The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association                                                March  2016

Letter from the Editor
Badri Roysam,
University of Houston
Messaging Future ECE Leaders

Welcome to the March issue of the Source!

One of the salient undercurrents at the recent ECEDHA workshop on the Strategic Shaping of ECE, with a focus on Vision, Branding, and Community, was the widespread realization that our discipline is hiding in plain sight of what is appropriately our most important constituency - future ECE students.

>>   Read more
A Message from the Guest Editor
Jelena Kovačević,
Carnegie Mellon University
Dear ECEDHA Members, Industry Partners, and Colleagues,

Despite the number of electrical and computer engineering (ECE) departments around the country (also EE, EECS), very few prospective students know what electrical and computer engineers do; even on our own campuses, we are typically a mystery.  While in high school many students get exposed to various areas of computer science, they rarely do so for areas of ECE.  Moreover, the lack of understanding of how we impact the society and people's lives influences the enrollment of underrepresented students and creates a general misconception of electrical and computer engineers walking around with soldering irons.

This short article, the pictures that go with it, as well as the YouTube video we recorded at Carnegie Mellon ECE constitute an attempt to transmit some of the excitement that those of us working in the field feel.  It is meant for students considering (and wondering about) ECE, their parents, lay people, even our families and friends ("what is it again that you do?" ...)

>>   Read more
Featured Video
What is ECE?
By: Carnegie Mellon University, featuring Jelena Kovačević, Professor and Head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering



>> Download the "What is ECE?" Powerpoint, provided 
by Carnegie Mellon University
Sponsored Article
 
Rice University Puts Control in the Hands of Students

Modeling Dynamic Systems (MECH 343) is a required course taught in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science to third-year students at Rice University.  Students enrolled in this course learn modeling techniques based on first principles, and then analyze dynamical system responses in the time and frequency domain.  A hands-on laboratory component is critical to the course in order to help students learn more complex concepts in dynamic systems modeling, mechatronics, and the basics of control.

 >>  Read more
Special Announcements
Last Chance to Register for the
2016 ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECExpo!

March 18-22, 2016 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
 

Join us this month for the ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECE xpo, the largest gathering of ECE department heads from throughout the United States and Canada.

This year's program is hosted by San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, and University of San Diego.  Join us  March 18-22, 2016 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in La Jolla, CA.

ECEDHA members will enjoy a world-class educational program focusing on the most pressing issues facing academia and ECE today.






Corporate Features
ECE Spotlight

Captured live at the 2015 ECEDHA Annual Conference, ECE Spotlight Sessions offer the opportunity to view short corporate presentations and to learn more about what these companies can offer you.

Featured ECE Spotlight Session:
Internet for Everyone and Everything: The Future of Wireless Communications from Education to Advanced Research



Presenter: James Kimery, Director of Product Marketing: RF, Communications, and Software Defined Radio (SDR) Initiatives, National Instruments

 

Produced by: 

ECEDHA
  

In This Issue

Calendar of Events
March 18, 2016
ABET Workshop
Presented at the ECEDHA Annual Conference
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines - La Jolla, CA
March 18, 2016
Blended Learning Workshop
Presented at the ECEDHA Annual Conference
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines - La Jolla, CA
March 18-22, 2016
ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECE xpo
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines - La Jolla, CA
April 14, 2016
Sponsored by COMSOL
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by ConRes/Tektronix
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by National Instruments
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by Quanser
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by COMSOL
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by COMSOL
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by Quanser
ECEDHA News
It's time to renew your
2016 ECEDHA Membership!

2016 ECEDHA membership renewal for ECEDHA department heads is now underway.  Membership runs on a calendar year beginning January 1st through December 31st.

Renew your membership today to keep receiving ECEDHA membership benefits, including:
  • Access to the ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECExpo
  • Complimentary registration for ECEDHA's ECE Webinars
  • The opportunity to participate in the ECEDHA Annual Survey, a valuable tool in benchmarking your organization in lab and office space, faculty and department head salaries, research budgets, student retention, graduation rates, and much more.
  • Complimentary job posting service via the ECEDHA website
  • And much more!

For questions, please contact Megan Bekolay at mbekolay@ecedha.org or 312.559.3724
ECEDHA Member and
Partner News
2016 IEEE Educational Activities Board Awards

Please consider nominating a colleague or deserving individual for one of EAB's prestigious awards.

Deadline: May 2, 2016


At ECE Source, we strive to cover topics that are relevant and timely to ECE  department heads.  We welcome your comments, feedback, and suggestions of topics t o cover in our next issue.  Thank you.