ABET and CSAB had an amazing time at Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) Special Interest Group (SIG) on Computer Science Education (CSE) 2025 Technical Symposium connecting with educators for new ideas to prepare future problem solvers for their careers in the field. We are thrilled to have been a silver sponsor for this fantastic event!
At our two conference sessions, attendees engaged in valuable discussions on accreditation standards and new initiatives. In our first session, Reflecting the Evolving Landscape of Computing in ABET Program Accreditation Criteria, ABET representatives gathered feedback on adapting quality assurance standards to industry trends like skills-based learning and AI. In our second session, ABET: New Programs, New Criteria and New Initiatives, Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) Area Director Paul Leidig, Ph.D., led a discussion on the newest developments in ABET programs, criteria and initiatives.
Leidig noted that attendees were very engaged and appreciative of ABET being there to provide this information and to listen to their feedback. “Participants were very interested in learning about both proposed and approved changes to accreditation criteria and learning about ‘how the sausage is made’ in terms of the process of gathering input from all constituents,” Leidig said. “It was evident that ABET values feedback and that we heard their views which were readily shared. This feedback process leads directly into any changes made to criteria.”
Discussions continued at ABET’s exhibition booth, where Volunteer Experts, including Leidig and CAC Commissioner Andrew Phillips, Ph.D., engaged with attendees alongside ABET CEO Michael K. J. Milligan, Ph.D., Director, Constituent Relations Stephanie Harrington and Senior Director, Global Communication and Marketing Amanda G. Taylor, Ph.D.
Phillips, who has attended SIGCSE for many years, noted the importance of these informal discussions in fostering greater understanding of accreditation. It provides an opportunity for computing education professionals to network, sharing new ideas and getting expertise from other attendees. “This year at the meeting I met a number of folks who have an interest in computing accreditation — sometimes because their own institution is interested in seeking ABET accreditation and sometimes because the person is personally interested in participating in the ABET process as a program evaluator,” Phillips explained.
Phillips, who first connected with ABET at SIGCSE years ago, emphasized the conference’s role in fostering relationships and advancing computing accreditation. That collaboration extends to ABET’s strong partnership with CSAB, the only member society under CAC. “The partnership between ABET and CSAB is very strong, and we’ve worked so well together that we can even finish each other’s sentences sometimes!” Phillips quipped. As the sole member society under CAC, the partnership between CSAB and ABET is essential in our shared goal to ensure quality computing education by recruiting volunteer program evaluators and compelling more computing programs to seek accreditation. “That’s been especially valuable as the criteria for both cybersecurity and for data science are still new,” he explained.
Through these connections made at conferences, ABET continues to strengthen its computer science education community, ensuring our quality assurance standards evolve alongside the field.