Harrisburg University’s Computer and Information Sciences undergraduate program has been awarded ABET accreditation, a prestigious standard that guarantees HU CISC graduates are prepared to excel and lead in their field.
ABET, a nonprofit organization, accredits college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. ABET-accredited programs meet the quality standards that produce graduates prepared to enter a global workforce.
“This certification not only recognizes the excellence in our program, but also verifies that school strategies, student resources, and administrative supports all together provide our graduates with quality education,” said Dr. Saeed Esmaili-Sardari, HU CISC Program Director. “We are starting a new chapter in our program which requires more effort, more collaboration, and indeed more support, and we look forward to working to keep our standards high and raising the bar even higher.”
Achieving ABET accreditation caps several years of hard work, and it required a constant open line of communication with ABET, said HU President Dr. Eric Darr. It took program revisions, assessments, and true collaboration between departments and administrators to reach this milestone, he said.
“This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our faculty and administrators who worked tirelessly to accomplish this,” said Dr. Darr. “An ABET accreditation is further proof that our CISC graduates are among the best in their field.”
Behind the scenes, Computer Science Professor Majid Shaalan initially led the assessment activities, setting the stage for HU to proceed. During the visit, ABET team interviewed professors, staff, school officers (student services, registrar and admissions team) as well as graduates and current students. It is worth noting that HU received the highest stamp of approval which states that the program has no deficiencies or weaknesses.
In this process, “the CISC faculty went above and beyond to meet ABET requirements. There are many people to thank. It took a cross-section of the university to receive the ABET accreditation,” said HU Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Bilita Mattes, who also was instrumental in coordinating the accreditation effort. “I am proud of our faculty and staff. This accreditation symbolizes the excellence of our CISC program and HU.”
