ABET: Assuring Quality in Education

1. Board Orientation21 march 2014

2. Topics • Welcome & Introductions • Who is ABET? • ABET Structure • Basics of ABET Accreditation • Global Engagement • Director’s Duties and Responsibilities • Legal Considerations • ABET Financial Structure (Treasurer/CFO) • Future Challenges • Scenario Explorations (President) • Board Focus Areas (President)

3. Welcome & Introductions

4. Objectives for Today: Understanding of: • ABET’s vision, mission & structure • ABET history & recent highlights • ABET finances • Roles and responsibilities of Directors and the Board • Strategy-Making for ABET • Looking forward to 2014

5. Who is ABET? ABET Essentials

6. Brief ABET History 1932Engineers Council for Professional Development (ECPD) established 1936ECPD first evaluated engineering degree programs 1980 Name changed to “Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology” (ABET) 1980 Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) signed with Canada (1st international agreement) 1989Washington Accord Agreement signed with Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand 1994Policies and Procedures for Substantial Equivalency evaluations (evaluations outside the US) approved 1995-2000Major criteria reform (Engineering Criteria 2000) 2006Substantial Equivalency discontinued 2007 Accreditation of Programs outside the US began 2011 IFEES, GEDC Membership

7. ABET Vision ABET is recognized as the worldwide leader in assuring quality and stimulating innovation in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology education.

8. ABET Mission ABET serves the public globally through the promotion and advancement of education in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. • Accredits educational programs. • Promotes quality and innovation in education. • Consults and assists in the development and advancement of education worldwide. • Communicates and collaborates with its constituents and the public. • Anticipates and prepares for the changing educational environment and the future needs of its constituents. • Manages its operations and resources in an effective and fiscally responsible manner.

9. ABET is a Program AccreditorAlso called “Specialized” Accreditor • Evaluates programs • Not Institutions • Not degrees, diplomas, courses • Relevant, technically strong • Professional skills • Graduates ready to enter “the profession” • AS, BS, MS levels • Peer review process • Recognized by CHEA in U.S.

10. Value of ABET Accreditation • Widely recognized throughout the world • Recognition of the commitment to quality education • Outcomes based approach • “What is learned” vs “What is taught” • Emphasis on Continuous Quality Improvement • Criteria encourages innovation

11. ABET Value Students & Parents • Helps students select quality programs • Shows institution is committed to improving the educational experience • Helps students prepare to enter “the profession” • Enhances employment opportunities • Establishes eligibility for financial aid and scholarships

12. ABET ValueInstitutions • “Third party” confirmation of quality of programs • Prestige, recognition by “the profession” • Competition for the best students • Acceptability of transfer credits • Some external funding depends on accreditation status

13. ABET ValueFaculty • Encourages “best practices” in education • Structured mechanisms for self-improvement • Institution is serious and committed to improving quality • Facilities, financial resources, training, etc.

14. ABET ValueIndustry • Ensures educational requirements to enter “the profession” are met • Aids industry in recruiting • ensures “baseline” of educational experience • Enhances mobility • Opportunity to help guide the educational process • Program’s Industrial Advisory Groups • Professional, technical societies

15. ABET Value Society • Helps ensure public safety • Graduates are ready for the profession • Supports professional licensure, certification • Engages multiple constituents • Academe, industry, public • Identifies programs for investment of public and private funds • Some assurance to taxpayers • Funds for higher education are appropriately spent

16. ABET’s 33 Member Societies

17. Member Societies • Represent “the Profession” • Develop Program Criteria • Appoint Board Members • Nominate Commissioners • Recruit and Assign Program Evaluators

18. ABET Organizational StructureVolunteer-Driven: 2,000+ Volunteers • Board of Directors • Nominated by member societies • Provide strategic direction and plans • Decide policy and procedures • Approve criteria • 4 Commissions • ASAC, CAC, EAC, ETAC • Make decisions on accreditation status • Implement accreditation policies • Propose changes to criteria • Program Evaluators • Visit campuses • Evaluate individual programs • Make initial accreditation recommendations • “Face of ABET” 100% of accreditation decisions are made by volunteers

19. Computing Accreditation Commission Engineering Accreditation Commission Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission Applied Science Accreditation Commission Board of Directors Committees Accreditation Council ABET Organizational Structure HQ Staff (Baltimore) Global Council Industry AdvisoryCouncil Academic AdvisoryCouncil

20. ABET Board of Directors • 5 Officers • President, Pres-Elect, Past Pres, Secretary, Treasurer • 1-year terms, except for Treasurer who serves for 2 years • 41 Directors • 1 to 3 Directors from each member society • 3-year term, renewable for additional term • 5 Public Directors • Right to vote; no affiliation with member societies • 3-year term, renewable for additional term • 3 Associate Member Representatives • Privilege of the floor, but no vote

21. ABET Headquarters

22. HQ Communicationsfor Board Members • Michael Milligan, Executive Director • mmilligan@abet.org 410-347-7712 • Amanda Taylor, Executive Assistant • ataylor@abet.org 410-347-7732 • MyABET– secure website • HQ Reports • Monthly Financial Reports • Also included in HQ reports • Personal call from Executive Director • Winter/Spring

23. HQ Communicationsfor Board Members • Media inquiries • Forward to ABET Communications Dept • Ms Danielle Baron, Director, Global Communications and Marketing • 410-347-7729 • dbaron@abet.org • Crisis communications • Speaker’s Kit • Official Photos & Biographies

24. Basics of ABET accreditation

25. Generally Accepted Accreditation Principles • Non-governmental organization • Accreditation is Voluntary • Fair and impartial peer review process • 18 month process • Requires self-assessment by the program/school • Continuous process (reviewed every n years) • Failure of single criterion results in loss of accreditation • Deficiencies in one area CANNOT be compensated by strengths in other areas

26. ABET’s Global Activities Global Engagement

27. ABET’s Reach Is GlobalFundamental to ABET’s Mission ABET Strategic Vision Provide world leadership in assuring quality and in stimulating innovation in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology education.

