ABET Accreditation and Artificial Intelligence Technologies

This statement outlines ABET’s position regarding the use of AI and related technologies within academic institutions and programs and within ABET’s operations in support of ongoing quality assurance in higher education. This statement focuses on adoption of AI technologies in support of quality assurance in higher education rather than within curricular content or student outcomes. However, as appropriate to the discipline, ABET’s accreditation commissions, with approval from the relevant governance body, may incorporate AI-related curricular topics into the general or program-specific criteria.

When implemented effectively, AI can enhance the quality of students’ educational experiences while preserving the development of foundational knowledge, skills and competencies. AI technologies also can support assessment of student learning and preparation for accreditation review.

As a quality assurance organization, ABET is committed to the responsible use of AI technologies. Their adoption must be guided by clearly defined ethical principles, bias mitigation, protection of academic integrity and alignment with student learning outcomes. AI technologies must support and enhance human judgement and interaction, not replace them.

Governance and Adoption of AI Technologies

ABET recognizes institutional and program autonomy and thus will not prescribe whether or how institutions and/or programs govern the use of AI technologies nor how those technologies are used to support or enhance student learning.

Accreditation Review Preparation

Use of AI technologies for accreditation review preparation must involve human oversight and responsibility for information accuracy and integrity. All information submitted for accreditation review must be verified for accuracy by qualified personnel and only authentic, verifiable data and information shall be documented and presented as factual. AI technologies must not alter, manipulate or misrepresent collected data or documented evidence.

AI technologies may be used by ABET-accredited programs to:

• Gather and synthesize information in preparation for an ABET accreditation review
• Support the collection, analysis and evaluation of assessment data to inform continuous improvement processes and/or
• Assist in the development and organization of supporting materials related to accreditation activities.

Use of AI technologies should be acknowledged by the program and the institution must attest to the accuracy of the narrative and data presented. AI shall not replace human judgment in the continuous improvement process.

Accreditation Review

AI technologies shall not replace human judgment in any aspect of the accreditation evaluation process.

All materials and discussions related to accreditation review, including documentation and deliberations related to accreditation actions, shall be handled in accordance with ABET’s confidentiality policies.

Internal Administrative Processes

AI technologies used for ABET’s administrative processes shall be developed using verified data. AI technologies shall be evaluated before implementation to ensure accuracy and identify and mitigate potential bias. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will continue following deployment.

Information supporting AI-assisted administrative processes shall be managed with appropriate security and integrity, in accordance with ABET’s confidentiality policies.

Definitions

Human judgment refers to the deliberate exercise of reasoning and decision-making by individuals, informed by knowledge, experience, contextual awareness, ethical considerations and personal accountability.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies are advanced computational systems and digital tools that enable automated, data-driven analysis, reasoning and decision support.