ADVISORY COMMITTEE GUIDELINES A HANDBOOK FOR CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Transcription

1 ADVISORY COMMITTEE GUIDELINES A HANDBOOK FOR CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS El Paso Community College P.O. Box El Paso, TX Members Edition Revised: Academic Year El Paso County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. Mission and Goals of the College 2 II. Career and Technical Education at El Paso Community College. 3 III. Advisory Committees 3 Why Advisory Committees? Definition of Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee IV Advisory Committee Member Selection 4

2 Membership Qualifications and Composition Term of Office Reimbursement V. General Functions of Advisory Committees 5 VI. Scope of Committee Activities. 6 Community Surveys Program Support Curriculum Advisement Public Relations/Recruitment Equipment and Facilities Staffing Program Evaluation VII. Advisory Committee Meetings/Minutes EL PASO COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN Mission - The mission of El Paso Community College is to provide accessible, quality and affordable education that prepares students for acaden1ic, professional and personal growth and advance our regional work force. Vision - EPCC will be the progressive educational leader providing quality education that facilitates success for students, the community and region through innovative opportunities. Goal 1 -Provide Quality Education Maintain a focus on improvement and assessment that is supported by creating a culture of excellence. Intended Outcomes:

3 Improve College Transitions Prepare Students with Marketable Skills for Gainful Employment Promote co -curricular learning Provide State of the Art Infrastructure Support high quality professional development opportunities. Goal 2- Drive Student Success Provide academic programs and support services that are clear pathways to skill development, timely degree completion and transfer to university or employment. Intended Outcomes: Engage Students Inside & Outside the Classroom Create a College Going Culture Focus on Completion - Increase Graduates & Graduation Rate Optimize Support Services Improve productive transfer & transfer mobility Goal 3 -Foster Engagement Enhance collaboration at all levels within EPCC and the community. Intended Outcomes: Increase Enrollment Recruit and Retain Qualified & Diverse Employees Promote Innovation, Responsiveness and Accountability Encourage All Employees to Take Personal Responsibility for Student Success & Engagement Promote Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Goal 4-Build Community & National Awareness & Grow Partnerships Share the many ways EPCC transforms student's lives and impacts the community and region. Intended Outcomes: Increase Business and Con1munity Partnerships Align with Regional Educational, Economic and Workforce Demands Enhance EPCC Visibility & Brand Presence 2

4 Strengthen Community Trust and Confidence in EPCC Goal 5- Sustainability Be a progressive educational leader through in novation, identifying opportunities for improvement and effectively utilizing resources. Intended Outcomes: Maintain Fiscal Strength and Accountability Implement the Master Plan Ensure Campus Safety Integrate Planning, Data-Driven Decision Making and Best Practices Create Quality and Effectiveness in All College Operations 3

5 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT EPCC Career and Technical Education (C.T.E.) programs and courses at El Paso Community College are designed for those students who desire employment in a specific occupational field. Multiple programs (including A.A.S., Certificate and Continuing Education/Workforce Programs) have been designated to meet specific employment opportunities that will exist when students complete their studies. Thus, students goals and ambitions are matched to the community s needs. With this realistic approach, El Paso Community College has become a leading educator of skilled manpower of the West Texas-New Mexico region. The College s success was made possible through the excellent cooperation of local industry, business and healthcare/public service institutions who increasingly turn to the College for skilled employees. El Paso Community College believes every student should participate in the community as a culturally aware citizen. Therefore, Career and Technical Education curricula also include general education courses in the Humanities, Communication, Math/Science and Social/Behavioral Sciences in addition to specialty courses. Exposure to, and knowledge of, computer skills are also emphasized, since the role of technology in all fields is increasing. Another feature of the College s Career and Technical Education programs is commitment to continuing education and lifelong learning with programs designated to help students to stay abreast of changes in their chosen careers. Advisory committees are an indispensable part of meeting the College s mission and goals which relate to Career and Technical Education. Why Advisory Committees? ADVISORY COMMITTEES Career and Technical Education programs are unique because they recognize the need for input from business, industrial and public service communities to assure that programs meet the needs of the community. Career and Technical Education faculty and staff at El Paso Community College actively support and endorse advisory committees. Career and Technical Education programs prepare students to work in a highly technical, industrialized society that is characterized by continuous and accelerated changes. Advisory committees are indispensable in identifying current and future occupational skills, knowledge and goals. Such continual input ensures that graduates knowledge and skills are not obsolete. Furthermore, advisory committees assure that graduates have the necessary skills that the labor market demands for success in a chosen field. The role of the advisory committee as defined by the 2015 Guidelines for Instructional 4

