Panel: IS & IT Program Accreditation: Who, What, Why, and How

The Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET is committed to providing world leadership in assuring quality and innovation in computing education. To carry out this vision, the CAC has proposed changes in the structure of the criteria used to accredit computing programs – computer science, information systems and information technology. The new structure consolidates general criteria that apply to all computing programs, and cites program-specific criteria that apply to CS, IS or IT programs. This is an important reorganization that allows an emerging computing discipline program (e.g., bio-informatics) to apply for accreditation under the general criteria until the discipline matures to a point where a model curriculum can be developed. This new format also begins to move CAC documents to outcome-based statements leaving the implementation to the individual programs. This session discusses the who, what, why, and how of IS and IT accreditation. ABET and AACSB accreditation are compared, the CAC/ABET accreditation process is reviewed, and proposed revisions to the IS and IT programs accreditation criteria are highlighted