Addressing Abet 2000 Requirements For Continual Evaluation And Improvement Of Ece Programs

Abstract

Abstract NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract Session 3560 Addressing ABET 2000 Requirements for Continual Evaluation and Program Improvement Thomas G. Thomas, Mohammad S. Alam University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama Abstract The University of South Alabama (USA) College of Engineering was among the first colleges of engineering in the southeastern United States to apply for accreditation under the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Educational Criteria 2000 (EC 2000). In addition, the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department was seeking first time accreditation of a four-year degree program in Computer Engineering. To introduce the required process of continual improvement that characterizes the EC 2000 criteria, the ECE Department developed procedures for obtaining input from constituencies. One of the key differences in EC 2000 and earlier ABET requirements is that program objectives must be regularly reviewed, discussed, and if necessary, modified. At USA, program constituencies take an active role in defining the program objectives. In addition, program assessment procedures are continuously reviewed and revised in response to constituent input. The participation of representatives from the following constituencies is central to continual program objective review and improvement: • Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) • Alumni • Employers of alumni and of co-op students • Student professional and honor societies • ECE and CIS faculty • Students enrolled in the USA ECE programs • Administration of the College of Engineering • ABET • Prospective high school students and parents • Alabama Commission of Higher Education • Alabama State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors • Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association (ECEDHA) • Southern Accreditation Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS) Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2003, American Society for Engineering Education