Aligning the SUNY Poly NCS Program with Nationally Recognized Accreditation

Abstract

This document is an exploration into what types of curriculum changes must be made to accommodate accreditation. In the review of program accrediting bodies, none is more authoritative or more appropriate than the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). In ABET’s requirements for accreditation, computing related programs are defined and delineated. On further exploration, it can be seen that the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has driven the development of those definitions. The ACM further defines goals and objectives for these disciplines, as well as curriculum models. When reviewing other accreditations, not only are these ACM definitions recognized within those accreditations, goal and outcome alignment is also present. This ‘goal and outcome’ methodology is also present in institution level accreditations that SUNY Poly must comply with. After reviewing the ACM program definitions and comparing them to the NCS program, it is concluded that NCS most closely resembles an ACM IT defined program. This leads to the recommendation of adopting and aligning with ACM IT program guidelines, which provides solutions to multiple program and institution requirements as well as creating a solid pathway to accreditation.