ANNUAL REPORT

of the

ACM ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE

for the period

2001 July 1  to  2002 June 30

Submitted by John Impagliazzo

1.  BASIC INFORMATION

1.1  COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The members of the ACM Accreditation Committee are:

                        John Impagliazzo                  (Chair), Hofstra University (2000‑2002)

                        Robert L. Cannon                 University of South Carolina, Columbia (2000‑2002)

                        Neal S. Coulter                      University of North Florida (2000‑2002)

                        Dennis J. Frailey                   Raytheon TI Systems (2000‑2002)

                        Lawrence G. Jones               Software Engineering Institute (2000‑2002)

The term of each Committee member expires 2002 June 30.  See Appendix A for detail information of Committee members.

1.2  COMMITTEE CHARTER

[Policy and Procedures Guidelines ‑ Division 8, Section 2, Subsection 1]

The Accreditation Committee is a standing committee under the Education Board.  The Committee shall be concerned with all matters regarding accreditation of educational programs in the computer field and the certification of computing professionals.

        The scope of the Committee shall include:

1)       Interaction with external accreditation or certification agencies involved with the accreditation or evaluation of programs in the computer field or with the certification of professionals in the computer field;

2)      Providing nominees from the ACM membership to serve as evaluators for activities such as the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC);

3)       To participate in the investigation of the need for additional accreditation activities, including joint participation with other professional societies where appropriate.

        The voting membership of the Committee shall be a Chair, plus additional members as determined by the Chair of the Education Board to be needed in order to accomplish the objectives of the Committee.  The Committee members are appointed as specified in Bylaw 8, and terms of office are also as specified in Bylaw 8.

1.3  COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Education Board  ==>  Accreditation Committee

1.4  COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Mini-meeting: Reno, Nevada 2001 November, at the FIE’01 Conference.

Mini-meeting: Covington, Kentucky, 2002 March, planning meeting, at the SIGCSE’02 Symposium.

Full-meeting: New York, New York, 2002 April, at ACM Headquarters and hotel.

2.   PROJECT SUMMARY

2.1  COMMITTEE BUDGET

The Committee has a $10,000 budget under the Education Board.  It has operated within its budget.

(See Appendix B for 2001-2002 budget.)

Status: Completed

2.2  EDUCATION BOARD

Impagliazzo attended the face-to-face meeting of the Education Board in 2001 December.  Because of its continuing activities and the integration of CSAB into ABET, the Committee recommended that it retain its current structure and status relative to the Board until 2002 June 30.  After that time, the Committee will either terminate or transform into a new entity to address professional practices and qualifications in computing.

Status: Completed

2.3  PROGRAM EVALUATORS AND CSAB

The committee, working closely with the IEEE/CS, had solicited and recommended fifteen new program evaluators for CSAB.  Although the selection emphasis was on industry and minority professionals, the post 9/11 climate has made such a goal unattainable.  As in the previous year, the Committee has worked closely with the IEEE/CS and considered all applicants submitted to CSAC as a unified list nominated jointly by both societies.  In the 2001-2002 fiscal year, the solicitation of program evaluators has migrated to a function of CSAB through its Program Evaluator and Program Criteria (PEPC) Committee.  Impagliazzo represents ACM in that endeavor.

Status: Completed

2.4  PROFESSIONALISM

The Committee has sponsored a panel presentation on accreditation at FIE'01.  The Committee plans no presentation at FIE’02 or at SIGCSE’03.

Status: Completed

2.5  SOFTWARE ENGINEERING ACCREDITATION

The Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET will begin evaluating software engineering programs in the near future.  CSAB, for which ACM is a member, is the lead society for software engineering programs within ABET.  ABET has evaluated no software engineering program even though it has established the criteria for them.  The CSAB expects to modify those criteria in the future.   The selection of program evaluators for software engineering programs is now the responsibility of the PEPC committee of CSAB.

Status: Completed

2.6  INFORMATION SYSTEMS

The Committee was actively involved in the selection of program evaluators for the accreditation of information systems programs.  This activity falls under the current Committee charter.  In the future, selection of program evaluators for information systems programs will be the responsibility of the PEPC committee of CSAB.

Status: Completed

2.7  DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS

The Committee remained ready to engage in activities related to all distance-learning programs.  This area should be of interest to the Education Board and ACM in the future.

Status: Evolving

2.8  PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Committee has proposed a new charter that addresses the educational needs of professional practices and qualifications of ACM’s membership.  (See Appendix C.)  The Committee, via the Education Board, has presented the proposed charter to the EC of ACM, 2002 May 26.  The EC did not accept the proposal as presented.  The Ed Board expects to revise it and present a new charter proposal with associated projects for future consideration by the EC.

