Mission

The Executive Council assists the Director of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in accomplishing the School’s mission to be a national leader providing experience-enhanced education and conducting interdisciplinary research in engineering and computing, and fostering closer ties between the School and its constituents.

Article I – Name

The name of the organization shall be the Executive Council (EC) of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at Washington State University (WSU).

Article II – Goals

The overall goal of the Council is to serve as the advisory group to the Director on matters related to strategic planning, goal setting, curriculum development, research, industry relations, and external funding.

Article III – Organization

Membership

The Council shall consist of the EECS Director, Assistant Director of Development, and Assistant Director for Corporate and Public Relations, and no fewer than 10 and no more than 25 individual members. Members are selected based on exceptional ability to contribute to one or more of the Council’s objectives. To the extent possible, the Council’s membership should reflect a comprehensive representation of leadership from the largest employers of graduates from the college.

Prospective members may be nominated by any member of the Council or by members of the EECS faculty or staff. Council membership is personal, not corporate (council members may not send representatives to Council meetings or functions if they are unable to attend).

Upon completion of one or more active terms, members may be honored with Emeritus status. Emeritus members will receive most EECS communications but will not participate in regular meetings of the Council.

Officers

1. The Council will elect leadership comprised of a Chair and a Vice Chair. The Director of the School shall appoint a staff member to the position of Secretary. Additionally, the Director of the School and the Assistant Director of Development shall serve as Co-Chair Ex-Officio and Executive Secretary Ex-Officio, respectively.
2. All officers may serve a maximum of two years in any particular office unless re-appointed. Officers are chosen without regard for their normal period of service on the Council, and their appointment is automatically extended until the end of their tenure in office if their three-year term as a member expires during their term of service as an officer.

General Selection and Terms of Members

1. Members are appointed by the Director of the School.
2. The term of membership is three years with a maximum of two consecutive terms. Retiring members are eligible for reappointment after a one year period.
3. The membership year begins September 1 and extends through August 31.
4. The election of officers shall be conducted at the regular spring meeting by a vote of the members (simple majority). The term of office shall be for two years and an officer may be re-elected. Terms commence with the opening of the fall meeting.

Meetings

1. The number of members present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum.
2. The Council shall conduct two regular meetings: one each fall and spring of the academic year.
3. Special meetings may be called by the Director of the School as necessary.
4. Special and standing task forces may be appointed to address specific issues or projects and will convene as necessary, either in person or through conferencing.

Article IV – Financial Commitment

Annual Commitment

The recommended annual financial commitment minimums for Council members shall be:

a.) $1,000 personal support for scholarships, research, or School needs. This gift may be in cash, securities, or a gift-in-kind such as a piece of lab or other equipment; AND, if affiliated with a company:

b) $5,000 corporate support for a scholarship, research or senior design project, equipment donation, or unrestricted gift to the Director’s Excellence Fund, OR

c) Fund one or more summer internships for an EECS student in your organization each year.

Expenses

Individual expenses incurred by members of the Executive Council, including travel and out-of-pocket expenses, shall be paid by each individual member. The School shall pay local meeting expenses or expenses may be underwritten by a corporation or individual member.

Article V – Duties of the Council

Duties - Officers

Chair. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall carry out the policies established by the Council. In questions of procedure during meetings, the Chair shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order. The Chair shall act as the official Executive Council spokesperson; appoint task forces in consultation with the Director; and call meetings of the Executive Council. The Chair is an ex-officio member of all standing and special task forces.

Vice Chair. The Vice Chair shall perform and discharge the duties of the Chair in case of his/her absence. He/she shall have general responsibility for programs at regular meetings. He/she shall also perform such other duties as the Director or Chair may prescribe.

Secretary (EECS staff member appointed by the Director). The Secretary shall give notice of all meetings, or cause same to be done, where notice may be required. He/she shall keep a record of the proceedings of all such meetings; conduct correspondence and shall perform the duties incidental to the office of the Secretary and such other duties as the Director or Chair may prescribe. He/she shall maintain a record of Executive Council membership and shall provide every new member, upon acceptance, with a copy of the bylaws and any rules or regulations which may have been adopted.

Duties - Members

The roles and responsibilities of the Council members are as follows:

a) Provide industry perspective and feedback on the continuous evaluation of objectives and assessment of outcomes for the undergraduate curricula, and suggest changes for implementation as needed.

b) Add value to the ABET accreditation process with appropriate written inputs and presentations as requested.

c) Serve as a resource and sounding board for the School’s ongoing strategic and tactical planning.

d) Actively help identify potential sources of financial and in-kind support for the School’s education and research activities and where appropriate, facilitate contact with these individuals or entities.

e) Be a partner in the education process by maintaining active contact with the School during the academic year, and by visiting the Pullman campus at least once a year (during the Executive Council Spring meeting).

f) Promote the School within your company (if applicable) through the hiring of interns and full-time personnel and through participation in career fairs (especially during lean hiring years) and the FIRST Access (industry partners) program.

g) Serve as an advocate for the School with university administrators, college administrators, and the State of Washington with regard to budgets, research programs, and faculty hiring.

h) Vitalize the education process through participation in seminars, guest lectures, industry sabbaticals, sponsorship of senior design projects, funded research projects and collaborative research projects.

i) Assist the School in recruiting and retaining outstanding students in electrical and computer engineering and computer science.

j) Serve on ad hoc task forces that relate to areas of interest or expertise.

Article VI – Amendments

Amendments and Revisions

Revisions or amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by any Council member and by the Director. The bylaws may be revised, amended, or repealed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general membership.

Version: November 1, 2006

Adopted by a unanimous vote of the Council: October 18, 2006