Computer Science Accreditation in the USA (Rationale, criteria, structure, and process)

Professor Keith Barker, Director

Institute for Teaching and Learning, University of Connecticut

Fri Mar 18 15:10:00 NZDT 2005 in Room 031, MSCS

Abstract

The accreditation of Computer Science programs has been on-going for about 20 years and we currently have close to 200 accredited programs nationwide. This seminar will address the criteria components of an accreditable program from objectives, assessment, faculty, students, laboratories, and institutional support. Process experiences will be discussed from the perspectives of both visiting teams and visited departments including the decision-making processes and possible outcomes

Biography

Keith Barker is an engineer by education, a computer scientist by adoption, and an educator at heart. He taught engineering at the University of Sheffield in England for 18 years before coming to the USA to join the new Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Connecticut. As Chair of the CSE Department he lead the faculty through its first Computer Science accreditation and reformed the structure of the curriculum to embrace the concept of computer science as a laboratory science. He has won many awards both locally and nationally for his instructional excellence over his 13 years in CSE and has achieved a reputation for his curriculum development work at Connecticut and in national activities. In 1996 he created the Institute for Teaching & Learning and has created a large multi-talented unit that supports media use, technology development, instructional design, and course creation across the campuses. He makes a wide range of faculty development presentations in the New England area each year, is active in the regional professional societies, and is currently a leading player in computer science accreditation at a national level.