Approved by Provost's Council on October 5, 2010
In accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Organization and Administration of Centers (Policy no. 150-60), the Center for Engineering and Computer Science Research and Education shall be administered and organized as follows:
This Center shall be named the Center for Engineering and Computer Science Research and Education .
The purpose of the Center shall be to promote activities relating the engineering and computer science community to the faculty and students of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS).
Two primary functions of the Center shall be (1) the promotion of engineering and computer science research, development and services, and (2) the promotion of the Honors Co-Op program. The Center shall introduce the research, development and services capabilities of the College to the industry of the region and shall solicit sponsorship for the Honors Co-Op program. The research and development activities of the College include a unique program: Design Clinic. A Design Clinic is a research and/or development project, funded by an external entity. It is a virtual clinic involving (1) several students, (2) at least one faculty supervisor (project director), and (3) at least one external sponsor who provides funding and a real world problem. The Honors Co-Op is a year-round internship program sponsored by the industry for highly qualified students.
In addition, the Center offers professional engineering educational workshops as needed such as the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) review and Professional Engineer (PE) review. These workshops, in combination, will be self-supporting with revenues and expenditures recorded in State Trust.
The Center shall have a Director who shall be appointed by and report to the College Dean. Supporting staff for the Center may be hired contingent on the availability of funds generated by the Center.
The Center shall be a self-supporting operation, funded by design clinics, workshop fees, cooperative agreements, and foundation donations. These funds will be handled by the University Corporation, the University Foundation or within State Trust as appropriate. Financial activities of the Center will be transacted with strict adherence to the fiscal policies and procedures of the university and its auxiliaries. All Center transactions will be reviewed by the College MAR and approved by the College Dean.
Space: The Center will occupy one office in an office compound shared with the Development Office of the College.
Personnel: The Center has a Director reporting to the College Dean. The salary and associated expenses are supported by funds generated by the Center. Temporary staff positions may be created contingent on the availability of funds to support the Center Director's activities.
Sources of Income: All resources for the Center will be generated by its activities. Center generated Design Clinicswill carry a portion of the Center's salary expenses. Funds generated from the Honors Co-Op program will support salary and other expenses of the Center.
If any surplus funds are available at the time the Center is dissolved, such funds should be placed in an account in the College that will support continued research and educational services. All surplus funds accruing from operations of the Center will be disbursed by the CECS dean. Such disbursements shall be consistent with the stated purposes of the Center.
The fiscal management of the Center is the responsibility of the Director, under supervision of the CECS dean.
The Advisory Board of the Center shall consists of (1) all department chairs of the college, (2) the faculty academic director of the Honors' Co-Op program, and (3) a faculty representative with recent Design Clinic experience elected by the College chairs. The Advisory Board shall meet at least once in an academic year to (1) review the Center's activities, (2) suggest new leads and/or directions for sponsorship opportunities, and (3) set performance goals for the future year(s). Board meetings shall be called by the College Dean.
The Center's annual report will consist of two sections, a summary of the research and educational activities associated with the Center, and a disclosure of financial activities of the Center.
Specifically the annual report will address the following:
The Center will operate no later than June 30, 2015. At that time the CECS dean in consultation with the Center's Advisory Board will make a recommendation on the renewal of the Center's charter.
