Most of WPI's engineering disciplines are presently accredited by ABET. ABET (previously known as ECPD) was established in 1933, and has been accepted by the US Department of Education as the only agency charged with accrediting engineering programs. ABET's proposals are usually implemented by committees or commissions, such as the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC or EAC of ABET). These are usually made up from many persons working in or associated with educational institutions. WPI's President Parrish is a member of EAC.
The concept behind "Engineering Criteria 2000" is to evaluate the abilities and skills, college students have gained from their college education. This is in contrast to the current accredidation program. At the moment a student graduates once he or she has accumulated a set of courses. This process does not ensure that the student has the ability to apply the knowledge gained, in a field related to his or her discipline.
Asked to comment on the new criteria, Dean William Durgin said "Big changes are in the wind. The new thinking is much more in line with WPI's philosophy, where outcomes are important, not courses."
Unlike most other colleges and universities in the U.S., WPI has long since adopted an educational program tailored around evaluating the outcomes of a student's education rather than an accumulation of courses. It is not surprising then, that "Engineering Criteria 2000," was setup after what Dean Durgin called "quiet lobbying of ABET" by WPI deans. In fact ABET was at first very resistant to WPI's 'Plan', and didn't wish to accredit WPI's engineering degrees. Circumstances have changed greatly since then, and now ABET wants to follow WPI's example, and establish it into its accreditation process.
"We at WPI are really looking forward to this. It is in concert with our method of education. WPI is not highly known outside New England. This will make us highly visible," commented Dean Durgin, on the advantages for WPI of being selected as a test site.
ABET has already established a testing schedule for the first phase of testing, and WPI has been following the criteria since January. The first phase will entail implementation of the criteria proposed in "Engineering 2000." WPI has already setup a committee to oversee the implementation of the criteria. As soon as March, a team from ABET will visit WPI, meet with the committee to discuss the program in more detail, and see what has already been accomplished. Several more meetings will be conducted between the two parties this year. After this period ABET will analyze the results and prepare a case study based on WPI's implementation of the criteria. The two case studies that will be prepared, (one for WPI, another for the other university) will be used as a guideline for other colleges.
The second phase or "beta testing" will commence early next year. Beta testing will involve four additional universities (2 public, 2 private), six in total which will then implement the proposed criteria. By the end of 1997 ABET plans to have prepared case studies on all six institutions. The ABET board plans to vote on the revised program criteria in November, 1997, and if approved, complete implementation of criteria by the year 2000.
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