Accreditation Of Engineering Technology Associate Degree Programs

Abstract

This paper discusses the issues involved with the accreditation of associate degree programs in Engineering Technology, and in particular looks at the concept of having differentiated criteria for such programs. The current Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. criteria makes no distinction between associate degree and baccalaureate degree programs in the general criteria. The author would like to suggest some ways that the general criteria could be modified so as to have a different or modified set of criteria for associate degree programs as opposed to baccalaureate degree programs. This distinction becomes important in light of ABET being a signatory to the Sydney and Dublin accords which provide for the differences between and among technicians, technologists, and engineers.

Successful ABET Accreditation of a Two-year Electronics Technology Program: Lessons Learned

“…The value of going through the extensive ABET accreditation process for two-year engineering technology programs is recognized, and several papers presented at the ASEE Annual Conference in recent years have discussed its various aspects [1][2][3] . This paper presents challenges and lessons learned at our institution from the successful accreditation of our two-year program.…”