There is a common misconception that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) directly accredits engineering programs in the United States. In reality, the responsibility for accreditation lies with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), a global nonprofit organization. ABET is tasked with accrediting academic programs leading to degrees in specific engineering disciplines, without evaluating institutions, courses, or faculty. Instead, IEEE and other professional organizations contribute to the evaluation process, assisting ABET but lacking the authority to grant accreditation on their own.
Understanding ABET and Its Collaborations
Founded in 1932 by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and six other engineering organizations, ABET has evolved into a key player in ensuring quality education in engineering. As of now, it accredits over 4,770 programs at 930 colleges and universities across 42 countries. IEEE serves as the lead society for 877 of these programs. This partnership allows IEEE to play a significant role in shaping educational standards and assessment criteria.
Evaluators from IEEE and similar organizations provide valuable assessments during the accreditation process. These evaluators are experienced professionals drawn from industry, academia, and government, ensuring a well-rounded perspective on program quality. They visit educational institutions seeking accreditation and assess programs against specific criteria developed collaboratively with ABET.
Once IEEE volunteers accumulate five or more years of experience as evaluators, they may be nominated to join the IEEE Committee on Engineering Technology Accreditation Activities (CETAA) or the IEEE Committee on Engineering Accreditation Activities (CEAA). Those who serve two to four years on these committees often have the opportunity to represent IEEE on ABET’s commissions, where they can lead teams during accreditation visits.
Impact of IEEE Evaluators on Engineering Education
Victor Nelson, an IEEE life senior member and professor emeritus at Auburn University, has been a program evaluator for over two decades. He emphasizes the importance of this role, stating, “Years of developing and leading undergraduate electrical and computer engineering programs, including preparing for ABET accreditation reviews, led me to believe that becoming an ABET program evaluator would be a great way to learn new ways to improve the quality of our own programs while also assisting others.” His contributions to the field were recognized with the 2024 IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Accreditation Activities.
Nelson’s extensive experience underscores the profound impact evaluators have on engineering education worldwide. He notes, “As a program evaluator, I have had the privilege of studying and visiting programs around the world, and I never fail to be impressed with and learn from the efforts and achievements of the many students and faculty in those programs.” He expresses pride in contributing to the improvement of engineering education through the accreditation review process.
The selection of new program evaluators is an annual process managed by CETAA and CEAA, with applications varying each year to maintain sufficient evaluators for future accreditation visits. For the academic year 2025–2026, IEEE received 126 applications from 24 countries—105 from academia and 21 from industry or government. This diverse pool of applicants strengthens the evaluation process, ensuring a broad spectrum of expertise.
To understand more about the critical role of accreditation in engineering education, readers may refer to the article “How IEEE Ensures Quality in Engineering Education,” published last year in The Institute.
