ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates prepared to enter critical technical fields that lead innovation and who anticipate the well-being and needs of the public
Elon University’s bachelor’s degree program in engineering has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.
ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.
“ABET’s accreditation of our engineering program marks a significant step forward in Elon’s mission to produce engineers who are solving the world’s problems,” said Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book. “Thank you to the faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly to build the Department of Engineering and secure this accreditation, and to the trustees, alumni, and friends of Elon whose generous investments have created an exciting environment for learning.”
“We are gratified that the quality of our Engineering B.S. degree program has been recognized with ABET accreditation,” said Gabie Smith, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. “Engineering offerings will continue to expand at Elon, building on the strong enrollment trends so far.”
Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance.
Developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET criteria focus on what students experience and learn. ABET accreditation reviews look at program curricula, faculty, facilities, and institutional support and are conducted by teams of highly skilled professionals from industry, academia and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines.
ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization with ISO 9001:2015 certification. It currently accredits 4,361 programs at 850 colleges and universities in 41 countries and areas.
Elon’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree includes rigorous study and application of engineering principles infused with liberal arts perspectives. Elon’s engineering students graduate with technical prowess, strong communication and collaborative skills, and as global citizens motivated by concern for the common good.
“Earning ABET accreditation is the next step in the advancement of our engineering program. We are excited about offering an accredited degree with a strong liberal arts component, which provides for a unique engineering education,” Scott Wolter, associate professor and chair of the Department of Engineering, said.
Elon’s engineering degree program was included in ABET’s 2021-22 accreditation cycle. In the accreditation process, faculty and administration completed an intensive self-study and hosted a virtual site visit with an accreditation team in October and November 2021.
“ABET accreditation is an external acknowledgement of quality for engineering programs. It signifies that students are held to a common set of rigorous standards so they are prepared to enter the engineering profession upon graduation,” said Associate Professor of Engineering Sirena Hargrove-Leak, who spearheaded the accreditation process. “Our ABET accreditation represents the full realization of an Elon engineering dream, which began when a committee was formed in August 2013 to explore the feasibility offering undergraduate engineering degrees at Elon.”
The campus community is invited to a reception to celebrate ABET accreditation and the opening of the first two Innovation Quad buildings hosted by President Book at 4 p.m. Sept. 12 in Founders Hall.
More information about ABET, its member societies and the accreditation criteria used to evaluate programs can be found at www.abet.org.
For more information about Elon’s B.S. in Engineering degree program, visit elon.edu/u/academics/arts-and-sciences/engineering.