Engineering Advisory Board

The State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego Engineering Advisory Board serves the region, the State of New York and the nation by providing expert guidance to SUNY Oswego in the education of engineers, growth of knowledge, and the development of new methods and capabilities for solving challenging technological problems through innovative research and practice in various disciplines of engineering.

Foremost, the Board serves as a central stakeholder for the development and continuous progress of undergraduate engineering programs founded on a rigorous, applied practice of engineering fundamentals coupled with advanced engineering tools. The mission includes a guiding commitment to preparing students for professional and research activities as independent learners and for work that is environmentally sustainable within a diverse multi-cultural society, enabling them to become global leaders in their respective fields.

SUNY Oswego’s engineering programs will be nationally recognized for their strong emphasis and rigor in engineering science and design founded on hands-on project-based education. The Board’s vision is to contribute a new generation of diverse, exceptionally well-prepared engineers for early leadership success in industry or graduate school.

The Engineering Advisory Board will:

1. Advise the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in pursuing the mission, vision, and strategic initiatives of the engineering programs.
2. Provide an industry link and perspective for the engineering program plans, curriculum, ABET accreditation, and strategies to prepare engineers to meet the changing needs and requirements of the nation. This interaction will be documented and used for accreditation purposes.
3. Offer strategies and support for broadening affordable access to engineering education and increasing participation of underrepresented groups in engineering.
4. Provide counsel on future employment needs and appropriate College responses, based on industry perspective.
5. Assist in the development of networks and partnerships regarding internships, co-ops, scholarships, faculty-student research, and graduate placement.
6. Build financial sponsorship to support the engineering initiatives to maintain excellence in teaching, research and outreach in the engineering programs.
7. Interface with SUNY Oswego's students, faculty, administration and key external stakeholders to advocate the importance of Oswego's engineering education and its value to the region, state and society.

1. Board members and the Chair will consist of industry executives, alumni, faculty, and college administrators.
2. The size of the Board will be determined by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in consultation with the Board. The Board size will be 15-20 external members, in addition to campus administrators.
3. The Board will have a Chairperson, selected from the membership and approved and appointed by the President in consultation with the Dean. The Chairperson will serve a three-year renewable term.
4. The Board will have an Executive Secretary, providing secretarial support for minutes and related record-keeping.
5. Term of appointment to the Board will be three years with staggered appointments. In the third year of appointment, an incumbent Board member will be asked in the board meeting about reappointment or possible replacement candidates.
6. The Dean will take recommendations for new members, discuss them with staff in Development and Alumni Relations, contact potential members to provide information on board membership, and arrange for the President to send official invitations.
7. The Advisory Board will meet twice a year and additional meetings may be called as required. All board members are expected to be active participants in the business of the board. Members with one year of non-attendance will be contacted by the Dean (or designee) to confirm continued interest/ability to serve.
8. Each Advisory Board member will be asked to serve on at least one of the four committees listed below, and each committee will designate a Committee Chair to coordinate its efforts. Committees may include members of the broader Oswego campus community, such as staff from Alumni and Development and/or Communications and Marketing. Minimum membership details are provided. Additional members may request to join any committee. External members may attend committee meetings via remote connection.
   1. Academic Programs and Accreditation Committee: This committee will provide support and guidance on academic issues including program objectives, curriculum development and improvement, and oversee the process for ABET accreditation. The committee will be chaired by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and will include the Associate Provost for Undergraduate and Special Programs, faculty representatives from ECE and SE, and at minimum two external members.
   2. Public Relations and Outreach Committee: This committee will assist the College in developing strategies for raising public awareness of the engineering programs and their activities, to include branding efforts, outreach to K-12 institutions and community college partnerships. The committee will include the Chief Communications Officer, one faculty, and three external members. The committee chair is not specified and can be any member of the board.
   3. Development Committee: This committee will assist the College in developing new strategies and opportunities for securing support for engineering program development, activities, and priorities. The committee will suggest the best approaches for identifying and cultivating individuals, groups, alumni, and foundations for support of the engineering programs. The committee will be chaired by the Alumni and Development board representative, and will include one faculty and three external members.
   4. Industry and Experiential Learning Sub-Committee: This subcommittee will be tasked with presenting the needs and opportunities of particular industries and developing strategies and opportunities to establish academic-industry cooperation through internships, scholarships and cooperative programs. The committee will include the Director of the Center for Experiential Learning, one faculty, and three external members. The committee chair is not specified and can be any member of the board.
9. Generally, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, a designee from the Provost’s Office, Chairs and Directors of Engineering Programs, and the Chairperson will plan the Board meetings and the Chair of the Board will preside over the Board meetings. The Chair of the Board and the Dean will communicate with the Board and will make suggestions for future agenda items.
10. In accepting membership, each member of the Advisory Board acknowledges a commitment to support the activities of the SUNY Oswego engineering programs. All members are expected to serve actively on one of the committees and to participate in support of the Engineering Programs through various efforts as defined in the Bylaws.
11. Members will receive Engineering Advisory Board updates in January and July from the Office of the Dean.