Welcome to an online handbook for Program Advisory Committees. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Office of the Chancellor Division of Academic and Student Affairs and the Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF) collaborated on this joint project designed to reinvigorate program advisory committees in the state of Minnesota.

This resource provides you with a guide as you form your advisory committee and work with its members. The handbook clearly and thoroughly explains the purpose and structure of a committee and the roles of its members. It can serve as a tool for all committee members and may be especially helpful when introducing new members to your committee. Although the handbook was designed specifically for faculty in two-year technical and professional programs, in fact, faculty in all types of programs at all higher educational institutions can benefit from the material in this handbook.

Included in the handbook are the following sections:

• A Content Page that gives you information about the Purpose and Structure of Advisory Committees.

• Readings has information about a Program of Work and Communication with the Advisory Committee. 

• Points to Ponder asks for reflection about your program and your committee and discusses Sustainability.

• You will also find an Activity page with templates for by-laws, meeting evaluations, and other resources. 

PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK

The purpose of this handbook is to help committee chairs and members, administrators, and instructors improve the overall quality of technical/occupational education through the use of advisory committees. This handbook outlines the structure, function, and processes of effective advisory committees

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Most projects and products are the results of a cumulative effort of various groups of people. This handbook is no exception. Much gratitude is extended to the following members of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Advisory Committee Project Work Group:

Deena Allen, Office of the Chancellor

Judi Anderson, Alexandria Technical College 

Sheryl Barton, Riverland College

Robert Engberg, Dakota County Technical College

Orley Gunderson, Northland Community and Technical College

Dennis Hampel, MN West

Dave Hellmich, South Central Technical College

Joe Juaire, St. Paul College

Michele Keane, Lake Superior College

Michael Lehn, St. Cloud Technical College

Kate Manahan, Normandale Community College

Marty Patterson, Hennepin Technical College

Lloyd A. Petri, Office of the Chancellor

Keith Redmond, St. Cloud Technical College

Marietta Saxon, Anoka Technical College

Peter Scheffert, Riverland College

Edward Schones, Minnesota State College Faculty

Carol Steimer Bailey, Office of the Chancellor

Richard Wold, St. Paul College

Special thanks to CORD staff members:

Hope Cotner, Director of Community College Initiatives

Dan Hull, President and CEO

Mark Whitney, Manager, Publication Services

All of the materials contained in this Web site are protected by copyright. Copying, displaying and/or distributing copyrighted works may infringe the owner’s copyright. For more information on copyright law please see the U.S. Copyright Office site at http://www.loc.gov/copyright/, and for the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities System's policy on copyright, please see http://intellectualproperty.mnscu.edu/. For permission to use any materials found herein, please contact the original author or the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl@so.mnscu.edu.

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