Our Motto: Continuous Improvement

by John R. LaCourse

An ABET 2000 emphasis is the practice of continuous improvement. The ECE Department has embraced this emphasis and is in the process of implementing it. ABET's basic philosophy is that institutions and programs define objectives to meet the needs of their constituents, establish outcomes which are the requirements of professional practice, and provide continuous assessment to demonstrate how criteria and objectives are met. It is total quality management for educational institutions. For those readers who might not be up to speed in this area, Program Objectives are broad statements describing what electrical and computer engineering graduates should be doing in 3-5 years after graduation. Program Outcomes designate what our graduates will be capable of doing upon graduation including entry-level skills and knowledge. We see Program Constituents as our undergraduate students, the ECE professoriate, the CEPS professoriate, faculty at peer institutions, our alumni, and employers of our program graduates. Continuous improvement requires input from the constituents, a process focus, and outcomes and assessments linked to objectives.

As part of this process, the constituents must ratify both the mission of the Department and its objectives. A possible mission statement is printed below for your comment.

ECE Departmental Mission Statement

The mission of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department is three-fold:

  • To provide educational programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering and related fields at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels of high quality and sufficient breadth and depth to serve industry, government and academic institutions of our state and country.
  • To conduct research and pursue scholarship to advance knowledge and apply that knowledge in areas relevant to our State and Country in order to meet the demands of the information age and global competition.
  • To serve the state and country by making available the accumulated expertise, knowledge and experience of the faculty to industry and government.

The EE and CE programs endeavor to provide a firm foundation in fundamentals, while also giving students exposure to current technologies for design and implementation. Both programs strive for a balance between theory, laboratory, and design experience.

The graduate ECE program offers studies leading to the MSEE and the Ph.D. in Engineering with an option in EE. All graduate students are expected to participate in research activities as an integral part of their graduate education. Creative research/scholarship is an integral part of the ECE Department's mission. The importance of research is equal and complementary to the function of teaching. Externally supported research and equipment funding are necessary means for supporting ECE research endeavors, and therefore, success in obtaining external research and equipment grants is essential.

The ECE department recognizes the need to conduct periodic program reviews and adjustments to meet the current and projected needs of our constituents.

EE and CE Program Objectives

  • Our graduates will function at a technologically competent level in formulating and solving problems in electrical engineering and computer engineering.
  • Our graduates will have had experience in tackling relevant engineering projects in "realistic work situations".
  • Our graduates will have acquired essential non-technical skills such as written and oral communication, project management, and leadership training.
  • Our graduates will have a thorough grounding in engineering fundamentals, thus preparing them for a successful engineering career and future technological changes.
  • Our graduates will have a well-rounded education to permit flexible career paths as well as to promote an interest in life-long learning together with the ability to advance professionally.

Program outcomes have been codified by ABET and accepted by our department and they are as follows:

ECE graduates should possess:

  1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering,
  2. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data,
  3. an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet the desired needs,
  4. an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams,
  5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems,
  6. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility,
  7. an ability to communicate effectively,
  8. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context,
  9. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning,
  10. a knowledge of contemporary issues, and
  11. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

In our effort to assess whether we are fulfilling our Mission, Objectives and Outcomes the following evaluation protocol is being implemented :

  • An Industrial Advisory Board has been established to aid the Department in understanding industrial needs.
  • A Student Advisory Board has been established to aid the Department in understanding student academic needs.
  • An On-Line Senior Exit Interview has been established to monitor student opinion for needed changes in the delivery of the educational services.
  • An Alumni Survey is being established by the CEPS Dean to gather information about our effectiveness in meeting the program objectives.
  • Course Files are maintained and reviewed for changes in course material.
  • A Matrix of Courses is maintained and reviewed to ensure that the material presented in our courses meet the Department's Mission, Program Objectives and Outcomes.

As you can see the ECE Department is dedicated to ensuring continuous improvement in the services that we deliver. We welcome your comments and advice in this endeavor. Remember, we are partners in this process.