Background on Accreditation Evaluation of the BS-CSE program

1. ABET, Inc. is the organization responsible for accreditation of engineering and technology programs. ABET is organized into commissions which carry out the accreditation evaluations. The Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) is responsible for evaluation of engineering programs. The Computing Accreditation Commission is responsible for evaluation of computing programs. The BS-CSE program, given its name, is subject to evaluation by both EAC and CAC.

2. Programs have to undergo periodic reevaluations (at least once every six years but, based on the results of an evaluation, ABET may require additional, interim evaluations) in order to remain accredited. Our program was last evaluated in Au '05. Hence it is up for reevaluation in Au '11.

3. Programs are evaluated against criteria defined by the respective commissions. The EAC and CAC criteria against which our program is evaluated are available here. Specifically, see:
   • EAC Criteria (PDF) (key extract)
   • CAC Criteria (PDF) (key extract)
   • 2011-2012 Accreditation Policy and Procedure Manual (PDF)

4. The evaluation consists of the following steps:
   • We submit a comprehensive self-study document that demonstrates how the program meets the EAC and CAC Criteria.
   • ABET appoints an evaluation team that conducts a site visit (scheduled for October 9-11, 2011). During the site visit, the evaluation team will examine course materials; talk to faculty, staff, and students; visit computing labs, the library, etc.; and talk to various people in the College, in the Registrar's office, etc. The purpose of the site visit is to check the accuracy of the material presented in the self-study and, more generally, to see how well the program meets the criteria requirements.
   • The team presents its findings at an oral exit interview with the university higher administration at the end of the site visit; and submits a draft report about a month or so after the visit. We will have a chance to provide a due process response addressing any issues that the team identifies.
   • ABET typically makes its final decision, based on the draft report and the due process response, during its annual meeting in July. We should receive the final report in August/September 2012.

5. We have submitted the self-study and collected course materials from all required courses and the popular elective courses. All of this is available on-line (log-in required; contact Neelam).

6. Preparations for the site visit on Oct. 9-11 are under way.