The ECE 20/20 Vision

The TTU ECE Department is engaging in a renewed and invigorated effort to dramatically improve the quality of our curriculum, laboratories, industry interaction, and especially our product -- talented, well-trained electrical and computer engineering graduates. Our ambitious plan extends through the year 2020 and is called “The ECE 20/20 Vision.” Our vision is to be a vibrant, internationally recognized ECE program which continues to provide the friendly, nurturing atmosphere that has endeared this special place to our alumni.

Key components of the ECE 20/20 Vision are:

• Industry engagement
• Curriculum enhancement
• Facility & laboratory revitalization
• ECE Program Endowment growth
• International recognition in Signature Research areas
  • Power & Renewable Energy
  • Computer Networks

The creativity of Electrical and Computer Engineers has been and will continue to be a primary driving force in improving global economy, health, and quality of life. ECE's and their inventions have made all our lives more productive, safe, and enjoyable. An ECE career offers people an unparalleled opportunity to experience the joy of improving the quality of life for humankind by developing solutions to societal problems and needs.

Extension of ECE into the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology, renewable energy, high-performance computing, and optical and wireless networks, during the years between now and 2020, promise to define ECE as one of the most influential and valuable careers to society, and a very attractive choice for the best and brightest students in the US and throughout the world.

We have high aspirations for our ECE students, faculty, and alumni that reflect a shared vision, our 20/20 Vision, of the future of ECE both at Tech and across the world.

We aspire to produce graduates who:

1. Embrace creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, critical thinking, a global worldview, and interdisciplinary collaboration with nonengineering disciplines such as medicine, science, and business.
2. Are well prepared to assume leadership positions in industry, academia, and government from which they can positively influence society and public policy.
3. Will lead the way in wise, economically and environmentally sustainable development and efficient, responsible use of the earth's resources.
4. Are adaptable to the rapid pace of change in technology and global conditions and who are committed to lifelong learning and continuous personal improvement.
5. Are excellent communicators, documenters, and team collaborators, making the most effective use of technology for these purposes.
6. Have strong research skills and experience, with a personal commitment to scientific investigation and discovery.

Between now and 2020:

• The pace of technology innovation will continue to accelerate.
• Engineers will live and work in an intensely globally interconnected society.
• The engineering community will be increasingly diverse and multidisciplinary.
• Social, political, environmental, and economic forces will increasingly affect the direction and success of technological innovation.
• The presence of technology in our everyday lives will be seamless, transparent, and completely pervasive.

Key attributes desired in our ECE graduates are:

• Up-to-date knowledge with a commitment to life-long learning
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Practical ingenuity -- knowing how to make it work
• Confidence in themselves and their abilities
• Leadership and project management skills
• Creativity
• Persuasive, effective communication skills
• Business savvy
• High ethical standards and a strong sense of professionalism
• Dynamism, agility, flexibility, and resilience in the face of rapid change

New Undergraduate Program Initiatives as part of the ECE 20/20 Vision:

• IAB-Faculty Study of EE & CMPE Core Curricula
• Redesign of Laboratory Curriculum
• Continuing Improvement to Senior Capstone Design experience
• Continuing Improvement to the Common Freshman Year for EE and CMPE
• Expansion to 2+2, extension campuses, and the entire Tennessee P-12 schools
• Group Study Room and IEEE/HKN Tutoring Room Improvements

New Graduate Program Initiatives as part of the ECE 20/20 Vision:

• Strategic investment of faculty, student, and lab equipment funding in two or three SIGNATURE research areas such as Energy Systems and Network Systems
• Better info & advertising on our WEB pages & in E-brochures
• Recruit and build up 1) Direct admit PhD & 2) Fast Track MS programs
• Develop feeder schools/professors in TN region and overseas
• Recruit our own BS grads as aggressively as companies do!
• More assistantship funding: give workload credit to faculty for achieving this
• More graduate courses taught, especially at PhD level
• More rapid, paperless processing of graduate admissions applications
• University/industry support for video-streaming graduate courses