Improving Outcome Assessment in Information Technology Program Accreditation

Abstract

As of March 2010, there were fourteen Information Technology programs accredited by the Ac- creditation Board for Engineering and Technology, known as ABET, Inc (ABET Inc. 2009). ABET Inc. is the only recognized institution for the accreditation of engineering, computing, and technology programs in the U.S. There are currently over 128 U.S. schools that offer information technology degree programs listed on the Princeton Review Website and many of these schools are preparing for, or considering undergoing, the rigors of the ABET accreditation process (Princeton Review, 2010). As a result, there is a greater need for administrators and faculty to better understand the accreditation process. To help satisfy this need, a survey of nine accredited pro- grams was done to determine commonalities of successful programs. This paper describes the ABET program criteria and how successful programs have accomplished learning outcomes assessment.