Dear IEEE Region 10 Officers,

I am the chair of the Educational Activities Pre-University Education Coordinating Committee and an initiative leader for a new project “IEEE Implementation of High School Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS)”. EPICS in IEEE is a concerted effort by IEEE to expand the successful EPICS program founded by IEEE 2007 President Leah Jamieson at Purdue University in 1995. This New Initiative will empower Student Branch members to work with non-profit community organizations and high school students on community service-related engineering projects with the objective to increase student interest in pursuing an engineering-related career path.

Each Section participating in the program will need to identify a local area champion to mobilize student branches for this effort. Through an application process, student branches will be awarded funds to support their projects. The selected student branches will identify non-profit organizations that have projects that are important to undertake and have appropriate engineering-content for their students. They will also reach out to high school educators willing to allow their students to participate in the program and will mentor the high school students to complete the humanitarian projects.

More information can be found at: http://www.ieee.org/web/education/preuniversity/epics (IEEE is experiencing some website issues so you may need to check on this link in a few days if it is not immediately accessible)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this project in more detail and solicit your help to disseminate the information to the sections and student branches in your region. Please let me know of your interest in this worthwhile project.

A teleconference can be arranged to discuss further.

Sincerely,
Kapil

How to get involved

Sections

Sections interested in participating in the program will need to identify a local area coordinator who will mobilize student branches. Regional Educational Activities or Student Activities Chairs or Section volunteers are welcome to participate. These coordinators can assist in the dissemination of the program and work with student branches to submit a proposal to funding support.

Student Branches

Student Branches are required to submit an application for the proposed project in order to receive funding support from EPICS in IEEE.

Projects should address one or more areas of interest as described below:

· Education: K-12 schools, museums, adult learning programs, after school programs

· Access and abilities: adaptive services, clinics for children with disabilities, programs for adults with disabilities, assistive technology

· Human Services: homelessness prevention, affordable housing, family and children agencies, neighborhood revitalization, local government

· Environment: environmental organizations, neighborhood associations, parks & recreation

The student branch will identify a non-profit organization that has a project that is important to undertake and have appropriate engineering-content for their students In addition; the student branch will reach out to high school educators willing to allow their students to participate in the program and will mentor the high school students to complete the humanitarian projects.

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Kapil R. Dandekar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Assistant Department Head for Graduate Affairs
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut Street, Room 7-313
Philadelphia, PA 19104
dandekar at ece.drexel.edu
http://wireless.ece.drexel.edu