Dr. John LaCourse, ECE Chairman, talks with a guest at our CEPS fall open house
that is held each year for high school students, educators, guidance councelors, and
prospective new students.

Chairman’s Corner

It happened! After 42 years of service to the ECE Department Professor Ronald Clark has retired. Many of you might remember, Ron as the communications instructor, others as chairman of the ECE Department for nine years, and still others as a researcher involved in studying meteor trails. Ron leaves active duty as Distinguished Professor of the Year, an honor bestowed on few. It is my understanding that Ron will remain with us as Professor Emeritus, active in both research and opinion.

It also happened! Unfortunately, Professor Jennifer Bernhard has resigned. Jennifer joined us in September 1995. In her short stay with us she established the Wireless Communications Laboratory, established a wireless communications course, and created an air of excitement about wireless communication research. She has taken a position as assistant professor at the University of Illinois. Jennifer will be sincerely missed.

Professors Miller and Nahin will both be on sabbatical for the 1999-2000 academic year. Tom will be resident at UNH; however, he will be working on projects with the UNH Interoperability Laboratory. Paul will be working out of the University of Virginia finishing his latest book titled, Science of Radio 2^nd.ed, and teaching courses in probability. Dr. Miller’s and Dr. Nahin’s temporary replacements will be Dr. Andy Kun and Mr. Mike Dalton. Andy received his Ph.D. from UNH in May 1997 and has been working for Falmouth Scientific. Mike is a Ph.D. student under Professor Miller. He will teach EE 537 in the fall and EE 543 in the spring.

During this past spring and present summer we have been preparing for a visit and evaluation by our accreditation agency, ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). Every six years the Department goes through this process. This forced evaluation allows us to probe our effectiveness in delivering our stated objectives. The objectives are that our graduates should:

be able to reason, analyze and design engineering systems, and solve engineering problems;

possess the tool subjects and skills which will enable them to practice effectively as engineering professionals;

possess broad education in the basic sciences which will enable them to learn and develop new tools to solve the problems which will continuously arise;

have an understanding and concern for life and humanity and how these relate to their profession and their code of ethics;

appreciate the fact that education is a life-long and individual process.

In comparing our assessment of our effectiveness from the accreditation year 1992-93 to this accreditation year 1998-99 via alumni questionnaires, the Department has been very effective in providing a fundamental understanding of scientific, mathematical, and technical material; reasonably well in developing an appreciation for ethics, responsibility and motivation to continue to learn; and needs further improvement in promoting business strategies and world affairs. However, as compared to the last ABET visit, the Department has improved dramatically in the areas of written and oral communication. If you have comments on the education you received from the ECE Department, we would love to have them.

Finally, I would like to personally thank all the individuals and companies that donated monies, equipment, and/or supplies to our program. This type of support is needed to maintain and hopefully improve our already successful program.