A Modest Proposal  With apologies to Jonathan Swift

Effectiveness of Committees Supporting ABET  It has been observed that the committees supporting ABET have a larger number of attendees at their meetings than in the past. –Large size of group makes consensus more difficult –Large size of group results in longer decision making –Are all these folks necessary???

CEAA’s and CTAA’s Tasks  Maintain a PEV pool of sufficient size to satisfy ABET’s needs. –Recruitment –Training –Mentoring –Assignment duties –Performance evaluation of PEVs  Develop and maintain IEEE program specific criteria

CEAA’s and CTAA’s Tasks (cont.)  Identify potential commissioner candidates, nurture them, and make recommendations to APC to fill openings on the commissions.  Review and recommend changes to the Charters.  Provide guidance to APC on accreditation strategy, policy, and issues.

The Most Time Consuming Tasks  Recruit, select, and mentor PEVs  Assign PEVs to visits each year.  Provide remedial training for PEVs and mentoring. –ABET has assumed responsibility for all initial PEV training.  Periodically review program specific and general criteria. –Develop as required.  Identify and nurture potential commissioner nominees.

Current Committee Configuration  CEAA –Chair –Vice chair –PEV coordinators (2) –Training Coordinator –Members (9) –Emeritus Member –Ex-officio (3) –Commissioners (10) –Corresponding members (3) –Alternate members (3) –Total of 33 potentially attending meetings  CTAA –Chair –Vice Chair –PEV Coordinator –Members (7) –Commissioners (3) –Ex-officio (3) –Corresponding members (1) –Total of 17 potentially attending meetings

Proposal #1 Commission Interface  It is very important to keep close contact with the IEEE commissioners –Can be accomplished by having representative commissioner on the committee. –Recommendation is a maximum 2, one commissioner and one from excom, if possible.  Representative will have responsibility to communicate with other commissioners at the IEEE commissioners’ caucus and other times via or telephone.  APC chair and committee chair attend the commissioners’ caucus to further enhance communication.

Proposal #2 PEV Coordinator  PEV Coordinator is the single most time consuming job on the committees –CEAA has an evaluator pool about 50% larger than CTAA  Continue with two coordinators on CEAA  Continue with one coordinator on CTAA –Identify “PEV coordinators in waiting”  Do not attend meetings  Are trained by PEV coordinators  Maintains continuity

Proposal #3 Members at Large  Committee assignments –Nominating  PEV coordinator input invaluable. –Criteria –Mentoring (all members at large participate)  Evaluator evaluations and remedial training in addition to classic mentoring. –Training  Maintains on-line training system cases and other training as requested. Training coordinator a member at large. –Committee for continuous improvement. –Recommend 8 for CEAA and 6 for CTAA maximum.

Proposal #4 Ex-officio Members  Maintain at current level –APC chair (voting) –IEEE VP EA –BMES –CSAB (CEAA only)  Corresponding members –President of ECEDHA (CEAA) –ECETDHA Chair (CTAA)

Proposal #5 Meetings  Meet face-to-face twice per year –January  Choose new PEVs, re-appointments, commissioner appointments, re- appointments, etc for February APC meeting –June  Prepare for annual ABET meeting in July  Review issues for commissioners’ caucus  Training, mentoring, etc.

Proposal #6 Prepare for Continuity  In a volunteer organization it is imperative that volunteers know that their service is bounded in time. –Reason for terms of office –Requires identification of successors and bringing them into the committee as active and effective committee members –The same follows for PEVs and commissioners  Actively maintain a list of potential committee members and commissioners –Assign them to tasks that prepare them for their future roles

Proposed Committee Makeup  CEAA –Chair –Vice chair –PEV coordinators (2) –Members (8) –Emeritus Member (optional) –Ex-officio (3) –Commissioners (2, max) –Corresponding members (3) –Total of 20 potentially attending meetings  CTAA –Chair –Vice Chair –PEV Coordinator –Members (6) –Commissioners (2, max) –Ex-officio (3) –Corresponding members (1) –Total of 15 potentially attending meetings

Proposed Meeting Schedule  Both Committees meet in January with the prime objective of having all items requiring EAB approval prior to the March ABET BOD meeting approved and submitted to APC  Both Committees meet in June for all other business matters and to prepare for the commissioners’ caucus  Commissioners’ caucus just prior to the Summer Commission meeting in Arlington (APC and Committee chair attend)  Other conference calls and communications as required.

Required Action  Committees update their charters for the summer meetings  APC and EAB approve the updated charters in the fall  New meeting schedule and membership begin in January 2010 –With the exception of the commissioners no longer serving on the committee, downsizing will by attrition only.

CGAA  CGAA efficiencies to follow shortly –APC chair and CGAA chair to discuss.