must include:
EAC criterion statement (part 2):
(a) a minimum of 30 semester credit hours (or
equivalent) of a combination of college-level
mathematics and basic sciences with
experimental experience appropriate to the
program.
(b) a minimum of 45 semester credit hours (or

equivalent) of engineering topics appropriate to
the program, consisting of engineering and
computer sciences and engineering design, and
utilizing modern engineering tools.
EAC criterion statement (remainder):
c) a broad education component that complements
the technical content of the curriculum and is
consistent with the program educational
objectives.
d) a culminating major engineering design

experience that 1) incorporates appropriate
engineering standards and multiple constraints,
and 2) is based on the knowledge and skills
acquired in earlier course work.

Notes:
1. The EAC major design experience is a major
project, normally spread over the two
semesters of the final year.
2. The EAC major design experience must be

required of all engineering students and is a
very important consideration in an evaluation
of the program for accreditation.

Notes:
3. The various program criteria normally specify

additional curriculum requirements for
specific program names.

Criterion 6. Faculty
• There are some variations in the Faculty
Criterion for each commission, but all are
similar.
• The Faculty Criterion for the Engineering

Accreditation Commission is shown here.

EAC criterion statement (first sentence):
The faculty must be of sufficient number and

must have the competencies to cover all of
the curricular areas of the program.

EAC criterion statement (second sentence):
There must be sufficient faculty to

accommodate adequate levels of student-
faculty interaction, student advising and
counseling, university service activities,
professional development, and interactions
with industrial and professional practitioners,
as well as employers of students.

EAC criterion statement (third sentence):
The program faculty must have appropriate

qualifications and must have and
demonstrate sufficient authority to ensure the
proper guidance of the program and to
develop and implement processes for the
evaluation, assessment, and continuing
improvement of the program, its educational
objectives and outcomes.

EAC criterion statement (last sentence):
The overall competence of the faculty may be

judged by such factors as education, diversity
of backgrounds, engineering experience,
teaching effectiveness and experience, ability
to communicate, enthusiasm for developing
more effective programs, level of scholarship,
participation in professional societies, and
licensure as Professional Engineers.

Criterion 7. Facilities
Criterion statement (first sentence):
Classrooms, offices, laboratories, and

associated equipment must be adequate to
support attainment of the student outcomes
and to provide an atmosphere conducive to
learning.

Criterion statement (second sentence):
Modern tools, equipment, computing

resources, and laboratories appropriate to the
program must be available, accessible, and
systematically maintained and upgraded to
enable students to attain the student
outcomes and to support program needs.

Criterion statement (third sentence):
Students must be provided appropriate

guidance regarding the use of the tools,
equipment, computing resources, and
laboratories available to the program.

Criterion statement (last sentence):
The library services and the computing and

information infrastructure must be adequate
to support the scholarly and professional
activities of the students and faculty.

Note:
The Accreditation Policies and Procedures
Manual (APPM) states that the review team will
examine facilities in order to assure that the
instructional and learning environments are
adequate and are safe for the intended
purposes.

Criterion 8. Institutional
Support
Criterion statement (first sentence):
Institutional support and leadership must be

adequate to ensure the quality and continuity
of the program.

Support
Criterion statement (second sentence):
Resources including institutional services,

financial support, and staff (both
administrative and technical) provided to the
program must be adequate to meet program
needs.

Support
Criterion statement (third sentence):
The resources available to the program must

be sufficient to attract, retain, and provide for
the continued professional development of a
qualified faculty.

Support
Criterion statement (last sentence):
The resources available to the program must

be sufficient to acquire, maintain, and operate
infrastructures, facilities, and equipment
appropriate for the program, and to provide
an environment in which student outcomes
can be attained.

Program Criteria
• As previously stated, there are additional
criteria for specific programs, depending on the
program name (or title).
• Program criteria are not demonstrated here.

Other Criteria
• There also are criteria for master’s programs

and for other undergraduate programs
(associates, etc.) for those commissions that
accredit such programs.

Session outline
1. What is ABET?
Requirements
6. Final Notes

APPM Requirements
• In addition to the safety requirement noted
above in the Criterion 7 section, there are
several important policies and requirements
stated in the ABET APPM.
• Four of the APPM that most often are directly

related to an accreditation review are listed
here.

APPM Requirements (1)
All statements on accreditation status must refer

only to those programs that are accredited. No
implication should be made that accreditation by
one of the ABET commissions applies to any
programs other than the accredited ones.

Institution catalogs and similar publications must

clearly indicate the programs accredited by the
commissions of ABET as separate and distinct
from any other programs or kinds of
accreditation. Each accredited program must be
specifically identified as “accredited by the
_________ Accreditation Commission of ABET,
http://www.abet.org.”

Each ABET-accredited program must publicly

state the program’s educational objectives and
student outcomes.
Each ABET-accredited program must publicly

post annual student enrollment and graduation
data per program.

Session outline
1. What is ABET?
Requirements
6. Final Notes

ABET Accreditation Process
• The primary sources of information for an
ABET program review are:
• A self-study prepared in advance by program
faculty.
• An onsite visit to the program by a review team.
• The commission uses the findings from a

program review to determine the proper
accreditation action for the program.

Self-Study
• The self-study provides discussion and
documentation on how the program satisfies
each criterion.
• It is the responsibility of the program to explain and
document how each criterion is satisfied.
• Preparation of the self-study is a substantial

amount of work.
• At least six months (part-time), and preferably
more, should be allocated to self-study preparation.
• A Word template for the self-study of each

commission is provided on the ABET website.
Onsite review visit
During a three-day onsite (campus) visit, an
ABET review team will:
• Conduct interviews with faculty, students, and
administrators.
• Review course materials.
• Review materials documenting outcomes
assessment and evaluation, and their use in
continuous improvement.
• Observe laboratories and other program
facilities.

