ABET is Coming – Now What ? (Abridged)

1. ABET is Coming – Now What? (Abridged) Ron Smelser Professor and Associate DeanDean’s Office

2. What is This Accreditation Stuff? • Program Accreditation Assures • Curricular Objectives are Being Met • Students are Being Adequately Prepared • Faculty are Qualified • Graduates are Qualified to Assume Professional Status • Stakeholders are Engaged with the Programs • Parents and Students are Concerned About Accreditation

3. Elements of Accreditation • Course Outcomes • Learning Objectives for Individual Courses • Set by Faculty • Evaluated by Faculty

4. Elements of Accreditation (cont’d) • Course Outcomes • Learning Objectives for Individual Courses • Set by Faculty • Evaluated by Faculty • Program Outcomes • Learning Outcomes for Your Program • Define the skills and competencies of students • Expected at the time of graduation • Set by Faculty • Evaluated by Faculty

5. Elements of Accreditation (cont’d) • Program Educational Objectives • What a Graduate Should be Able to Do 3-5 Years after Graduation • Set by Faculty and Stakeholders • Evaluated by Stakeholders – Primarily • Advisory Committees • Employers • Alumni • Required for Credibility • ABET – Undergraduate Programs • SACS – All degree Programs

6. How We Do It • SPART – Strategic Planning and Assessment Resource Team • Initiated in Spring 1996 • Originated to Support Strategic Planning Process • College-wide Committee • Associate Dean and Assistant Dean Chair • Departmental and Program representatives appointed by chairs • Responsible for Assessment and Survey Instruments • Resource for ABET and SACS accreditation documentation – SPART Web Site

7. How We Do It (cont’d) • ICAP – Individual Course Assessment Process • Directly Assess ABET Learning Outcome • Objective Evaluation • Usually quantitative – not always • May require narrative and recommendations • Each Semester • Individual Faculty Responsibility • Archived for Continuous Improvement • Reviewed by appropriate FAIT(s) • Survey Instrument – Indirect Measure

8. How We Do It (cont’d) • FAIT – Focus Area Improvement Team • Faculty Group Reviewing a Program Thrust Area • Review ICAP Reports • Review Program Educational Objectives • Each Semesterbut at Least Once per Year • Recommend Course Improvements and/or Curricular Changes Based on Data • Archived Reports for Continuous Improvement • What changes implemented • Impact of changes

9. How We Do It (cont’d) • PROBE – PRogramOBjectiveEvaluation • Department Faculty Led by Chair • Biennially Reviewed • Survey Data • Stakeholders – employers, students, faculty • Alumni • Identify Improvement Opportunities From Stakeholders and FAIT • Recommend Curricular Changes Based on Needs Identified for Program Graduates • Archived for Continuous Improvement

10. How We Do It (cont’d) • AIM – Assessment and Improvement Meetings • College Leadership – Deans, Chairs, College Faculty President • Others as Required • Triannual Meetings • Program and Strategic Planning • Evaluation of assessment data • Archived for Continuous Improvement

11. ABET is ComingWhat Do We Do? • Be Familiar with Your Program • Be Familiar with Our Processes • ICAP • FAIT • PROBE • AIM • Frequency of Evaluation • Students/Faculty – Annually • Alumni/Employers - Trienially

12. ABET is Coming (cont’d)What Do We Do? • Be Congenial with the Visitors • Be Honest in Your Responses • Evaluators Can Ask Anyone, Anything , Any Time • Respond Promptly and Professionally