Two New Advisory Boards

by John R. LaCourse

In a continuous effort to ensure that our program meets our educational and constituent needs, the ECE Department recently revamped the Industrial Associates Program and established a Student Advisory Board. Both of these boards will be part of our overall assessment process to guarantee that our program objectives are fulfilled.

In February 2001, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Industrial Advisory Board (ECE-IAB) was established. This new board will have a similar mission to that of the Industrial Associates Program Board, but will not be fee-based for membership.

The objective of the ECE-IAB is to establish a direct and sustained mutually beneficial relationship between members of the industrial community and the ECE Department. The principal function of the board will be to review, evaluate, and advise the Department as to the Department's educational and industrial needs. Secondary functions include but are not limited to: developing challenging and significant cooperative research and consulting activities; exchanging speakers for talks and seminars at industrial locations and on campus; providing one-semester to one year teaching/working employment opportunities through visiting professor/engineering programs; fostering the exchange of information between prospective employers and graduating seniors so that mutually satisfactory employment relationships might be obtained.

The Board will consist of one alumnus, one undergraduate senior student, twelve to fifteen members from local industry, and the ECE Department Chair or his designate. Charges for the year are as follows. The initial charge to the ECE-IAB will be to review our Electrical Engineering Program Objectives and Computer Engineering Objectives and to provide processes to obtain feedback from employers of our graduates. A second charge to the ECE-IAB will be to help the Department in developing industrially sponsored design projects. A third charge to the ECE-IAB will be to help identify potential funding sources for undergraduate scholarships.

It is our desire to maintain a close relationship with industry and to understand their needs. In the very near future the ECE Department will be soliciting companies for membership. If you feel you can help us in this endeavor please make contact the Department Chairman.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Advisory Board (ECE-SAB) was founded and established in April 2001. The mission of the ECE-SAB is to provide an organized forum for interaction between students and the faculty. Its principal function is to provide an assessment of the EE and CE programs and to identify needs within the ECE Department. Examples of the ECE-SAB's function are but not limited to: discussing student issues; assessing the delivery of our undergraduate curriculum and services; identifying areas where improvements may be warranted; and obtaining rapid feedback about the impact of implemented changes.

The ECE-SAB consists of two representatives from each class, preferably elected by the class, an alumnus of the ECE Department, a graduate student, and the ECE Chairman or his designee. The ECE-SAB will meet at least twice a semester with the ECE Chairman or his designee and have the opportunity to meet with the ECE-IAB. The minutes of the ECE-SAB meetings, which will be maintained in the ECE Department file and are available for review, will be shared with the appropriate faculty committees.

As with the ECE-IAB, the ECE-SAB will allow the Department to monitor changes within the Department and also ensure that students’ academic needs are met.