Materials display
• During the onsite review visit, the program
must provide a display of course and
assessment materials including:
• Textbook, syllabus, copies of exams, homework,
projects, etc. for each major course.
• Samples of graded student work for each course.
• Documentation for continuous improvement

process results during the past 3-5 years.

Frequency of reviews
• Once accredited, a program must have another

full review every six years.
• A partial review in two years is required if a

weakness is found during a review.

Accreditation process details
• The details of the accreditation process and

associated requirements are given in the ABET
Accreditation Policies and Procedures Manual
(APPM), available on the ABET web site.

Session outline
1. What is ABET?
Requirements
5. International Accreditation for Computing
and Engineering Programs
6. Final Notes

Accreditation Accords
• There are international mutual-recognition
accreditation accords for computing and engineering:
• Seoul Accord – Computing Professional
• Washington Accord – Professional Engineer
• Sydney Accord – Engineering Technologist
• Dublin Accord – Engineering Technician
• An accord consists of accreditation organizations that

mutually recognize the accreditation of all accord
members as being substantially equivalent for
preparing graduates to begin professional practice.

Accreditation Accords and
outcomes-based accreditation
• The computing and engineering accords base
substantial equivalency on a set of Graduate
Attributes.
• Graduate attributes are essentially outcomes that are
expected of graduates of any program accredited by accord
members.
• Each signatory (member) of an accord is expected to
ensure that graduates of its accredited programs attain the
specified graduate attributes for the accord.
• All signatories of the computing and engineering

accords have established, or are establishing,
outcomes-based criteria for accreditation.
Alternatives to ABET for
international accreditation
• Each of the accords has a website listing
contact information for the accord members:
Seoul Accord (computing):

www.seoulaccord.org
Washington Accord (engineering)

www.ieagreements.org
• Some of the accord members conduct

accreditation outside their home country.
Advantages of international
program accreditation
Accreditation by a recognized international
accreditation organization:
• Certifies that graduates of the program are
prepared to enter the profession associated with the
program.
• Makes the program more attractive to international

students.
• Facilitates mobility by graduates of the program in

international work.

Session outline
1. What is ABET?
Requirements
6. Final Notes

Summary (1)
• Preparing for an ABET accreditation review is a
lot of work.
• Program modifications are usually required to
implement good continuous improvement
processes and to bring the curriculum into
compliance with the criteria.
• Additional faculty and laboratory facilities may
also be needed.

Summary (2)
• Becoming ready for an ABET review can

require up to four years or more.
• Graduates at the time of accreditation must be from
an accreditable program of study.
• It is better to prepare well on a reasonable time

schedule than to attempt to complete
preparations in less time than needed for a
high-quality result.

Observations on preparing for
initial ABET accreditation (1)
Almost all programs, including African programs,
require substantial work in:
• Designing and implementing adequate outcomes
assessment and continuous improvement processes.
• Designing and implementing appropriate processes

for the periodic review of program educational
objectives.
• For engineering programs, implementing an

adequate major design experience.

• There may be significant curriculum
modifications needed.
• Current graduates must satisfy the criteria
curriculum requirements.
• Some lab improvement may be needed.

• Especially safety procedures.
• Adequate advising, especially career advising,

may be needed.

• The cost of ABET accreditation for non-US

programs is substantial.
• Details are on the ABET website.

ABET acceptance of a request
for evaluation
• Programs desiring an ABET review for possible
accreditation must submit a Request for
Evaluation.
• ABET will decide whether to perform the

evaluation based on whether the program
meets the APPM requirements for
consideration and whether the health and
safety conditions are acceptable for a review
team site visit.
Resources
• ABET web site: http://www.abet.org
• ABET workshops
• On outcomes assessment and continuous
improvement
• Information on the ABET website
• ABET Symposium
• Annual (April) symposium on topics related to ABET
accreditation
• Currently held in the USA
• Information on the ABET website
Thank you for your attention!

ABET Requirements and Procedures

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ABET Requirements and

Presenter: Joe Turner

• Over 30 years of experience in computing and

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 2

• Substantial consulting experience in

• Chaired a team of consultants that reviewed

• Participants will have a basic understanding of

• Participants will be introduced to options for

Course: A collection of student learning activities

Program: A collection of course requirements that

Student outcomes: What students are expected to

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 6

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 7

• Accredits tertiary-level (university) programs in

• Does not accredit departments, colleges, or other

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 8

• Currently accredits 3,852 programs at over 776

• Web site: www.abet.org

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 9

• A decision to seek ABET accreditation is

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 10

• There are non-US engineering and computing

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 12

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 13

• They serve without compensation of any kind in

• They are only reimbursed for actual expenses in

• More than 2000 volunteers contribute to ABET

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 14

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 15

• Also: ABET Accreditation Policies and

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 16

• A program can be accredited only if every

• That is: If any applicable criterion or policy is not

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 17

• CAC: Criteria for Accrediting Computing Programs

• EAC: Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs

• ETAC: Criteria for Accrediting Engineering

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 18

• General Criteria: Criteria that apply to every

• Program Criteria: Additional criteria that apply to

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• The criteria are the same for all commissions

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Note: PEOs are the expected professional

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Example: Graduating students will have an

Note: Criterion 3 is different for each

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3. an ability to communicate effectively with a

4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional

• Note: The “student outcomes” in this criterion

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 32

Assessment refers to processes for identifying

Evaluation refers to processes for interpreting

ACE Workshop 8 November 2017 33

Criterion statement (part 1):

The program must regularly use appropriate,