ABET Accreditation and Assessment

The Computer Science BS program at the University of Maine has been continuously accredited by ABET since 1995, first as an offering of the Department of Computer Science and now as an offering of the School of Computing and Information Science. The BS in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission(s) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Computer Science Program Criteria.

This page provides information to the public about matters related to accreditation and the ongoing assessment and improvement of our program.

Program Educational Objectives

ABET defines program education objectives (PEOs) as “broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years after graduation. Program Educational Objectives are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies.”

The CS BS program’s current PEOs were approved in 2018 by ABET and are reviewed every three years (see Assessment Process).  Our PEOs are:

  • PEO 1: Bring to bear a strong background in the basics of computer science, the theoretical underpinnings of the computing discipline, and the mathematics and science appropriate to the discipline to solve the new problems that will arise throughout their careers.
  • PEO 2: Be highly proficient in formulating and solving the myriad of computer science problems that they will address in the workforce, including the design, implementation, and evaluation of complex software systems.
  • PEO 3: Function effectively in the workplace with the necessary technical and communication skills, whether working independently or in a team setting.
  • PEO 4: Adapt to changes in technology and society through continued personal and professional growth.
  • PEO 5: Understand the role of ethics in their professional behavior and the impact on society of their work as computer scientists.

Student Outcomes

ABET defines student outcomes (SOs) this way: “Student Outcomes (SOs) describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These relate to the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through the program.”

The program’s current SOs were approved in 2018 by ABET and are reviewed every three years (see Assessment Process).  Our SOs are:

  • SO 1: Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
  • SO 2:  Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of computer science.
  • SO 3: Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  • SO 4: Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
  • SO 5: Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to computer science.
  • SO 6: Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

Constituents

The primary constituencies of the Computer Science program are:

  • Current CS students
  • CS alumni
  • Employers in the state and elsewhere

Other, more indirect, constituencies are prospective students and their families, the UMaine community, the State of Maine itself and its citizens, and society in general.

Advisory Board

Board members as of 2022-23:

  • Craig Berry, Program Directory, HCL Technologies
  • Scott Clark, Executive Director for Technology and CIO of the Town of Chapel Hill, NC
  • Jason Judd, Executive Director, Educate Maine
  • Katie Manzo, Technical Product Manager, MarginEdge
  • Brian Rahill, co-founder and CEO, CourseStorm
  • Will Schroeder, co-founder, past CEO, and Opportunity Catalyst, Kitware, Inc.
  • Chris Webster, President, Enterprise Resource Planning Division, Tyler Technologies
  • Katrina Schweikert, Spatial Information Science and Engineering student
  • Usilda Cako, Computer Science student

Assessment process

Our assessment process, or more fully, our “Process for Periodic Review and Revision of Program Educational Objectives, Student Outcomes, and Curriculum”, was approved by ABET in 2018.  It is a three-year cyclical process. In Year 1, we assess our Program Educational Objectives, making changes to them as needed based faculty and Board opinion as well information solicited from our constituents.  In Year 2, we assess our Student Outcomes with respect to whether they are adequately supporting our PEOs, making changes based on faculty, Board, and constituent input.  In Year 3, we assess our curriculum to determine if it is allowing students to achieve our SOs.  This entails using the yearly assessment data and assessments (see Yearly Assessments) and input from the faculty, Board, and constituents.  If deficiencies are identified in the curriculum with respect to how it is addressing the SOs, then changes are proposed to the curriculum, and if they are approved, they are implemented.

The details of the assessment process are provided in our report, Process for Periodic Review and Revision of Program Educational Objectives, Student Outcomes, and Curriculum.

Yearly assessment reports

Retention and Graduation Rates

The UMaine Office of Institutional Research annually compiles statistical data for all programs across campus.  Enrollment and graduation data for SCIS programs (which is a part of MCEC and CLAS) can be found using the following links:

Contact

For more information, contact the ABET Coordinator Laura Gurney.