CEE@UCI Undergrad Assessment
Engaging Faculty and Graduate Students in Continuous Improvement of our Undergraduate Programs
Current SO Assessment Status
Spring 2025: assessments must be completed by May 23, 2025.
Fall 2025: next ABET visit!
What do I need to do?
Click HERE for an instructor to-do list
- Plan your Course Learning Outcome (CLO) Assessment
Review the CLOs for your class. They are listed here.
Select assessment instruments (problems, assignments, reports) that align with your course CLOs and ABET SOs (see the CLO SO Map)
- Record your students' assessment scores
If applicable, separate the assessment instrument score from the rest of the assignment.
Report CE and EnE students results separately (who is CE, who is EnE?).
- Complete your Instructor Course Outcome Survey (ICOS)
Click HERE for a typical TA to-do list
- Upload course materials.
Follow the link to the right to get started.
- TAs also should scan/save examples of student work from each assignment, exam, etc.
One (1) high performance, one (1) average/medium, and one (1) low performance example should be saved. One set of three for civil engineering (CE) majors and one set for environmental engineering (EnE) majors.
- Be sure to coordinate with the course instructor.
Assessment often is forgotten about until the end of the quarter. It is VERY helpful if the TA reminds the instructor about assessment. It is also useful for TAs to learn about this process for their own information/experience.
Info on Assessment
Vocabulary
Outcome: Skill or knowledge students should acquire.
SO = Student Outcomes
CLO = Course Learning Outcome
Assessment Instrument: An assignment, problem, or set of problems directly related to or dealing with a specific CLO.
Performance Standard: Score on assessment instrument deemed to indicate student achievement of the CLO (outcome).
It is suggested that fundamental/easy instruments use a performance standard of 90% while a challenging/advanced instrument should use a standard of 50%. However, this is left up to the instructor's judgement.
FAQ
Q: What if my course has multiple CLO associated with the same ABET SO?
You are free to choose which CLO you assess as long as your are assessing the assigned ABET SO(s) for your course.
Q: How can I find out which students are CE and which are EnE?
Instructions are listed here.
Q: What does assessment mean in this context? What is SO assessment?
Q: Are there examples of assessment instruments for each SO?
We do not have a library, yet, but this page contains an explanation and at least one example.
IF you'd like to share your assessment instrument (even if it's course-specific) please send it to joel.lanning@uci.edu to help us build a library!
Q: What is ABET?
ABET = Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
ABET Program Criteria
Civil Engineering
(2021-22)
The curriculum must prepare graduates to apply knowledge of mathematics through differential equations, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and at least one additional area of basic science; apply probability and statistics to address uncertainty; analyze and solve problems in at least four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering; conduct experiments in at least two technical areas of civil engineering and analyze and interpret the resulting data; design a system, component, or process in at least two civil engineering contexts; include principles of sustainability in design; explain basic concepts in project management, business, public policy, and leadership; analyze issues in professional ethics; and explain the importance of professional licensure.
Environmental Engineering
(2021-22)
The curriculum must include:
a) Mathematics through differential equations, probability and statistics, calculus-based physics, chemistry (including stoichiometry, equilibrium, and kinetics), earth science, biological science, and fluid mechanics.
b) Material and energy balances, fate and transport of substances in and between air, water, and soil phases; and advanced principles and practices relevant to the program objectives.
c) Hands-on laboratory experiments, and analysis and interpretation of the resulting data in more than one major environmental engineering focus area, e.g., air, water, land, environmental health.
d) Design of environmental engineering systems that includes considerations of risk, uncertainty, sustainability, life-cycle principles, and environmental impacts.
e) Concepts of professional practice and project management, and the roles and responsibilities of public institutions and private organizations pertaining to environmental policy and regulations.
Full List of ABET Program Criteria: 2021-22
More questions?
Contact: Joel Lanning, joel.lanning@uci.edu, ABET Lead Faculty for CEE@UCI