Status: Evolving

3.   PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2003 JUNE 30

3.1  PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED

The Committee completed all intended projects under its direct control.  Evolving projects will be the subject of future ACM and Education Board activities.  The direct solicitation of program evaluators by the Accreditation Committee for CSAB terminated as of 2002 June.  This activity is now the responsibility of the PEPC committee of CSAB.  The tenure of all current members of the Accreditation Committee terminated 2002 June 30.

3.2  CHANGES AND MILESTONES

There is expectation that a new committee (tentatively entitled the “Professional Practices and Qualifications”) will emerge over the next fiscal year.  The new committee will continue to monitor those areas involving accreditation and resurrect new projects that affect areas of credentials, certification, and other areas in the interest of the Education Board.

The Education Board will fund up to two individuals to serve on the PEPC committee’s activity in the selection of program evaluators.  This will guarantee ACM’s input to this important activity.  Impagliazzo has accepted this responsibility at this time.  Additionally, the Education Board will fund one individual to act as liaison from CSAB to the Education Board.  Funding for these representatives by the Education Board will take place during the 2002-2003 fiscal year.

3.3  NEW PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

The Accreditation Committee has terminated; it will no longer engage in new projects.

4.   COMMENTS

As mentioned in Section 3.2, ACM will have up to two representatives to the PEPC committee of CSAB and one representative to be a liaison between CSAB and the Education Board.  Both areas are critical if ACM is to maintain its presence in the accreditation activities of CSAB and ABET.  The Education Board would also appoint new people to the proposed “Professional Practices and Qualifications” committee should that emerge and consider proposals for a charter and projects related to the new committee.  The new charter proposal will require approval from the Education Board and from the ACM.

Appendix A

ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS

                                                                 JOHN IMPAGLIAZZO (Chair)

                                                                                Department of Computer Science

                                                                                103 Hofstra University

                                                                                Hempstead, New York 11549‑1030

                                                                                Phone:     516‑463‑6774

                                                                                Fax:         516‑463‑5790

                                                                                Email:      cscjzi@Hofstra.edu

                                                               ROBERT L. CANNON

                                                                        Department of Computer Science

                                                                                University of South Carolina

                                                                                Columbia, South Carolina 29208

                                                                                Phone:     803‑777‑6853

                                                                                Fax:         803‑777‑3767

                                                                                Email:      cannon@cs.sc.edu

                                                                 NEAL S. COULTER

                                                                                College of Computer Sciences and Engineering

                                                                                University of North Florida

                                                                                4567 St. John's Bluff Road South

                                                                        Jacksonville, Florida 32224-2645

                                                                                Phone:     904-620-2985

                                                                                Fax:         904-620-2988

                                                                                Email:      ncoulter@unf.edu

                                                DENNIS J. FRAILEY

Raytheon
Mail Station 8528
PO Box 660246
Plano, Texas 75023
Phone:     972-575-0800
Fax:         972-575-7701
Email:      d-frailey@raytheon.com

                                                                LAWRENCE G. JONES

                                                                                Software Engineering Institute

                                                                                1155 Kelley Johnson Blvd, Suite 111

                                                                                Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920

                                                                                Phone:     719-548-4744

                                                                                Fax:         719-590-7652

                                                                                Email:      lgj@sei.cmu.edu

APPENDIX B

ACM Accreditation Committee

2001-2002 Budget

Acct Name                 Acct #        Amount

‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑     ‑‑‑‑‑‑      ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

Staff Travel                 811            0.

Vol Travel                   812        8,000.

Temporary Help               826            0.

Communications (Telephone)   833          100.

Mailing & Handling           834          150.

Staty/Supp/Furn              835          100.

Printing                     836            0.

Copy & Duplicating           837          100.

Equip Rent & Service         838            0.

Other Prof Services          869            0.

Payments Out / Orgs          881            0.

Meetings & Spec Funs         882        1,000.

Other Misc Expenses          889          550.

‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑--‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑-

TOTAL:                                 10,000.

APPENDIX C

PROPOSED COMMITTEE CHARTER
(revision of 5/13/02)

[Policy and Procedures Guidelines -
Division 8, Section 2, Subsection 1]
(Replaces Accreditation Committee)

The Professional Practices and Qualifications Committee is a standing committee under the Education Board.  The committee will be concerned with the standards of practice, qualifications, and development of computing professionals and will interact with other bodies with similar responsibilities.

The committee shall:

1.  Promote standards of professional practice and conduct;

2.  Promote and facilitate the professional development of ACM members and the computing community as a whole;

3.  Interact with and monitor external bodies that accredit, educate, train, and certify professionals in the computing field and keep ACM informed of developments;

4.  Investigate the need for additional professional activities and foster cooperation with other professional societies;

5.  Propose to ACM activities of mutual interest with external bodies and recommend individuals to represent ACM.

The voting membership of the committee shall be a chair plus additional members needed to accomplish the objectives of the committee, as determined by the chair of the Education Board.
Bylaw 8 specifies the conditions of appointment of committee members and their terms of office.