April 17, 2012
Baltimore, MD – Continuing efforts to increase operating efficiency while meeting the information needs of key constituents, ABET will convert its annual Accreditation Yearbook to an electronic format.
"All of the information in the Yearbook—ABET accreditation criteria and proposed changes; listings of accredited programs; listings of accreditation commissioners and program evaluators; and listings of our Member Societies with 'lead' responsibility for various technical fields—is already available on the ABET website," Executive Director Michael Milligan, Ph.D., P.E., explained. "This step allows us to eliminate duplicative costs of publication and distribution, as well as the allocation of staff time, with no loss in accessibility to accreditation information and records."
The decision to convert to an online format is the latest in ABET's series of initiatives to more effectively utilize electronic media. Earlier this year, the organization converted its Annual Report to an electronic-only publication. Work is also underway to create a new generation Accreditation Management System, which will allow programs seeking accreditation and members of ABET review teams to complete and exchange most review documents electronically. The revised Accreditation Management System is projected to be ready for use during the 2013-14 accreditation cycle.
About ABET
ABET, the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology, is a federation of 31 professional and technical societies representing these fields. Among the most respected accreditation organizations in the U.S., ABET has provided leadership and quality assurance in higher education for more than 75 years.
ABET currently accredits over 3,100 programs at more than 600 colleges and universities worldwide. More than 2,000 dedicated volunteers participate annually in ABET activities. ABET also provides leadership internationally through workshops, memoranda of understanding, and mutual recognition agreements, such as the Washington Accord. ABET is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.