2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) employs a systematic approach to aligning the civil engineering profession's needs with its education and practice standards. The primary tools involved in this approach are the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (CEBOK) and the program criteria for ABET-accredited civil engineering programs, which are developed with substantial community review and input. Both the CEBOK and the program criteria are reviewed by ASCE committees and revised, if deemed necessary, on an eight-year cycle.

In May 2019, ASCE published the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge, 3rd Edition (CEBOK3). ASCE then convened a Civil Engineering Program Criteria Task Committee (CEPCTC) in January 2020 to review the current ABET Civil Engineering Program Criteria and propose revisions, if needed, based on (1) the publication of the CEBOK3, (2) a major revision to the EAC/ABET General Criteria which became effective for reviews during the 2019-2020 accreditation cycle, and (3) compliance with guidance from EAC/ABET on curricular topics and faculty qualifications.

This paper is the third in a series to describe the efforts by ASCE and the CEPCTC in reviewing and revising the Civil Engineering Program Criteria. The first paper, presented at the 2021 ASEE National Conference, documented the formation of CEPCTC and its development of an initial draft of proposed Criteria revisions. The second paper, presented at the 2022 ASEE National Conference, focused on a) the solicitation and collection of feedback from a broad community of stakeholders regarding the initial 2021 draft of proposed Criteria changes, and b) further revisions to the proposed Criteria in response to that feedback. This third paper describes the changes to the Criteria resulting from the first phase of the ongoing ABET review and approval process and focuses on the development of commentary and training materials to support the proposed Program Criteria implementation and use. These materials support programs and program evaluators (PEVs). Although not officially part of the ABET Program Criteria, these supplementary materials help outline the intent of the Criteria and offer best practices, references to literature, PEV training, and other helpful resources.

This paper will aid in understanding and implementing the Civil Engineering Program Criteria by the education and professional communities. It is also hoped that ABET's Member Societies might be encouraged by this series of papers to share their approaches to program criteria development, thereby fostering a "best practices" dialogue for the betterment of the engineering profession.

COORDINATING NOTE: This abstract is submitted at the specific invitation and request of the co-chairs of the ASCE Liaison Committee of the Civil Engineering Division of ASEE. It should be considered for inclusion in the session(s) on "Educational & Professional Issues of Strategic Importance to the Civil Engineering Profession – and ASCE" that Leslie Nolen and Scott Hamilton are organizing for the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (June 25-28, 2023; Baltimore, MD).