The ISE Alumni Council was formed in 2000 with the purpose to act as the primary source for both alumni and industry input to the activities and plans of the ISE Department. The areas of greatest input are:

• Curriculum and instructional activity: undergraduate and graduate course offerings - content, methods of teaching and learning, relevance to industry, importance and place in the curriculum, technology support of instruction (laboratories, Internet, software, etc.). Providing input to the accreditation process (e.g., ABET) regarding curriculum, instruction and graduates.

• Students: serve as role models; participate in recruiting efforts, especially at the undergraduate level.

• Development and publicity: broadening the soft money resources of the department and increasing the department's profile among alumni, industry and peer departments.

There may be other areas such as award nominations, facilities and staffing that will benefit from the input of the Council.

The Council will serve in an advisory capacity to the department with information flowing directly from the Council to the faculty of the department, and also from the Council Chair to the Department Chair. There may be times when the Council is called upon to approve or formally support certain initiatives or statements concerning the department.

ISE Alumni Council Membership Roles and Structure

Composition of Council

• Diversity of:

  • graduation year

  • employment type (academia, manufacturing, service, consulting, etc.)

  • some geographic diversity

  • some gender and ethnic diversity

  • some degree diversity

• Balance of professional, political and financial standing

Role of Council Member

• Attend as many meetings as possible (geographic proximity helps here)

• Take an active interest in what happens now and in the future in ISE

• Be responsive when called upon by the department

• Be willing to be a team member and act in an advisory role to the department

• Provide feedback as needed on curriculum and student preparation for assessment (SACS and ABET)

• Participate in interactions with students and serve as mentors / role models

• Alert department with opportunities (employment, educational, research, etc.)

• Participate in development as individual donors and as advocates when the opportunity arises

• Advocate ISE with upper administration and state politics if the opportunity arises

• Be creative and proactive with input to the department

Suggested Service Structure

• Nominations are taken continuously for membership through self nomination, from the faculty, from the alumni and from the ISE Alumni Council. These are accumulated.

• Members are selected by the department chair, with advice from ISE faculty and the ISE Council members.

• Normally, there are twelve members, including a Chair.

• Terms are nominally four years, with three members rotating off each year. In any given year, there will be nine veteran members and three new members.

• Rotated off council members are retained in an emeritus fashion. They are retained on the email list for meeting notifications, news, etc. and are invited to attend any future meeting of the ISE Council. (This is identical to the way the College Council works.)

• The Chair serves for two years and is a veteran of the ISE Council. This may or may not be in addition to his/her four years.

• The Chair is elected by majority of the ISE Council members.

  Appointments may be made to fill any vacancies due to resignation or failure to fulfill duties.