UF BME achieves milestone with ABET accreditation

The Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET has accredited the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering’s undergraduate program, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

The department faculty were included in the program’s self-study and in the development of quality assessment methods for the accreditation process. The year-long process was an intensive team effort. This recognition means that the program is held to an international standard, opening up new recognition and opportunities for our graduates.

“The undergraduate biomedical engineering program at UF delivers an exceptionally high level of education and the ABET accreditation is one indication of it,” said Dr. Dan Ferris, Robert W. Adenbaum Professor, Senior Associate Chair and ABET Coordinator for the department. “It is the globally accepted benchmark for engineering education,” he said.

Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance.

Developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET criteria focus on what students experience and learn. ABET accreditation reviews look at program curricula, faculty, facilities and institutional support and are conducted by teams of highly skilled professionals from industry, academia and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines.