Procedure 7.2.1: College Program Advisory Committee

PURPOSE AND NEED

Technical programsmustbe an integral part ofthe community they serve.Programs must betechnologically current andrespond to theneedsof the marketplace by providinga well-prepared work force.The industrialcommunity must understand and support these programs.Only through the close cooperation between theeducational institutionandthe business,industry,andhealth communitiescan this resultbe accomplished.This can best be achievedthrough the effective useof program advisory committees.

Advisory committeesare essential to initiate new technical programs as wellas toguide, strengthen and improve existing programs.The program advisorycommittee must continuallyreview the technical program’s course outlinesto ensurethatthe curriculais kept currentwithsociety’s changing demands for new skills and knowledge.To achieve thisobjective, the advisory committeemust becomposedof individuals who are activeand knowledgeable intheiroccupations.

MEMBERSHIP

Each committee shallbecomposed of individuals from a cross-sectionofjobswithin the occupational area. Membership shall consist of notless thanfour members.

AUTHORITY

The authority for establishing requirements in respectto College affairs rests legally with the Minnesota State Colleges andUniversities System Board ofTrustees, acting in conformity with federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

Advisory committeesshould be aware that at times theCollege cannot adopt in full, or sometimes even in part, the recommendations of the committee.Financial restrictions, physicalbuilding limitations, and other difficulties maynecessitate delay or non-enactment of committeerecommendations.However, all committee recommendations will receive due consideration and receive aresponse from the college administration.If atany time an advisory committeefeels it has not received adequateconsideration,the committee chairperson may request a meeting with the administration to resolvethe issue.

ORGANIZATION

Officers:

The program advisorycommittee should elect achairperson from industry foritsmembership. The secretarywill be anATC staff member unlessotherwise desired by the committee.Thecommittee chairperson may appointsubcommittees as necessaryto facilitate committee business.

Term of Office:

The termof officefor thechairperson shall beone year.The term of officeshallcommenceon July 1 and terminate on June30.The chairperson mayservemore than one term.

MEETINGS

There will be a minimumof two advisorycommittee meetingsper academic year. Additional meetingsmay becalled by thechairperson at the request ofCollege staff or an advisory member.

MINUTES

All advisory committee andsubcommittee meetingsmust have written minutes.Written minutes must be submitted to the academic affairs office before the end of the semester.

A current advisory committee member list andcopiesof all the agendas andpastmeeting minutes willbe on recordin the AcademicAffairs Office. Thesearethe official auditableCollege records. Any actions of committees or subcommittees which havenot been documented in minutesvia this procedure will not be considered official.

All advisory committee meetings are covered bytheMinnesota Open MeetingLaw and are open tothe public.

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History:

Unknown adoption date

07.2008 Updated

03.2024 Revised to eliminate unnecessary and outdated practice and guidelines