PURPOSE: The Industrial and Professional Advisory Council (IPAC) is a select group
of representatives from industry, government agencies, academia, and the profession who advise the College
of Engineering on academic issues and on current trends and future directions in engineering. IPAC is a
forum where ideas are exchanged and recommendations are made. IPAC provides direct linkage and communication
between the College and the engineering profession.
FUNCTION: The Industrial and Professional Advisory Council is expected to:
- Act as an advisory group to each department, as well as to the College, on specific
academic and research issues.
- Act as a link between the College and its industrial and professional partners,
providing an opportunity for communication of current and future industry and professional needs to
the College.
- Identify actions that the College should take to meet special College-wide or
departmental needs.
- Provide recommendations on initiatives that the College should undertake to
continuously improve educational and research programs to meet the needs of the world and the
profession.
ORGANIZATION:
- Department Councils: Each College department has an
Industrial and Professional Advisory Council consisting of individuals from industry, professional
practice, and government, and up to two members from academia. Each departmental IPAC shall have
a chair and vice chair elected from the department council. The term of office for chairpersons
and vice-chairpersons is one year (or until the next annual meeting). The vice chair becomes the chair.
- Executive Committee: The chairpersons of each IPAC constitute
an Executive Committee to advise the Dean's Office on general college issues. This body is governed
by a chair and vice chair elected from its own ranks. In normal succession, the vice chair usually
advances to become the chair. All chairs and vice-chairs are elected for a one three-day session
(or until the next annual meeting) and are expected to be present at the opening and closing
executive sessions.
MEMBERSHIP: Departmental IPAC members are selected by the department head, each
subject to the concurrence of the Dean. Membership on IPAC is for one three-year term. Each member may not
serve more than two consecutive terms (maximum of six years) unless additional time is needed to fulfill
commitments as chair or vice chair of the Executive Committee.
MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES: Each IPAC member is expected to
- Attend the annual meeting and any departmental meetings scheduled during the year
by the department head. IPAC members are selected for their individual merit and expertise, not as
organizational representatives. For this reason, and to help assure continuity, only members
(not substitutes) are invited to attend.
- Become familiar with the operations and programs of the department and the College.
- Contribute to the identification of important issues and assist in the formulation
of recommendations to help the department and the College in continuously improving academic and
research programs.
MEETINGS: The full IPAC meets once annually, beginning with an opening Executive
Committee session. All members are requested to be present when a College-wide program is scheduled. One full
day is devoted to departmental issues.
It is expected in the departmental meetings that IPAC members will have an opportunity to meet with
undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty to hold discussion concerning any issues that may be
relevant to the department?s progress and to identify significant opportunities and/or barriers to the
department?s progress. As a result of these meetings and other discussions held with the department leadership,
a report will be prepared by the departmental IPAC committee which will be shared with the department head
and subsequently presented to the IPAC Executive Committee at the closing Executive Committee Session. The
opening Executive Committee Session is expected to be attended by IPAC chairs, vice-chairs, department heads,
and engineering deans. Only IPAC chairs and the Dean of the College attend the closing session, unless other
College personnel are invited.
As part of the College and departmental reports to IPAC, the status of recommendations and findings resulting
from previous IPAC meetings will be discussed. It is also expected that periodically throughout the year, the
department will communicate with its IPAC members concerning department developments and activities.
For more information, contact Stefanie Tomlinson at stomlinson@engr.psu.edu or 814-865-9031.