A Modest Proposal

1. With apologies to Jonathan Swift A Modest Proposal

2. 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???

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Proposal #1Commission 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 e-mail or telephone. • APC chair and committee chair attend the commissioners’ caucus to further enhance communication.

8. Proposal #2PEV 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

9. Proposal #3Members 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.

10. Proposal #4Ex-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)

11. Proposal #5Meetings • 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.

12. Proposal #6Prepare 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

13. 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

14. 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 e-mail communications as required.

15. 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.

16. CGAA • CGAA efficiencies to follow shortly • APC chair and CGAA chair to discuss.