What is accreditation?
Accreditation in the U.S. is a non-governmental process of peer
review that educational institutions or programs voluntarily undertake.
Educational institutions may be accredited by multiple accreditation
agencies. Two forms of accreditation exist: institutional and specialized.
Institutional accreditation looks at the broader educational components
of an institution.
Students can get additional benefits from accreditation that looks
at specific programs. Specialized accreditation involves evaluating
a single program in a specific educational discipline, using specific
criteria for that discipline. In the United States, the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is responsible for accrediting
over 2300 engineering, engineering technology and engineering-related
programs at some 500 institutions.
Engineering programs accredited by ABET prepare students for a
profession in which a knowledge of mathematical and natural sciences
gained by study and practice is applied to the materials and forces
of nature to benefit mankind. Engineering technology programs prepare
students for a technologist or technician position that requires
the application of scientific and engineering knowledge combined
with technical skills that support engineering activities. However,
it is important to note that four-year engineering technology programs
prepare graduates to become technologists, not engineers.
Accreditation is a process of external review in which an educational
institution and its educational programs are evaluated against a
set of criteria. Most important to the ABET accreditation program
is the fact that the profession determines the required criteria.
This allows an accredited program to truly meet the demands of today’s
engineering profession, ultimately preparing students for greater
success.
The accreditation process
In the U.S. institutions choose which level of a program will be
considered for accreditation. Most often, the institution selects
its engineering programs at the baccalaureate level for accreditation
review. The actual accreditation process examines the program’s
students, curriculum, faculty, administration, facilities and institutional
support. This information is gathered by the program as part of
the self-study process. This is followed by a campus visit during
which the program is reviewed against its self-study and the established
criteria. The information gathered from the self-study and campus
evaluation report then become the determining factors for accreditation.
More importantly, this self-study and evaluation report can be used
to improve a program’s delivery of engineering knowledge in
the future.
Programs either receive accreditation or are denied accreditation.
Accreditation does not provide a ranking of educational programs.
ABET accreditation is for a maximum of six years, after which a
program must again be reviewed.
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes ABET for the type of
specialized accreditation it provides. ABET seeks recognition by
the Department of Education voluntarily, not as a requirement. The
U.S. Department of Education also provides students with information
on the various types of recognized accreditation and the organizations
responsible for different types of accreditation. For more information
on this and other educational issues, visit the web site for the
U.S. Department of Education at www.ed.gov or telephone 1-800-USA-LEARN.
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) also recognizes
ABET for its accreditation of engineering, engineering technology
and engineering-related programs. The CHEA web site can be accessed
at www.chea.org or telephone (202) 955-6126.
Selecting an engineering program
When selecting an engineering program, students should look at
the demands of the profession as well as the needs of potential
employers. As a result, students selecting an educational institution
should fully understand the benefits of accreditation.
Accreditation at the institutional level ensures that an institution
meets the basic criteria for overall educational components. Specialized
accreditation, such as that provided by ABET, tells students that
a program has been evaluated against criteria specific to that discipline.
ABET accreditation signifies that these programs have met specific
criteria that is determined by engineering professionals working
in industry and education. Accreditation then becomes a tool students
can use to determine a program’s responsiveness to the needs
of the profession. It is with this assurance that students can make
well-informed decisions when choosing to pursue an engineering degree
in the U.S.
Accreditation and leisure
The importance of accreditation goes far beyond the quality of
a student’s educational program. In the U.S., many states require
licensure of engineers for professional practice. State licensing
boards view graduation from an ABET-accredited engineering program
as the first step in the licensure process. Along with work experience,
the state board for engineering registration also requires passing
a series of tests on professional knowledge. Graduation from an
ABET-accredited program is often required of engineers who have
studied in the U.S. and plan to practice back in their home countries.
To an even greater degree, accreditation, and all of the professional
benefits that accompany it, are an integral part of what industry
in the U.S. seeks in young engineers. Employers, as well as ABET,
recognize that well-educated students become valuable employees.
Today’s engineering graduates face a new era in the profession
of engineering. Engineers are now faced with issues of community
and infrastructure development at a time of increasing technological
advancement. With this shift comes an even greater need for young
engineers who work well in a team environment, address the needs
of society at large and take into consideration the political, economic
and social implications of their work. This has become not only
the challenge of the profession, but engineering education as well.
For a list of accredited engineering programs access the ABET web
site at: http://www.abet.org
or telephone ABET at (410) 347-7700.
Author: Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
This article first appeared in TransWorld Education
