News 2011: UMass Dartmouth College of Engineering programs earn accreditation renewal

News 2011: UMass Dartmouth College of Engineering programs earn accreditation renewal
UMass Dartmouth College of Engineering programs earn accreditation renewal

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has received its re-accreditation for its degree programs in Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has received its re-accreditation for its degree programs in Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.   

"ABET's reaccreditation of these engineering programs recognizes the commitment of the College of Engineering's faculty to its students and how the faculty bring into the classroom the excitement and insight that their research brings to the educational experience,'' Provost Anthony Garro said. "ABET accreditation also provides recognition that our educational programs in engineering are preparing students both for workplace and graduate education." 

"ABET accreditation represents a resounding affirmation of the quality of our engineering programs and reflects the sustained commitment of our outstanding faculty and staff to providing exceptional learning and career opportunities for students," Dean of the College of Engineering Robert Peck said. 

ABET is the recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology.  Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process that requires programs to undergo comprehensive, periodic evaluations.  The evaluations, conducted by teams of volunteer professionals working in industry, government, academe, and private practice within the ABET disciplines, focus on program curricula, faculty, facilities, institutional support, and other important areas.   

ABET accreditation requires that programs continuously improve the quality of education provided.  As part of this continuous improvement requirement, programs set specific, measurable goals for their students and graduates, assess their success at reaching those goals, and improve their programs based on the results of their assessment.  This process involves a comprehensive effort by faculty, staff, students, and employers to achieve a common set of educational objectives and student learning outcomes. 

In addition to providing colleges and universities a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve their programs, accreditation also helps students and their parents choose quality college programs, enables employers and graduate schools to recruit graduates they know are well-prepared, and is used by registration, licensure, and certification boards to screen applicants. 

ABET is a not-for-profit organization, owned and operated by its more than 25 professional and technical member societies.  More information about ABET can be found at www.abet.org. 

UMass Dartmouth, founded in 1895, is a comprehensive state university, highly rated nationally, with 350 faculty and 9,400 students in eight colleges/schools.  For more information about the educational programs in the College of Engineering, please visit http://www.umassd.edu/engineering/.