IEEE’s Role in ABET Accreditation Programs Explained
ABET Accreditation: Key Facts & IEEE‘s Role
Table of Contents
there’s a common misunderstanding that IEEE directly accredits engineering programs in the United States. Though, accreditation is the duty of ABET.
What ABET Accredits
- Specific academic programs leading to degrees in defined disciplines.
- Does NOT accredit institutions, schools, colleges, departments, facilities, courses, or faculty.
IEEE’s Involvement with ABET
- IEEE and other professional organizations assist in evaluating programs for ABET.
- IEEE does not have the authority to accredit programs independently.
- 34 organizations, including IEEE, are ABET members, contributing to policy, strategy, and accreditation activities.
- The partnership began in 1932 with IEEE’s predecessor, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE).
- AIEE, along with six other engineering organizations, founded the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development, which became ABET.
ABET Accreditation Statistics (Current as of the source text)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total programs Accredited | 4,770+ |
| Number of colleges/Universities Accredited | 930+ |
| Number of Countries/Regions with Accredited Programs | 42+ |
| Programs where IEEE is the Lead Society | 877 |
The Evaluation Process
- ABET relies on volunteer program evaluators provided by IEEE and other professional societies.
- Evaluators assess programs based on criteria developed collaboratively with ABET and the societies.
- Evaluators require experience in industry, academia, or government.
IEEE Committees Involved in Accreditation
- IEEE Committee on Engineering Technology Accreditation Activities (CETAA)
- IEEE Committee on Engineering Accreditation Activities (Cab)
IEEE Educational Activities supports these committees. Volunteers can progress to serving on ABET’s commissions, perhaps becoming team chairs.
“Years of developing and leading undergraduate electrical and computer engineering programs, including preparing for ABET accreditation reviews, led me to beleive that becoming an ABET program evaluator would be a great way to learn new ways to improve the quality of our own programs while also assisting others.” -Victor Nelson