The Integrative Engineering program graduated its first students in spring 2023, and is now eligible for accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of (ABET) www.abet.org under the general criteria for engineering programs. We are following the ABET schedule and process, which began with a Request for Evaluation notification in January 2024. We will complete our assessment this spring, and in July we will submit our Self-Study Report. We will be visited by a team of ABET program evaluators in the fall and ABET will then write up its report. Assuming a successful completion of the process, the program graduates’ degrees (2023 on) will then be fully accredited by ABET. Henceforth, the program will be on the same 6-year cycle (2026, 2032, etc) as the other B.S. engineering programs at Lafayette.
Throughout the accreditation process, Lafayette will comply with all applicable ABET policies and procedures. Accordingly, the mission statement of the program is provided below along with the program educational objectives and program outcomes.
The Integrative Engineering program is grounded in a systems perspective that leverages methods and concepts from across engineering disciplines within a liberal arts environment. Graduates will be inclusive and creative collaborators, flexible problem solvers, and system-thinkers, with the ability to communicate across boundaries, lead multidisciplinary teams, and adapt to the challenges of a changing world.
The Integrative Engineering program will produce graduates that, within a few years after graduation will:
PEO1) Apply their background in systems thinking, modeling, and design to identify and solve complex cross-disciplinary problems with a holistic mindset; and
PEO2) Practice effective communication, inclusive teamwork, and ethical decision-making with diverse stakeholders and varied audiences; and
PEO3) Consider and appreciate the broad societal and environmental connections and implications of their work through their foundation in the liberal arts and in engineering studies; and
PEO4) Demonstrate intellectual curiosity as adaptive professionals who see connections across disciplines and can develop new skills and expertise to meet evolving societal and technical challenges.
*revised based on 05/23 meeting with the External Advisory Board
SO1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
SO2 ) an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
SO 3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
SO 4) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
SO 5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
SO 6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
SO 7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
These Student Outcomes are the ABET EAC Criterion 3 Student Outcomes