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Basic Principles of Accreditation. Daniela Iacona Director, International Engagement & Governance ACE IMPACT Project Workshop September 25, 2019. T opics. Who is ABET? V alue o f Accreditation Basics of Accreditation. 2. Federation of 35 Professional & Technical Societies
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Basic Principles of Accreditation Daniela IaconaDirector, International Engagement & Governance ACE IMPACT Project Workshop September 25, 2019
Topics • WhoisABET? • ValueofAccreditation • BasicsofAccreditation 2
Federation of 35 Professional & Technical Societies 1.5 million+ practicing professionals
WhatProgramsdoesABET Accredit? • Academicprogramleadingtoaspecificdegree inaspecificdiscipline • Appliedand Natural Science(ANSAC):AS,BS,MS • Computing(CAC):BS • Engineering(EAC):BS,MS • EngineeringTechnology(ETAC):AS,BS
Why Accreditation Matters Accreditation demonstrates • Collegiate programs meet threshold standards to produce graduates that are ready to enter “the profession” • Institutions are committed to improving the students’ educational experience Provides value • Students, institutions, faculty, global industry, general public
UN Sustainable Development Goals www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
Valueof Accreditation • Students • Institutions • Faculty • Global Industry • Society
Non-governmental organization conducts review • Fair and impartialpeer-review process • Professional practitioners, educators on review teams • Uniform accreditation criteria, policies and procedures used for all reviews, regardless of location • Single program, unit, or institution as a whole • Accreditation is voluntary • Requires self-assessment by the program or institution • Generally Accepted Accreditation Principles
Continuous process (comprehensive reviews required at some specified interval) • Failure to comply with a single standard results in loss of accreditation • Deficiency in one area CANNOT be compensated by strengths in other areas • Accredited programs or institutions comply with the standards, but are not ranked • Individual certification vs. program accreditation • Generally Accepted Accreditation Principles
The process of accreditation is evidence-based and should drive decision-making to ensure excellence and enhance innovation in technical education. • Evaluation centers on the evidence provided that supports achievement of each of the criterion • Majority of evidence collected through assessment of student learning • Underlying Principle
Philosophical Shift: “inputs” to “outcomes” • Outcomes-based • Institutions and programs define mission and objectives to meet needs of their constituents • Outcomes: preparation for professional practice • Programs demonstrate how criteria and educational objectives are being met • Wide national & international acceptance • Evolution of ABET Accreditation
On-going process to improve quality of student’s educational experience • Systematic process: documented, repeatable • Assess performance against criteria • Take actions to improve program • Accreditation is a part of CQI • Verification that program meets certain level of quality, and CQI is part of the quality process • Continuous Quality Improvement(CQI)
ABETAccreditation ProcessWhatDoesItInvolve? • Continuous improvement process • Assess student performance against criteria • Use results to improve educational experience • Self-Study report (periodic) • On-siteevaluationbyABET team • Periodic Review • Accredited programs published on ABETwebsite during October of each year
Basic Requirements • Programs must have graduates • Institution must assess entire program • Appropriate institutional accreditation or governmental approval • U.S. Department of Education, or • Regional accreditation agency, or • National accreditation agency, or • State authority • Outside the U.S. • Appropriate entity that authorizes/approves the offering of educational programs
Non-U.S.Evaluations • IdenticalCriteria&Processes • All Reviews Conducted in English • Readiness Review (if necessary) • Request forAcknowledgment(RFA)
How We Can HelpTraining & Resources • ABET Symposium • April of each year • Educational tracks • Peer sharing of best practices • Resource Room – Sample Self-Study Reports ABET Website:www.abet.org • Program Assessment Workshop • Intensive, Interactive 1-day Workshop • Offered multiple times & locations per year • ABET Webinars • Various topics • Multiple offerings Institute for the Development of Excellence in Assessment Leadership (IDEAL)
diacona@abet.org www.abet.org • Thank you!