Engineering Projects in Community Service Committee in IEEE
Engineering Projects In Community Service in IEEE (EPICS in IEEE) is a committee of EAB University Resources Committee. EPICS in IEEE empowers students to work with local service organizations to apply technical knowledge to implement solutions for a community’s unique challenges. In this way, EPICS in IEEE not only assists communities in achieving their specific local community improvement goals but also encourages students to pursue engineering for community improvement as a career. An IEEE Foundation Signature Program, EPICS in IEEE has proven its ability to deliver on the IEEE core purpose of fostering technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. To learn more, visit one of the sections below or go to epics.ieee.org.
Mission
The mission of the EPICS in IEEE is to empower technical professionals and university students to impact communities around the world.
- promote and enhance the level of technological literacy of pre-university educators and students
- be the primary source of resources, curricula and pedagogical practices for pre-university educators
- encourage students to aspire to IEEE related careers
Scope
EPICS in IEEE shall enable members of IEEE geographic units (e.g., sections and student branches), technical (societies) and non-technical (affinity) groups to work with high school students and non-profit or non-governmental organizations on EPICS in IEEE community service-related engineering projects. The partnerships will focus on the development of devices and systems within IEEE fields of interest to solve a local problem benefitting the target audiences of the community-based organizations. This includes reaching female and under-represented groups.
EPICS in IEEE promotes vertical integration where the program enables a partnership between a pre-university entity (a high/secondary school) and/or a university with a non-governmental organization (NGO) to develop a sustainable model of knowledge dissemination focused on community service. For an initiative to be classified as an EPICS in IEEE project site, the project site should have a linkage with an NGO and an IEEE volunteer.
Function
- To provide grants for project materials and supplies to IEEE members to facilitate the design, development and deployment of technical solutions
- To encourage mentoring of undergraduate and high school students; To develop educational resources on community service
- To maintain a brand presence (i.e., web presence, participation in conferences, meetings, etc.) for a) promotion and publicity, b) dissemination of projects, and c) knowledge sharing and networking
- To conduct training to establish EPICS in IEEE project sites using local volunteers and resources
- To capture and report key performance measures
- To encourage universities to adopt EPICS in IEEE activities (e.g., capstone projects, senior projects)
- To explore opportunities to partner with global organizations whose mission can be supported through cooperative efforts to develop EPICS in IEEE projects in locations where the organization operates and IEEE membership exists
- To conduct periodic program evaluation
Committee Chair Role and Responsibilities
The Chair position is appointed by the Vice President, EAB, in consultation with the EAB PECC Chair. This individual must be an IEEE Member, Senior Member, or Fellow. All other Committee members must be IEEE Student members, IEEE Graduate Student members, members, Senior members, or Fellows. Up to two non-members of the IEEE may be appointed as voting members as well. The EPICS in IEEE Committee shall enable members of IEEE geographic units (e.g., Sections and Student Branches), technical (Societies), and non-technical (affinity) groups to work with high school students and non-profit or non-governmental organizations on EPICS in IEEE community service–related engineering projects. The partnerships will focus on the development of devices and systems within IEEE fields of interest to solve a local problem benefiting the target audiences of the community-based organizations. This includes reaching female and underrepresented groups.
Following are the responsibilities of the EPICS in IEEE Committee Chair:
- Conducts business of Committee to achieve purpose and functions as defined in Committee Charter
- Chairs meetings of the Committee
- Recommends to PECC proposed changes to the Committee Charter to ensure that it meets current objectives
- Ensures the Committee meets objectives
- Carries out other tasks as assigned to the Committee by the PECC Chair, or PECC
- Serves as one of five voting members, and one non-voting member, of the EPIC's Committee Serves as a voting member of the PECC
- Provides status reports at each PECC meeting
- Provides an annual report of activities for inclusion in the PECC annual report for the last regularly scheduled EAB meeting of the year
- Prepares other reports as necessary.