ABET Criteria 2000: institutional preparation and experience

In 1996-97 two universities served as volunteer test sites for evaluation of programs for ABET accreditation under new criteria (Criteria 2000). This paper describes the preparation for the evaluation, and the conduct of the visit for the Electrical Engineering program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Criteria 2000 are based on the principles of outcomes assessment and a continuous improvement process relating educational objectives to the curriculum and to educational outcomes. Some lessons learned in this first visit conducted under a set of ABET criteria which are very different from the existing criteria are presented.