What Is ?
PACE
The United States Activities Board (USAB) of the IEEE is reponsible
for recommending policies and implementing programs specifically
intended to serve the US members in appropriate nontechnical areas of
economic, ethical, social, and legislative concerns. As part of that
effort, USAB consists of PACE along with the Career Services
Council, the Member Services Council, and the Technology Policy
Council. So what is PACE?
PACE is a network of Professional Activities Committees for
Engineers, which provides a communication channel to Sections,
Chapters, and individual members on the work done and services
provided by the committees in IEEE-US Activities' three councils. The
PACE Network also provides a line of communication so that
members in Sections and Chapters can inform the IEEE-USA
volunteer leaders of local needs and priorities. The communications
are accomplished not only through printed material but through
volunteers conducting various kinds of programs. Programs are
conducted at the Section and Chapter level, with assistance from
Regional and natioanl levels. The technical Societies conduct PACE
programs at annual meetings and conferences or through a Public
Policy Committee.
Nearly every Section in the US has an active Professional Activities
Committee for Engineers (PACE). This committee is the local
component that conducts PACE programs by and for local IEEE
membership. Nationally, these committees form a network that
permits IEEE-USA professional activities to have an impact on
national policy. Local Chapters are encouraged to appoint Chapter
PACE Chairs to serve on the Section PACE Committee and organize
Chapter professional activities.
Regional PACE Coordinators coordinate PACE activities undertaken
by their Regions' Areas, Councils, and Sections and provide financial
assistance when needed. Divisional and Society Coordinators fulfill a
similar role in the conduct of PACE activities within the Divisions,
Societies and their Chapters.
Each Regional PACE Coordinator is assisted by a committee made up
of specialists who coordinate activities in the areas of career
enhancement, technical policy issues, employment assistance,
government action, professional education, precollege education, and
student professional awareness.
Leadership is provided at the national level by the national PACE
Chair, assisted by three standing committees, PACE Regional
Activities Committee, PACE Divisional Activities Committee, and
PACE Conference and Workshop Committee. This last committee
organizes and runs an annual conference and workshop to train and
inform Section and Chapter PACE Chairs and coordinators from the
Regions, Divisions, and Societies.
What are the Objectives of the PACE Network?
1) Encouraging the provision of member services, mainly in the form
of increased economic benefits, professional stature, and employment
security for engineers.
2) Enhancing public awareness of the socio-technical issues affecting
American society and promoting public recognition of engineers as
professionals.
3) Engaging in government action at the local, state, and national
levels by making the technological background and problem solving
experience of engineers available to the legislative process and by
influencing legislation that affects the professional careers of
engineers.
What are the Activities of the PACE Network?
Dissemination of Information:
sending informative materials directly to members, through Section,
Society, Chapter PACE Chairs;
conducting professional activities sessions at Section and Region
meetings;
presenting information on professional activities at meetings
sponsored by Technical Societies and their Chapters;
sending speakers to IEEE Student Branches to speak on professional
topics.
Orientation and training of Regional, Divisional, Section, Society, and
Chapter PACE representatives, primarily at the annual national PACE
Conference and Workshop and at Regional meetings.
Influencing state and federal legislative action.
Promoting improvements in precollege math, science,and technology
education to provide a more technically literate society.
Promoting other projects which satisfy one or more of the objectives of
PACE at the Section, Chapter, Area, Region, Society, or Division
level.