Meeting ABET EC 2000 through student research participation

Ever since the announcement of ABET Engineering Criteria 2000, there has been increased emphasis to identify tools and methods, and to develop programs and mechanisms that can be easily implemented and evaluated to satisfy various EC 2000 criteria. Each program will develop methods that are consistent with that program´s objectives and also satisfy ABET criteria. ABET Criteria II.3 Program Outcomes and Assessment requires engineering programs to document, through an assessment process, that their graduates meet the criteria 3 items (a) through (k) requirements. This paper discusses the undergraduate student participation in faculty funded research in its College of Engineering and Technology. It also shows hole most of the Criteria 3 requirements can be met by just undergraduate student participation in faculty research. This is especially helpful in meeting some of the difficult criteria such as the ability to function on multidisciplinary teams, ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems, ability to communicate effectively, and a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning. This paper discusses the student participation in various research programs and how this research participation has contributed to their abilities in the areas discussed. It also lists some of the faculty that have the course.