Work in progress: Engaging faculty for program improvement via EvalTools®: A new software model

In this paper we present our experiences with a new software-tool model for program assessment and evaluation, and engineering programs improvement in assessing learning effectiveness. In the past, the assessment plan was based on the typical practice of assigning a person in the department for overseeing the whole process. The non-collaborative evaluation that is managed by a single program leader is not effective and problematic. To involve more faculty and in an effort to prepare for the most recent ABET visit, we decided to adopt EvalTools® in fall of 2010. EvalTools® is designed and developed according to ABET standards to provide a mechanism for collecting and analyzing data about the program, students´ performance and their learning achievements. In addition, EvalTools® is instrumental in providing a mechanism to simplify the process of inspecting the assessment results as well as identifies strengths and shortcomings of the program before ABET review. More importantly getting faculty members excited about results and involved in the process of program improvement is a major accomplishment. Our experience via first-time implementation of EvalTools® shows very useful results for this model that can be easily disseminated for various programs in various disciplines. In this paper we will show: process of best use of relevant features in aid of streamlining faculty´s time in data collection as well as evaluation was achieved; our results and how we succeeded in improving our program quality in an effective, efficient and systematic way; that simple curriculum revisions for multiple programs as a result of using EvalTools® for programs under going ABET is possible; that capturing the process of effective trainings needed for faculty and staff in a simple manner; faculty´s experience in a constructive and engaging manner.