Vaughn College’s mechatronic engineering bachelor of science degree has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. ABET is the recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET accreditation demonstrates a program’s commitment to providing its students with a quality education.

This is a new accreditation for Vaughn College, one of a limited number of colleges that offers an ABET-accredited mechatronic engineering degree program nationwide. The accreditation extends retroactively from October 1, 2011.

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

“This acknowledgement from ABET is a testament to the efforts by our faculty and staff to ensure that we provide a high quality education. This accreditation action by ABET is an endorsement of those collective efforts,” said Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo.

Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process that 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.

“We are incredibly pleased to receive this important certification from ABET for our mechatronic engineering degree for the first time, as well as receiving reaccreditation for all of our engineering technology programs,” said Dr. Hossein Rahemi, engineering and technology department chair. “This affirmation provides students and their families with an assurance from an external reviewer that a Vaughn college degree has value.”

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.

ABET is a not-for-profit organization, owned and operated by its more than 30 professional and technical member societies.  An internationally respected organization with some 2,200 volunteers, ABET has set the higher-educational standards in its fields for more than 80 years.  More information about ABET, its member societies, and the evaluation criteria used to accredit programs can be found at www.abet.org.