Reaccreditation for CIS B.B.A. degree program
News
SUMMARY: JMU’s Computer Information Systems program has been accredited by ABET for another six-years.
JMU’s Computer Information Systems, B.B.A. degree program has been reaccredited for another six-years by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), a certified quality-assurance organization which accredits college and university programs in computing and other technical disciplines internationally.
“This confirms our program’s alignment with rigorous national standards and reflects JMU’s institutional commitment to continuous improvement,” said Michael Busing, dean of JMU’s College of Business, adding that, “It’s particularly noteworthy that ABET’s review of the program found no concerns or weaknesses.”
The process includes the compilation of a self-study report which reflected what Jeremy Ezell, interim academic unit head for the Department of Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics, described as an “intensive, department and -wide data-gathering effort.”
When ABET Program Evaluators (PEV team) arrived in Harrisonburg for a three-day visit in October 2024, the job before them was chiefly one of confirming the data in the self-study.
Toward the end of July, members of ABET's Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) voted on a "final action" for JMU’s pending reaccreditation application. They took into account JMU’s self-study report as well as the internal findings of ABET’s October 2024 review team.
CAC members were then tasked with generating a final-action letter that would enumerate any deficiencies or weaknesses they believed the JMU program might have and list any steps needed to resolve them.
No such concerns were noted, however, and the program’s application went through without a hitch. Accreditation was extended for another six years.
"ABET accreditation is difficult," Ezell says. "My hat is off to all the members of the CIS/BSAN faculty. I'm very pleased with the many years of work they have put in to ensure our program continues to adhere to the very high standards that ABET sets. The support of Dean Busing and other staff in the College of Business was also invaluable to the process."