28. ABET is Engaged GloballyConsistent with ABET’s Mission & Vision • Board approved ABETGlobal Strategic Plan • Accredit Programs outside the U.S. • MOUs with 15 national agencies • Mutual Recognition Agreements • Engineers Canada • International Engineering Alliance (IEA) • Seoul Accord • Membership in Global Organizations • Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) • Intl Federation of Engr Education Societies (IFEES)

29. Global Accreditation ActivitiesAs of 1 Oct 2013 • Accredited 3,367 programs at 684 colleges & universities in 24 countries • Non-U.S. Programs • Accredited 365programs at 72institutions • Uniform accreditation criteria, policies and procedures used for all visits, regardless of location

30. 365 programs at 72 institutions in 23 countries • Non-U.S. ABET AccreditationAs of 1 Oct 2013 365 324 268 181 79 33

31. Trends in Non-U.S. AccreditationCountry & Region

32. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)

33. Mutual Recognition Agreements • International agreement • Between bodies responsible for accrediting engineering degree programs • Recognizes “substantial equivalency” • of accrediting systems • Graduates of accredited programs are prepared to practice engineering at the entry level to the profession

34. International Engineering Alliance • Washington Accord* • Engineering • Sydney Accord* • Engineering Technology • Dublin Accord* • Engineering Technician • APEC Engineer Agreement • Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation • Engineers Mobility Forum • Professional Engineers Register • Engineering Technologist Forum * signatory

35. Washington AccordEngineering • ABET: U.S. (1989) • IEAust: Australia (1989) • CEAB: Canada (1989) • IEI: Ireland (1989) • IPENZ: New Zealand (1989) • EngC: UK (1989) • HKIE: Hong Kong (1995) • ECSA: South Africa (1999) • JABEE: Japan (2005) • IES: Singapore (2006) • IEET:Chinese Taipei (2007) • ABEEK: South Korea (2007) • BEM: Malaysia (2009) • MUDEK: Turkey (2011) • AEER: Russia (2012)

36. Sydney Accord4 Year Engineering Technologist • Australia - IEAust • Canada - CEAB • Hong Kong China - HKIE • Ireland - IEI • New Zealand - IPENZ • South Africa - ECSA • United Kingdom - EngC • United States – ABET

37. Dublin Accord2 Year Engineering Technician • Australia - IEAust • Canada - CEAB • Ireland - IEI • South Korea - ABEEK • New Zealand - IPENZ • South Africa - ECSA • United Kingdom - EngC • United States – ABET

38. Seoul AccordComputing • Australia - ACS • Canada - CIPS • Hong Kong China - HKIE • Japan – JABEE • Korea - ABEEK • Taiwan - IEET • United Kingdom - BCS • United States – ABET

39. ABET Financial Structure

40. Finance • Roles of Audit Committee, Finance Committee & Treasurer • Financial Policies • Organizational Business Model • Reserves & Liquidity

41. Financial Roles • Audit Committee • Selection & oversight of independent auditors • Oversight of Conflict of Interest compliance • Investigation of accounting concerns (whistleblower policy) or Code of Conduct violations • Finance Committee • Prepares annual budget • Maintains 5-year forecast • Recommends society assessments & institutional fees • Recommends changes to financial policies • Treasurer • Chairs Finance Committee • Reviews the ongoing financial operations • Presents current financial statements to the Board • Notifies the Executive Committee if a Society is in arrears for more than six months

42. Financial Policies • ABET Rules of Procedure, Section 12 • Annual Audit required • Investment policies • Reserves • Liquidity • Special Projects • Fiscal Year (October 1 to September 30)

43. Reserves • Total unrestricted net assets minus net investment in fixed assets (exception: real estate is included in reserves) • Goal - 40% of the total expenses, excluding special projects, as reported in the annual financial statements

44. ABET Fiscal Year End Reserve Ratio(40% minimum)

45. Liquidity • Cash plus short-term investments • Requirement – equal to at least 50% of the total expenses as reported in the annual statement of support, revenue and expenses

46. ABET Fiscal Year End Liquidity Ratio(50% minimum)

47. How does ABET pay for the services it offers? (ABET Financial Model) • Institutions pay the direct costs associated with Accreditation including commission meetings, volunteer training and accreditation staff • Societies pay direct costs associated with Governance including Board & Committee meetings, annual report, international agreements • Users(individuals, institutions & societies) of Professional Services pay the costs associated with workshops, publications, annual meeting • Institutions and Societies share the overhead costs (and Professional Services shortfall, if any) pro rata based on the direct expenses allocated to each

48. Financial Model • Member and Associate Member assessments will pay for expenses associated with Governance and a proportionate share of the overhead. • Director’s Fee will be calculated so that total is equal to 50% of the total fees paid by members. • Lead Society Fee will be calculated so that total is equal to 50% of the fee paid by members. All members will pay a fee for each program for which they are the lead society. • Institutional Fees will pay for expenses associated with Accreditation and their proportionate share of the overhead. • Visit fees will pay for all direct costs associated with a visit. • The maintenance fees will be set in aggregate to pay all other direct accreditation expenses

49. Financial Model • The ABET Finance Committee calculates the fees/assessments to be charged annually. • Approval of the Institutional fees and Society assessments resides with the ABET Board of Directors.

50. Organization of ABET Revenue and Expenses • Accreditation • Governance • Professional Services • Planning & Operations • Special Projects