Responsibilities
- Attend biannual board meetings and other events/functions as requested. Review agenda and supporting materials prior to board meetings.
- Be informed about the program(s); its students, curriculum, services/supports, and activities, and inform others.
- Identify and present opportunities for students and/or host students for capstone projects or experiences.
- Assist with placement of program graduates.
- Share developments in the field.
- Provide support and advice to program(s), assist in the development of new programs, and identify best-practice standards.
- Serve as an ambassador and advocate to the program(s), providing a connection to and ongoing exchange of information and ideas with practitioners in the field and other external contacts.
- Realistically assess the labor market demand for program graduates and advise the program to ensure graduates with the skills required to meet employment needs.
- Assess the currency of curriculum and teaching practice. Work with program staff and other board members to ensure that the program is delivering learning that is up to date and relevant to current business, industry, labor, and professional employment practices.
- Assist with program marketing and promotion.
- Assist in identification and acquisition (when appropriate) of external funding and resources to support the students and program (e.g., scholarships, program materials, and other resources).
- Assist in the identification and recruitment of new board members.
- Provide recommendations for topic presenters for advisory board meetings.
Personal Characteristics
- Ability to: listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, work well with people individually and in a group, provide constructive feedback.
- Willing to: prepare for and attend board meetings; ask questions; share ideas, opinions, and experiences; open doors in the field.
- Possess: honesty; openness to differing views; a friendly, responsive, and patient approach; engagement skills; personal integrity; a developed sense of values; concern for and interest in the program’s development.
Guidelines
Introduction
UW Extended Campus and its collaborative partners recognize the value and importance of involving external stakeholders from appropriate fields (business and industry, government, education, and others) in the development, delivery, and promotion of its multi-campus credit and noncredit programs through program advisory boards. These groups provide a critical link between educators, students, and practitioners in the field in order to achieve program quality and relevance. UW Extended Campus program managers are charged with working with program partners in the formation and management of these boards and helping these groups realize their potential.
To support this effort, we have prepared the following set of guidelines. They are intended to offer recommendations for the structure, format, and function of an effective and successful advisory board.
Role and Responsibilities of Program Advisory Board Members
The program advisory board and responsible program staff will work together to ensure that the program delivers learning that is up to date and relevant to current business, industry, labor, and professional employment practices. The board will provide support and advice to academic programs, assist in the development of new programs, and identify best-practice standards. Board members will also serve as ambassadors to the program, providing a connection to and ongoing exchange of information and ideas with members of a broader society. Specific duties of board members may include the following:
- Make recommendations to help assure that the program addresses the employment and educational needs of business, industry, labor, and/or the profession.
- Realistically assess the labor market demand for program graduates.
- Advise the program to ensure students graduate with the skills employers need.
- Identify and present opportunities and/or host opportunities for student capstone projects or experiences.
- Assist with placement of program graduates.
- Assess the currency of curriculum and teaching practices.
- Serve as an advocate of the program and a communication link between the host institutions and the community.
- Provide feedback, advice, and/or assistance with a variety of program-driven tasks and/or projects.
- Assist with program marketing and promotion.
- Assist in the identification and recruitment of new board members.
- Assist in identification and acquisition (when appropriate) of external funding and resources to support the students and program (scholarships, program materials, and other resources).
- Provide recommendations on topic presenters for advisory board meetings.
Membership
Advisory board members will represent a cross section of business, industry, labor, and/or the profession relevant to the academic program. A diversity of perspectives is an important aspect of the board’s functioning. Diverse perspectives and experiences based on veteran status, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic location, age, and other related qualities will be an important aspect in selecting members. Prospective advisory board members are identified by existing advisory board members or members of the program planning committee (program academic directors, faculty, and staff). Their names will be submitted to the program planning committee for input.
The suggested number of board members is from 12 to 15 people. Advisory board members will serve two-year terms with the possibility for renewal for additional terms based on their interest and involvement, at the discretion of the program planning committee which serves as a resource to and oversees the board. Dedicated board positions will also be established for one current student and a program graduate working in the field. In addition, current students and program faculty will be invited and encouraged to attend meetings.
The advisory board is non-voting and does not engage in decision making related to program personnel, budget, or internal policy-development within the partner institutions.
Officers and Duties
A new chair will be identified and appointed each (calendar) year from the advisory board membership. Members will be solicited each year for interest in serving in this role. A co- or vice-chair may also be identified. If no board member is able to serve as chair, an academic director may function as an interim chair until an advisory board member is identified. There are no other elected officers.
The advisory board chair facilitates effective functioning of the advisory board meetings with support from the program manager. Conducting meetings is the prime role of the chair. He/she will also assist the program manager in preparing meeting agendas and represent the advisory board at other meetings as needed.
The program manager will plan the meetings; ensure effective preparation, distribution, and archiving of the advisory board meeting minutes, and take follow-up action as required. The program manager will also establish and maintain a viable pool of prospective new board members, maintain a current list of members, monitor terms, and manage the membership to include maintaining consistent and effective communication.
Advisory Board Meetings
Advisory board meetings will be held on a bi-annual schedule (fall and spring) and will be of appropriate length to maintain the support, interest, and involvement of advisory board members. Effective and efficient meetings are critical to the success of the advisory board. It is at meetings where discussion and deliberation of important matters are translated into decisions and recommendations about the ongoing growth, development, and enhancement of the academic program.
Typical agenda items include introductions, a general program update (new faculty, enrollments, course development, program marketing, student experiences, and more), AD/campus reports, updates from the field, and primary discussion/decision topic(s) to solicit and secure input from external members.
As a benefit to all attendees, it is also recommended that the meetings offer some form of professional development to include, but not be limited to, presentations from external subject/topic-area experts, professional association representatives, capstone site hosts, and others. It is also recommended that students be invited to present on their capstone experiences at these meetings to the board.
Meeting locations will be determined by the program manager with input from board members. When necessary and available, distance technologies will be used to allow members to participate who are unable to attend in person.
Advisory Board Member Compensation
There is no formal compensation for advisory board members. UW Extended Campus will cover all site costs associated with the advisory board meetings, such as space rental, technology costs (conference call/video conferencing, equipment rental, technicians, etc.), food services, and parking. Costs related to travel (mileage, accommodations, and other expenses) are the responsibility of each board member.
Want to become an advisory board member? Find out more:
Advisory Board Member Questionnaire
Please complete and submit the form at this link to tell us more about your interest and background.
