3.30.1 Program Advisory Committee
Related Minnesota State Board Policy: 3.30 Program Advisory Committees
Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: 3.30.1 Program Advisory Committees
Related Minnesota State Handbook: Career Program Advisory Committee Handbook
Part 1: Purpose: To establish consistent standards, processes, and conditions for the creation and operation of Program Advisory Committees.
Part 2: Definitions
Program Advisory committee
A formally organized committee that provides expert advice and assistance on technical and career programs. Membership, structure, and the operations of the committee must be established within the policy and handbook guidelines.
Programs
1. Career program. A career program is any program that offers the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree or related certificate that prepares students for employment in a specific career field or which is aligned with a specific occupation or career field. This includes all A.S. degrees that are eligible for Perkins funds.
2. Technical program. A technical program is any program that offers the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.), diploma, or related certificate, if the certificate prepares students for immediate employment or is aligned with a specific occupation or career field.
Part 3: Program Advisory Procedure
Subpart A: Applicability
Program Advisory Committees are required for every credit-based technical and career program offered by the college. Academic programs that desire strong relationships with stakeholders may also establish Program Advisory Committees.
Subpart B: Membership
1.Program Advisory Committee membership should include:
a. Members representing the breadth of the industry/field;
b. program faculty;
c. a college administrator;
d. program students;
e. representation from the program’s K-12 education or university partners as applicable; and
f. program alumni as applicable.
2.The committee members should reflect the diversity found in the community and in the students enrolled in the program.
3. The size of the advisory committee should be large enough to ensure adequate representation.
4. The advisory committee should adhere to any accreditation standards.
5. The advisory committee will establish its own written criteria for member recruitment, selection, appointment, and replacement.
6. One advisory committee may serve more than one program provided that committee members possess the requisite knowledge and skills relevant to employment of graduates in the related technical or career occupations.
Subpart C: Structure and governance
The program advisory committee must adopt a charter which identifies the structure, responsibilities, and work of the committee.
Based upon this charter, advisory committees will elect a chair of the committee, as well as any other positions deemed necessary for successful committee functioning. Committee chairs should be external stakeholders with subject matter expertise, an understanding of Normandale’s equity goals, and experience in the technical or career field the program represents.
Subpart D: Meeting schedule
Advisory committees shall establish a regular meeting schedule and shall meet a minimum of two times each year.
Subpart E: Work plan and priorities
Advisory committees should establish a work plan with priorities based upon the needs of the program and technical or career field, as well as with college and workforce goals.
Subpart F: Communications
The program faculty shall be responsible for ensuring communication between the college and the advisory committee members. A faculty member will work with the advisory board chair to establish an agenda and send out materials to members in advance of meetings.
Subpart G: Collaboration
The working relationship between the advisory group and program faculty shall be one of collaboration. Faculty members should work in concert with advisory board members for the betterment of the program. Meetings should be conducted in an atmosphere that is open, supportive, and participatory.
Subpart H: Career and transfer pathways
Advisory committee should be aware of career and transfer pathways. Advisory committee members should promote the program and its students in their areas of influence.
Subpart I: Recommendations and documentation
1. Recommendations. Advisory committees provide a set of recommendations for the continuous improvement of programs. These recommendations should be documented in meeting minutes. Feedback on the implementation of recommendations should be provided to committee members in a timely fashion. All major program changes should be reviewed and approved by the advisory committee
2. Documentation. Minutes should be taken at all advisory committee meetings. Program advisory committee work plans, membership, and meeting minutes must be formally collected and sent to the division office where they will be stored and made available upon request.
Part 4: Oversight and Accountability
Subpart A: Accountability
Program Advisory Committee procedure, work plans, membership, and meeting minutes must be formally collected by the relevant dean’s office and made available upon request.
Subpart B: Evaluation
Each program shall evaluate its program advisory committee annually. The evaluation should include the diversity of committee membership, actions taken, and should use this evaluation for continuous improvement.
Policy History: New
Owner: Academic Affairs – Dean of Business, Social Sciences, and Education
Date of Adoption: 4/18/24
Date of Implementation:
Date and Subject of Revisions: 3/24 - Major revisions to adhere to system requirements
Next Review Date (4 years): AY 27-28