Advisory Committee Handbook
Letter from President
Michael Morrison
NIACC Mission Statement and
Institutional Purposes
The Advisory Committee: Purposes and
Functions
The Advisory Committee: Selection of
Members
The Advisory Committee: Guidelines for
Operation
Appendix A: Advisory Committee Survey Form
TO: Advisory Committee Members
FROM: Michael Morrison, NIACC President
RE: Advisory Committee Handbook
Advisory committees at NIACC are the eyes, ears, and mouths for our academic
programs. Committee members observe what goes on in their particular business or
industry, they listen to colleagues discuss the skills and aptitudes that
employees need to be successful on the job, and they provide invaluable feedback
to the program faculty at NIACC to shape the learning experiences in our
classrooms and laboratories to meet the needs of students, business, and
industry.
To enable you to better understand your role as a committee member, we have
developed this handbook. Among other things, this handbook explains how the
advisory committee structure fits into the College's mission and provides
guidelines for operation. We hope it will provide answers to questions that may
arise while you serve on an advisory committee. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to talk to your program leader or to me.
Without you, NIACC cannot serve the community adequately. We appreciate the
time, effort, and energy you devote to being a member of a NIACC advisory
committee.
NIACC MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the North Iowa Area Community College is to enhance the
quality of life for people of North Iowa through comprehensive educational
opportunities, progressive partnerships, exemplary service, and responsive
leadership.
Institutional Purposes
Within the human, financial, and physical resources entrusted to the North
Iowa Area Community College, the institution strives to achieve the following
goals:
- Enhance the human potential of students by assisting them to acquire the
knowledge and tools necessary to understand and enrich their environment and
contribute to their communities in a positive way. This becomes manifest
through the development of general education skills and abilities.
- Ensure that all citizens of the North Iowa region, regardless of their
educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, geographic placement, or needs for
special assistance, have the opportunity and necessary support to take
advantage of postsecondary educational programs and other services offered by
the College.
- Enable individuals to complete the first two years of a baccalaureate
program and, upon successful completion, to achieve efficient and effective
transfer to senior colleges.
- Ensure that individuals have opportunities to prepare themselves for
employment in occupations in demand in a global society.
- Ensure that individuals have opportunities to continue learning
throughout their lifetimes.
- Promote a strong economy by promoting and supporting efforts to develop
and maintain skilled and educated workforces and by promoting and supporting
entrepreneurial activity.
- Extend the reach of College resources through progressive partnerships
with agencies and entities in communities served by the College.
- Build community by promoting understanding, appreciation, cooperation,
and communication among diverse individuals.
- Instill confidence and pride in all who come into contact with the
College by fostering a commitment to excellence in all College endeavors.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS
Advisory committee are not policy-making bodies. The primary purpose
of the advisory committee is to study matters related to curriculum and
instruction for a particular program of study, make suggestions concerning the
functions of an educational program, and provide support to the program as it
serves students, businesses, industry, and the community. As such, the
activities of advisory committees may include the following matters:
- Appraising workforce development needs through
development of data collection instruments, interpreting data, and advising
potential employers
- Curricular planning through discussion of desirable
student competencies and examination of instructional materials
- Facilities planning through suggestions related to
technology, equipment, safety issues, and space requirements
- Instructor recruitment through contact of competent
individuals and examination of candidates' occupational and educational
competencies
- Instructional assistance through guest lectures and
instructional demonstrations, suggestions for instructional aids, and
equipment donations
- Program evaluation through assistance in
decision-making related to program implementation, improvement, and
continuation
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: SELECTION OF MEMBERS
In order to assure balance and to include individuals with appropriate
qualifications to serve an academic program, the following selection criteria
should be considered strongly when developing advisory committees or choosing
individuals to replace outgoing members:
- Interest
Members should have the time, energy, and enthusiasm to give to the
committee. Members of civic groups, trade associations, labor unions, and
leaders of organizations usually demonstrate the qualities needed to
contribute to the functioning of a successful advisory committee.
- NIACC Nondiscrimination Policy
North Iowa Area Community College is committed to the policy that all
persons shall have access to its programs, facilities, and employment
without discrimination based upon race, religion, color, creed, sex,
national origin, marital status, age, and physical or mental disability.
-
Committee Size and Membership
Advisory committees should be developed and maintained to represent the
interests of the program and the area. In general, committee should be
composed of four to ten members, including a cross-section of owners,
managers, and employees. Committees should strive for gender balance and
representation of minority groups.
Caution should be exercised in determining the size of the committee so as
not to expand it to the point where formality tends to dominate and
constructive discussion is impaired.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: GUIDELINES FOR OPERATION
The Division Chair or Program Leader works with committee members to set
meeting dates, develop an agenda, and prepare printed materials for review prior
to the meeting of the advisory committee. The Division Chair or Program Leader
is also responsible for arranging facilities and equipment for the meeting and
for serving as the liaison between NIACC and the advisory committee. To operate
effectively as an instrument within NIACC's educational mission, an advisory
committee should fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Meet at least one time per year. Additional meetings may be called if a
clearly-defined need exists for one, such as Iowa Department of Education or
external agency requirements.
- Maintain meeting minutes that include such information as committee
title, date, time, location, members present, members absent, introduction of
new members, introduction of special guests, minutes of prior meeting, results
of agenda discussion, recommendations, date of next meeting, time of
adjournment.
- Distribute agenda and minutes to committee members, Division Chair, Vice
President for Academic Affairs, and other interested or affected individuals.
Advisory Committee Member Survey Form
Program: ____________________________________________ Date: ________
We would appreciate it if you would take a few minutes of your time and
rate the above program according to the scale listed below. Your input is
extremely valuable in providing direction for the program.
Rating Scale: 5 Strongly Agree, 4 Agree, 3 Neutral, 2 Disagree, 1 Strongly
Disagree, 0 Not Applicable
1. Instructors in this program are well qualified and are knowledgeable in
their field.
5 4 3 2 1 0
2. The curriculum provides occupational and academic skills for which the
program was designed.
5 4 3 2 1 0
3. The curriculum for the program is developed to meet the current job
requirements for graduates.
5 4 3 2 1 0
4. The program is structured to meet the needs of students.
5 4 3 2 1 0
5. The program is realistically defined and has achievable goals.
5 4 3 2 1 0
6. The equipment in the program is comparable to industry standards.
5 4 3 2 1 0
7. The facilities are adequate for the instruction being provided.
5 4 3 2 1 0
8. I feel I have an opportunity to provide input and direction to this
program.
5 4 3 2 1 0
9. What are the principle strengths of the program?
10. What are the principle needs for improvement in the program?
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