What Is?
IEEE - USA
IEEE-USA fosters the professional growth of engineers and
scientists by promoting government policies that create a favorable
professional climate and by helping to meet the individual career
needs of U.S. members.
The organization's government outreach program supports
beneficial policy in these ways:
Combating all forms of discrimination in employment;
Endorsing initiatives that help correct imbalances in engineering
work force demand, such as improved utilization of engineers and
scientists;
Providing tax incentives for continuing education;
Protecting inventors' rights and providing incentives for
innovation; and
Reforming immigration policy.
In the 1980s, the group contributed to the establishment of
individual retirement accounts. In the l990s, it seeks to improve
retirement security by promoting full portability of pension
benefits.
SUPPORTING THE PROFESSIONAL
IEEE-USA also provides support for engineers' and scientists'
personal professional advancement.
The organization publishes employment assistance guides for
students and engineers, as well as a salary and fringe benefit
survey. It sponsors local job fairs, career workshops and skills
banks, along with national resume referral and job listing services.
IEEE-USA also offers a biennial careers conference for human
resource professionals and engineers alike.
Since its establishment, the group has helped organize almost 400
student professional awareness conferences, designed to introduce
prospective engineers to issues that they will encounter in their
careers. It also sponsors Washington internships for students of
engineering, which support research on professional issues.
IEEE-USA promotes technological literacy through its precollege
education programs. For example, the organization conceived and
coordinated the first Future City Competition -- held during
National Engineers Week, helping middle school students deal with
real-world engineering problems.
IEEE-USA also supports the highest professional standards for
engineers through the Institute's Code of Ethics, a benchmark for
members' professional conduct.
SHAPING TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Through IEEE-USA, electrical, electronics and computer engineers
participate in developing beneficial technology policy and
communicating it directly to decision-makers in Washington.
The group has drafted more than 100 positions -- to inform and
advise members and government -- on such subjects as U.S.
competitiveness, high-performance computing and
communications, and pension portability.
Prior to the beginning of each new Congress, the organization
produces the Federal Legislative Agenda. It also publishes a
bimonthly newsletter, the Legislative Report, and maintains
computerized auto-response files offering members information
about advocacy programs.
LINKING ENGINEERS WITH GOVERNMENT
IEEE-USA's Government Fellowship Program links engineers with
government. In one-year assignments, selected IEEE members
serve with leading legislative or executive branch officials
providing a much needed private-sector perspective on complex
public policy issues involving technology. Since 1973, more than
50 IEEE members have served with The U.S. Congress or
Departments of Commerce or Energy.
In addition, the group provides frequent testimony to the legislative
and executive branches in support of increased research and
development, commercialization of technology, alternative energy
sources, the information superhighway, health-care engineering
and technological literacy.
IEEE-USA sponsors technology policy conferences and R&D
briefings to inform Institute leaders about U.S. public-policy issues
and to transmit the organization's views to decision-makers.
Through its technology policy activities, the group serves the
interests of both the profession and the nation by marshalling the
expertise and insight of engineers and scientists.
IEEE-USA helps formulate and communicate policy that boosts
U.S. competitiveness and improves the American standard of
living.
SERVING TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS
Lightning shoots across the sky--unbridled energy demonstrating
its awesome power in the blink of an eye. Like lightning's flash,
many of our everyday tasks are now completed in microseconds
through the often transparent--but equally powerful - contributions
of engineers.
The nation's electrical, electronics and computer engineers have
developed and utilized electrotechnology to improve the standard
of living for all Americans. Yet technical achievement is not
sufficient in itself to realize the potential benefits of their work.
Technologists require supportive professional environments to
ensure productive and rewarding careers. And they need a voice in
formulating the nation's technology policy, in order to build a
competitive U.S. economy.
More than 20 years ago, members of The Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) saw the importance of
adding a professional component to the society's mission. The
Institute is the world's largest technical organization, with 240,000
U.S. engineers and scientists among its 320,000 global
membership.
In 1973, the IEEE established a Washington office to build this
professional focus in the United States. IEEE United States
Activities supports the professional careers and technology policy
interests of U.S. members.
BUILDING COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS
For electrical, electronics and computer engineers, creating
rewarding and effective careers is a complex challenge. Their quest
includes the following elements:
Completing a rigorous education and keeping current on
technical advances in their fields;
Grappling with professional issues that affect career
advancement; and
Challenging themselves constantly to apply technology in
ways that benefit society.
IEEE-USA conducts targeted programs in three distinct areas,
which address the multiple needs of electrotechnology
professionals:
Supporting public policies that advance the livelihoods of
U.S. engineers and scientists;
Bolstering the professional standing and careers of U.S.
members; and
Shaping federal technology policy to promote the
development and utilization of U.S. electrotechnology.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
IEEE-USA offers additional programs and services for U.S.
members--ranging from annual awards and recognitions to a
telephone information line.
For more information, contact IEEE Public Relations Washington
at 202-785-0017 (voice); 202-785-083 (fax); 202-785-2180
(recording); ieeeusa@ieee.org (e-mail); or write:
IEEE United States Activities
1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202
Washington, DC 20036-5104