San Jose State University Engineering Assessment Clearinghouse

Aerospace Chemical Civil & Environmental Computer Electrical Industrial & Systems Materials Mechanical

Last Abet Visit: Fall 1999 under ABET 2000 criteria College wide Assessment: Curriculum evaluation: The Curriculum Task Force (CTF) was created in December 1994 to spearhead an effort to review and restructure the undergraduate curriculum in all programs in the College. The first step was to study curricular reforms at other institutions across the nation. The next step for the task force was to engage faculty, students, alumni and industry to develop a curricular framework. In order to systematically obtain input from these concerned parties, the task force developed and distributed a questionnaire to faculty, students, alumni and industry. TInformation gathering also included small group and town hall meetings, reports, and voting on recommendations. The task force developed a set of fourteen recommendations which were subsequently approved by the entire engineering faculty and the Dean in September 1996. One recommendations was "by the beginning of the spring semester of 1998, all departments will be required to develop program educational objectives and implement assessment mechanisms to satisfy the ABET outcomes requirement." Asessment process development: After the conclusion of the work done by the Curriculum Task Force, the College of Engineering expanded its assessment effort from curriculum to program evaluation and improvement, consistent with the ABET Engineering Criteria 2000. A decision was made early -on to centralize and standardize as much as possible so as to minimize the effort for each individual department. A College Assessment Task Force (ATF) was formed in the Fall of 1997 to provide leadership and support to all programs for developing and implementing program assessment plans. Faculty members attended national workshops and conferences on assessment and brought back ideas to work with their colleagues. The task force developed a college schedule, a framework, templates for various instruments for gathering baseline data, and processes for assessment and continuing improvement. Task force members then took these back to share with their department chairs and faculty. Individual programs used them directly or modified them to better suit their program objectives and performance criteria. Department chairs and their ATF representatives worked with the entire faculty and their constituencies to develop the following: program educational objectives and performance criteria consistent with their unique mission, the needs of their various constituencies, and the ABET Engineering Criteria 2000's specifications; an assessment process that demonstrates these educational objectives and their associated learning outcomes are being achieved; a system of evaluation that shows a commitment to continuous improvement. The Assessment Task Force continues to meet regularly to share information, monitor progress, and provide support when needed.