ABET Accreditation

The Mechanical Engineering program has received accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

ABET is responsible for assuring educational quality. It is a voluntary, non-governmental process of peer review designed to determine if certain, defined standards and criteria are being met. Accreditation verifies that an institution or program has met the criteria.

ABET accreditation tells students, their parents, and employers that the program has met minimum standards and it has been judged by professionals to provide an adequate preparation for the engineering graduate. It also establishes standards, procedures, and an environment that will encourage the highest quality for engineering technology and that the graduates are aware of public health and safety considerations.

Many state registration and certification boards consider ABET-accredited programs for state licensure and certification. It is also a consideration for admission to many graduate programs.

ABET's new set of criteria for engineering accreditation is termed EC2000. Under this new approach, schools must demonstrate program outcomes and assessments that include the following for a well educated engineer:

• an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
• an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
• an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs;
  
• an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;
  
• an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
  
• an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
  
• an ability to communicate effectively;
  
• a broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context;
  
• a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
  
• a knowledge of contemporary issues;
  
• an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Graduation from an accredited program is an important step to becoming a Registered Professional Engineer.