Be an ABET Program Evaluator

Contribute to industrial and systems engineering education as an ABET Program Evaluator

Are you passionate about the quality of industrial engineering education? Do you want to have an impact on the next generation of industrial engineers? Then apply to become an IIE ABET volunteer.

What is ABET? ABET, a federation of 35 professional and technical societies in applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology, accredits over 3,600 educational programs at more than 700 colleges and universities around the world. IISE is one of the 35 professional societies. For more information, please go to the ABET website at: www.abet.org.

Volunteers from each of the ABET member societies are the heart of ABET’s operations and the face of quality in today’s technical higher education. Volunteers begin their service as a program evaluator (PEV). IISE PEVs evaluate postsecondary degree-granting programs in industrial engineering against a set of general and program-specific criteria. These criteria outline the requirements for students, faculty, facilities, curriculum and other key program areas. It is the program evaluator's job to determine if a program meets these criteria. The evaluation encompasses review of the program’s self-study prior to the program visit, participation in a three-day on-site visit, and completion of a cogent assessment of the program using ABET forms and templates. The annual time commitment is approximately seven days. ABET covers all reasonable evaluation-related travel expenses.

Prospective IISE PEVs must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • Demonstrate interest in improving engineering education
  • Senior membership in IISE
  • At least one degree in an industrial engineering related field from an ABET accredited program
  • Commitment of employer to participate in one ABET evaluation per year (September-December timeframe)

To become an ABET PEV:

  • Complete the application at https://main.abet.org/Evaluator/Default.aspx. The IISE Accreditation Advisory Committee reviews applications in January each year.
  • If your application is accepted, you will be invited to attend PEV training that occurs in the spring. You will also be assigned a training mentor, an experienced IISE PEV, and asked to complete some on-line pre-work in preparation for the face-to-face PEV training.
  • If your on-line pre-work is completed on time, you will attend 1.5 days of face-to-face PEV training. Travel expenses to attend this training will be covered by ABET.
  • Upon successful completion of the face-to-face PEV training, IISE will assign you as an observer on an upcoming ABET accreditation visit. You will shadow an experienced IISE PEV. You or your employer will need to cover travel expenses to participate. IISE will make every attempt to assign you to a visit close to your home location. 
  • Upon successful completion of the observer visit, IISE will add you to the IISE PEV pool. You will then become eligible to be assigned as an IE PEV during the next accreditation cycle. Assignment will be based on your availability and the demand for IE PEVs each year.

To find out more about being a PEV, visit: www.abet.org/volunteer.shtml or contact Elizabeth Grimes.

Individuals desiring more information on the accreditation process and IISE's role can contact IISE's Director of Accreditation; contact information is below:

Jerome Lavelle
Associate Dean
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 7904
120 Page Hall
Raleigh, NC 27695
(919) 515-3263

For further information, visit the ABET website.

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