Curricular Innovations and Continuous Improvement of Academic Programs (and Satisfying ABET along the Way): The Elizabeth Judson Memorial Symposium: Curricular Innovations and Accreditation
Sponsored by: TMS: Accreditation Committee, TMS: Education Committee
Program Organizers: Alison Polasik, Campbell University; Susan Gentry, University of California, Davis; Jeffrey Fergus, Auburn University; Assel Aitkaliyeva, University of Florida; Kester Clarke, Los Alamos National Laboratory; Subhadra Gupta; Gregg Janowski, University of Alabama at Birmingham; M. Norton, Washington State University
Monday 8:00 AM
October 18, 2021
Room: B144/145
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center
Session Chair: Kester Clarke, Los Alamos National Laboratory
8:00 AM Introductory Comments
8:05 AM
Changes in ABET Engineering General Criteria: Jeffrey Fergus1; 1Auburn University
In the spirit of continuous improvement the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission is continually evaluating if updates to the criteria are needed to insure that the criteria keep up with changes in requirements for the engineering profession. In this presentation, the transition to the recent changes in Criterion 3 (Student Outcomes) and Criterion 5 (Curriculum) that were implemented in the 2019-20 accreditation cycle, as well as other changes that are being considered, will also be discussed.
8:25 AM
Preparing for an ABET Evaluation – Common Issues: Jeffrey Fergus1; 1Auburn University
Writing a Self-Study Report and preparing for an ABET visit can be stressful for those involved. The level of stress can be reduced with better understanding of what is, and is not, required to have a successful evaluation. In this presentation, the ABET accreditation evaluation process will be reviewed and some issues that commonly arise will be discussed.
8:45 AM
Universities, DOD Manufacturing Institutes and US Manufacturing- The MEEP Program: Cindy Waters1; Jeremy Chang1; 1Carderock Division Naval Surface Warfare Center
Experts agree more engineers are needed to rebuild American manufacturing. Stakeholders in the Department of Defense (DOD) believe that a skilled workforce has been the bedrock of national security. Universities play a key role in providing this education yet there must also be buy-in from industry, and the DOD. The OSD for R&E in partnership with ONR, funded a group of educational and industry partners through the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program (MEEP). The MEEP supports programs that grow the current and future manufacturing workforce to produce systems and components that assure defense technological superiority. The 13 funded programs include six that work directly with Manufacturing Institutes, eight have a component of a K-12 initiative, and ten have a University or Community College initiative. We work with the organizations to leverage the accomplishments of each program. The methods used to virtually administer the program and the significant results will be presented
9:05 AM
A Survey of the Changes Made for Online Teaching in Materials Science and Engineering Program: Alison Polasik1; Kester Clarke2; 1Campbell University; 2Colorado School of Mines
The switch to online modality has disrupted engineering education for students worldwide. Very few engineering programs offer fully online degrees, and many professors had little experience with online instruction prior to 2020. This relatively limited “virtual experience” created many challenges relating to core aspects of engineering curriculums: labs, design projects, and group work. Yet there is potential for benefit in any challenge. A survey of MSE Faculty was conducted in the spring of 2021 to evaluate how instruction changed. The survey asked professors to identify what tools and teaching methods were used in their courses and to reflect on the experience. Results are compared based on class size, course type, and university type. Particular attention is given to considering what aspects of their revised teaching methods professors intend to maintain. Evaluating our experiences will help the materials education community improve teaching and learning for the future.
9:25 AM Break
9:40 AM Panel Discussion: Assessment and Accreditation Q&A