Topic:  Establishing & Maintaining a Viable Advisory Committee

 

Key Points:

 

1.       Develop criteria/requirements for membership.

2.       Establish purpose of the committee.

3.       Has to be industry-driven.

4.       Keep members active and interested.

5.       Establish goals (annual basis)

6.       Good communication.

7.       Formal meetings—agenda, minutes, facilitation, meal.

8.       Membership is important/meaningful to the organization.

9.       Use audits (of P-Tech program) by members.

10.   Aim for membership size of 15-20.

11.   Membership contacts should originate from within industry (high level)

or high level of the college.

 

Discussion Synopsis on Key Points:

 

Develop criteria/requirements for membership

§         High school representative

§         Committee should take on management of the curriculum

§         Identify who will be contacted (on initial call, call before you write)

§         Members should have relative experience in the industry (may be retired)

§         Recommend 2:1 industry/educator ratio membership

 

Establish purpose of the committee

§         State guidelines may exist (Texas Community Colleges have these)

§         Develop values/mission/vision statements for the committee

§         Review curricula regularly

§         Create win/win situations (for industry and education)

§         Members can be a resource for obtaining equipment donations from their companies

 

Has to be industry-driven

§         Invite high level managers on occasion to special meetings

 

Keep members active and interested

§         Involve members in teaching a class—if experience allows

§         An occasional “renewal” meeting—relax, informal, fellowship

§         Bring members to GCPTA meetings on occasion

§         Membership participation in schools’ career days (and Alliance career days)

 

Good communication

§         Bring all advisory committees together occasionally

§         Advisory committees from different colleges meet occasionally

 

Formal meetings—agenda, minutes, facilitation, meal

§         Chairperson—from industry; scribe; guidelines on how quickly   minutes need to be published; how far in advance agendas need to be issued; document meeting rules (meeting behaviors)

§         Meet at least quarterly w/communications between meetings

 

Membership is important/meaningful to the organization

§         Membership is part of the job (an expectation); expect to see results from attending.

 

Use audits (of P-Tech program) by members

§         Evaluate Louisiana’s audit tool for potential use by your committee

 

Aim for membership size of 15-20

§         To start—develop a contact list (keep those business cards!)