Vaughn College’s previously accredited mechatronic engineering bachelor of science degree has been reviewed and reaccredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. It is currently one of only four ABET-accredited mechatronic degree programs in the US and the only one in the Northeast. The Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET also reviewed Vaughn’s previously accredited engineering technology programs and reaccredited the following programs:

  • Electronic Engineering Technology – Avionics, Associate in Applied Science Degree
  • Aeronautical Engineering Technology (Pre-engineering), Associate in Applied Science Degree
  • Mechanical Engineering Technology – Aeronautical, Bachelor of Science Degree
  • Mechanical Engineering Technology – Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Bachelor of Science Degree
  • Electronic Engineering Technology – Avionics, Bachelor of Science Degree
  • Electronic Engineering Technology – General Electronics, Bachelor of Science Degree

ABET is the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public. To find out why accreditation is important, visit ABET for more information.

“We are very gratified to once again receive this acknowledgement from ABET, the premiere engineering accreditation organization,” said Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo. “Receiving reaccreditation is a testament to the ongoing efforts by our faculty and staff to ensure that we provide a high quality, transformational education for our students—one that can change the trajectory of their lives.”

Sought worldwide, ABET’s accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process that begins with an application and an in-depth self-study report, and requires programs to undergo comprehensive, periodic evaluations. The evaluations, conducted by teams of volunteer professionals working in industry, government, academe, and private practice within the ABET disciplines, focus on program curricula, faculty, facilities, institutional support, and other important areas. The onsite portion of the evaluation typically extends over multiple days.

The ABET team noted Vaughn strengths in supporting students in many areas including: 1) providing the financial support for students to attend national conferences to present research and network with industry representatives resulting in internship and employment opportunities; 2) the widespread promotion of student participation in extracurricular activities, including numerous clubs, professional societies and student competitions where Vaughn’s teams have consistently won top awards in national and international competitions such as VEX U robotics and unmanned aerial vehicle competitions ahead of teams from larger universities; 3) offering the unique Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) program designed to develop students’ abilities and confidence in programming, hands-on experimentation, technical report writing and presentation.

“Graduates from ABET-accredited programs are known to have a solid educational foundation with critical thinking and problem-solving skills and are seen as the future leaders of tomorrow,” said Dr. Hossein Rahemi, engineering and technology department chair. “We are incredibly pleased to receive reaccreditation for our mechatronic engineering degree as well as for all of our engineering technology programs. This affirmation provides students and their families with an assurance from an external reviewer of the value of a Vaughn college degree.”

One of the key elements of ABET accreditation is the requirement that programs continuously improve the quality of education provided. As part of this continuous improvement requirement, programs set specific, measurable goals for their students and graduates, assess their success at reaching those goals, and improve their programs based on the results of their assessment.

In addition to providing colleges and universities a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve their programs, accreditation also helps students and their parents choose quality college programs, enables employers and graduate schools to recruit graduates they know are well prepared, and assists registration, licensure, and certification boards in screening applicants.

Graduates of Vaughn College’s ABET-accredited mechatronic engineering and engineering technology programs find careers in aerospace, automation, automotive, computer, communications, medical, alternative energy and other high-tech industries.

ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization with ISO 9001:2015 certification. It currently accredits 4,144 programs at 812 colleges and universities in 32 countries.

More information about ABET, its member societies, and the accreditation criteria used to evaluate programs can be found at www.abet.org.