Due Process Response Period

Due Process is the major post-visit activity before the commission confers the final accreditation decision. It begins after the on-site visit is completed, when the commission prepares and sends to the institution a Draft Statement containing a section for each program reviewed. The Draft Statement will include:

  • General information about each program
  • Statements about the program’s strengths, and
  • Statements detailing shortcomings identified by the team

The institution will have 30 days to respond to the shortcomings identified in each program’s section of the Draft Statement. This back-and-forth response period between the institution and ABET is called 30-Day Due Process. During the Due Process Response Period, the institution may contact ABET about improvements made or corrections taken by a program to address the shortcomings identified in the Draft Statement.

The institution may need to provide supplemental information related to a program’s improvement after the Due Process Response is submitted. Supplemental information must be received in time for proper consideration prior to the commission decision-making meeting in July.

Shortcomings

Shortcomings identified in the Draft Statement fall into three levels of compliance and non-compliance with an applicable criterion, policy, or procedure.

  • Deficiency indicates that a criterion, policy, or procedure is not satisfied.
  • Weakness indicates that a program lacks the strength of compliance with a criterion, policy, or procedure, and remedial action is required to strengthen compliance before the next review.
  • Concern indicates that a program currently satisfies a criterion, policy, or procedure; however, the potential exists for changes in the situation that may lead to the program not meeting the criterion, policy, or procedure.

Learn More

If you have questions about the Draft Statement or Due Process Response Period, please contact our Accreditation Department.