Importance of Accreditation

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Importance of Accreditation

• In the United States, accreditation is used to
  assure quality in educational institutions and
  programs. Accreditation is a voluntary,
  non-governmental process of peer review. It
  requires an educational institution or program to
  meet certain defined standards or criteria.
  Accreditation is sometimes confused with
  certification. In general, institutions and
  programs are accredited, and individuals are
  certified.
• The Accreditation Board for Engineering and
  Technology (ABET) is a professional accrediting
  organization that accredits programs, not
  institutions.
• Accreditation serves to notify
• parents and prospective students that a program
  has met minimum standards
• faculty, deans and administrators of a programs
  strengths and weaknesses and of ways to improve
  the program
• employers that graduates are prepared to begin
  professional practice
• taxpayers that their funds are spent well and
• the public that graduates are aware of public
  health and safety considerations.
• State licensing boards and certification programs
  may require graduation from an ABET-accredited
  program as the first step in the registration or
  certification process for professional practice.
  In some instances, ABET accreditation may permit
  students to receive federal funds in the form of
  scholarships, loans and grants. Source
  www.abet.org

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ABET Visit, October 31 - November 2, 2004

• The Department of Computer Science has two
  programs that have been accredited by ABET the
  Computer Science Program and the Computer
  Engineering Program (joint with the Department of
  Electrical Engineering). Having ABET accredited
  Computer Science and Computer Engineering
  programs are very important to the Department and
  its constituencies, and is consistent with the
  missions of the Department, the College of
  Engineering, and the University.
• Once every six (6) years, ABET sends a team of
  volunteers (evaluators and observers), led by a
  Team Chair, to Texas AM to evaluate the programs
  in the College of Engineering, for which Texas
  AM applies for accreditation.
• This year, the engineering programs at Texas AM
  will be visited by ABET under Engineering
  Criteria 2000 (EC2000) for the first time, with
  two new criteria focused on program objectives
  and program outcomes and assessments. The visit
  is scheduled for Sunday, October 31, 2004 through
  Tuesday, November 2, 2004.
• During the visit, the evaluators and observers
  for the Computer Science and Computer Engineering
  programs will meet with faculty and students,
  tour teaching laboratories, visit classes, and
  review course materials and assessment data that
  the faculty has prepared for the visitors to show
  how the Department helps students acquire
  specific outcomes to achieve the respective
  program objectives, and how the Department
  assesses the achievement of the respective
  program outcomes and objectives.
• Program outcomes are abilities that students
  should possess by the time they graduate.
  Program objectives are what graduates are
  expected to have achieved within a few years
  (say, five years) after graduation.

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Computer Science Program
MISSION To prepare intellectual, professional,
and ethical graduates, capable of meeting
challenges in the field of Computer Science and
to coordinate with other parts of the university
to facilitate the effective use of educational
resources, including courses.

• OBJECTIVES
• Graduates of the Computer Science Program will
  have the necessary technical knowledge and skills
  both in breadth and depth, to pursue the practice
  or advanced study of computer science.
• Graduates of the Computer Science Program will
  understand the importance of life-long learning,
  and be prepared to learn and understand new
  technological developments in their field.
• Graduates of the Computer Science Program will
  understand the ethical and technical context of
  their computer science contributions and their
  obligations therein.
• Graduates of the Computer Science Program will
  develop the communication, teamwork, and
  leadership skills necessary to function
  productively and professionally.
• OUTCOMES
• We must demonstrate that our graduates have
• (a) an ability to apply knowledge of
  mathematics, science, and engineering
• (b) an ability to design and conduct
  experiments, as well as to analyze and
  interpret data

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Computer Science Program
(c) an ability to design a system, component, or
process to meet desired needs (d) an ability to
function on multi-disciplinary teams (e) an
ability to identify, formulate, and solve
computer-related problems (f) an understanding of
professional and ethical responsibilities (g) an
ability to communicate effectively both orally
and in writing (h) an understanding of the field
of computing in a global and societal
context (i) a recognition of the need for, and an
ability to engage in life-long learning (j) a
knowledge of contemporary issues (k) an ability
to use the techniques, skills, and modern
computing tools necessary for computer science
practice

• Each program must have an assessment process with
  documented results. Evidence must be given that
  the results are applied to the further
  development and improvement of the program. The
  assessment process must demonstrate that the
  outcomes important to the mission of the
  institution and the objectives of the program,
  including those listed above, are being measured.
  Evidence that may be used includes, but is not
  limited to, the following student portfolios
  student surveys alumni surveys that document
  professional accomplishments and career
  development activities employer surveys and
  placement data of graduates. Source
  www.abet.org

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Computer Engineering Program
MISSION The Computer Engineering program provides
students with an education that ensures an
excellent understanding of hardware and software
systems and the necessary system design and
development skills, and that fosters professional
curiosity and imagination that drives them
throughout their careers. The program will
stimulate and challenge the students with an
exceptional, highly motivated faculty that shares
its knowledge and excitement about Computer
Engineering, well designed undergraduate and
graduate curricula, research opportunities at all
levels, and a first-class educational
infrastructure. The program strives to produce
graduates who are well prepared to excel in
industry, academia and government, and who will
take on leadership roles in shaping the
technological landscape of the future.

• OBJECTIVES
• Graduates of the Program have the necessary
  knowledge, both in breadth and depth, to pursue
  the practice, or advanced study, of computer
  engineering.
• Graduates of the Program understand the
  importance of life-long learning, and be prepared
  to learn and understand new technological
  developments in their field.
• Graduates of the Program understand the
  technical, social, and ethical context of their
  engineering contributions.
• Graduates of the Program have the communication,
  teamwork, and leadership skills necessary to
  carry on the legacy of excellence of an Aggie
  Engineer.

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Computer Engineering Program
Outcomes We must demonstrate that our graduates
have (a) Knowledge of differential and integral
calculus, differential equations, linear algebra,
complex variables, discrete mathematics,
probability (b) an ability to design and conduct
experiments, as well as to analyze and
interpret data (c) an ability to design a system,
component, or process to meet desired
needs (d) an ability to collaborate with a
multi-disciplinary team (e) an ability to
identify, formulate, and solve computer
engineering problems (f) an understanding of
professional and ethical responsibilities (g) an
ability to communicate effectively (h) the broad
education necessary to understand the impact of
computing solutions in a global and societal
context (i) a recognition of the need for, and an
ability to engage in life-long learning (j) a
knowledge of contemporary issues (k) an ability
to use the techniques, skills, and modern
computing tools necessary for computer
engineering practice