6 Programs in Workforce Education (p.7) include: 1. To help the college document the need for the workforce education program. 2. To ensure that the program has adequate resources and a well-designed curriculum to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for employment. Definition of Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee A Career and Technical Education advisory committee is a group of persons who are selected from the community to advise the College regarding specific Career and Technical Education programs and courses. Advisory committee members primarily include practitioners, employers and supervisors within that occupation. Students, graduates and consumers may also be represented on the committee. Members of the College faculty and staff may serve as liaisons or ex-officio (non-voting) members of the committee. Membership ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER SELECTION While most advisory committees consist of five or more members, an effort is made to include a diverse group of advisory committee members who are representative of the community. The advisory committee will elect a chair who must be a community member. The chair will serve in this capacity for one year but may be re-elected. El Paso Community College is represented on each committee by the Dean(s), the Instructional Program Coordinator(s) and appropriate Continuing Education Director(s). Counselors may also participate in some Advisory Committees. Full-time college employees serve only as exofficio (non-voting) members of advisory committees. Qualifications and Composition The College establishes separate program advisory committees for each career and technical education program or cluster of closely related programs. The following are descriptions of member qualifications: 1. The advisory committee is composed of persons who represent the demographics of the College s service area, as well as the occupational field, and who are knowledgeable about skills used in occupations for which training is being provided. 2. Members are drawn from the public and private sectors, with emphasis on business, industry and labor membership. Membership also represents the needs of special population students. 5

7 3. Career & Technical education program advisory committee members may represent secondary education and higher education, as well as business and industry. 4. Full-time faculty and staff of the College serve only as ex-officer members of the committee. Part-time faculty who hold full-time positions within the career field may be members of the committee. College employees may not serve as committee chairs. 5. Each program advisory committee member advises in curriculum development and program revisions relative to current and future trends in the field, equipment acquisition, external learning experiences and student employment and placement. 6. Other characteristics desirable in a committee member include: A. Interest in the specific goals of the program as an employer, consumer or practitioner; B. Competency and experience in the career area; C. Adequate time available to participate in the advisory committee activities; D. Willingness to share advice and concerns with College personnel. 7. Students and consumers may also be represented on advisory committees. Term of Office Members are selected for two-year terms with the option of reappointment. Reimbursement Advisory committee members serve without pay. GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES Advisory committee members are representatives from the community who volunteer their time and energy to assure quality instructional programs. This outline of general functions is presented with the understanding that requests for time and effort from the advisory committee members are 6

8 reasonable in nature. Following are some specific functions: o Serve as a communication liaison between College and community groups to relate instruction to the current and future needs of the community. o Review current curriculum, recommend changes and approve recommended changes suggested by instructional staff. Changes in curriculum may include changes in curriculum organization, course revisions, and new courses and /or changes in degrees offered. o Assist in new program development and program revisions. o Validate the specific skills/workplace competencies required of graduates and suggest related information and general education content for the course/program. o Offer suggestions for the selection of equipment, software and other instructional materials. o Assist in the selection and acquisition of equipment, supplies and other donations from the community. o Recommend potential instructors. o Assist in relaying information about current job openings to students and graduates of the program. o Identify local business/industry leaders who will provide students with external learning experiences, employment and placement opportunities. o Inform the College of changes in the labor market: specific needs, surplus/shortages of personnel, national/regional trends, etc. o Evaluate goals and objectives of the program curriculum. o Evaluate the adequacy of existing college facilities and equipment. o Assist in professional development of faculty. o Assist in promoting and publicizing the program to the community, business and industry. o Advisory committees may perform additional duties and functions in accordance with guidelines from specialized accrediting agencies. 7

9 SCOPE OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES Each Career & Technical Education Advisory Committee at El Paso Community College provides advice on the development, operation and evaluation of the program for which it was appointed. The following committee functions outline the scope of committee activities and are presented so that individual members of the advisory committee understand how they might best serve the college. Community Surveys The advisory committee assists the College in determining: 1. The jobs for which an educational program or course is needed. 2. The need for expanded education for those already employed. 3. New areas in which courses should be developed. 4. Whether or not programs should be established, expanded or eliminated. Program Support The advisory committee can support the program by: 5. Notifying faculty of job opportunities for students and graduates. 6. Employing graduates and cooperative education students. Curriculum Advisement The advisory committee deliberates on appropriate curricular concerns to include the following: 7. Identifies competencies needed for employment. 8. Examines the relationship between the occupational courses and other college courses/programs. 9. Emphasizes the development of human relations skills and positive attitudes toward work within the program. 10. Determines the appropriateness of instructional materials. 11. Examines the performance of program graduates. Public Relations/Recruitment 8

10 The advisory committee assists in: 12. Developing community awareness of College faculty, facilities, programs and equipment. 13. Suggesting ways to promote the College through speaking engagements, television, radio and other media. 14. Participating in awards programs for outstanding students and alumni. 15. Suggesting a public relations calendar for the academic year. Equipment and Facilities Primary work activities of this function include inspection, evaluation, and providing assistance in obtaining equipment, facilities and instructional resources. Members can give advice and assistance in purchasing equipment or they can assist the College in obtaining equipment and materials via donations or on consignment. Staffing The advisory committee assists in: 1. Recommending the number of faculty needed for a course/program. 2. Recommending adjunct faculty. 3. Referring potential faculty for employment. 4. Recommending changes in faculty workload and salary. Program Evaluation The Career and Technical Education advisory committee assists in institutional evaluation, specialized accreditation self-studies and site visits as appropriate. Note: The section, A Scope of Committee Activities, has been adapted from materials prepared by Seminole Community College. Advisory Committee Meetings/ Minutes Advisory committees must meet in person a minimum of one time a year and should, if possible, have a quorum present; however, it is recommended that contact with committees be maintained throughout the year via , fax phone, or video conference. During the development of new programs, advisory committees should meet frequently. 9

11 All meetings of the advisory committee must be recorded in official minutes. The minutes must include: Identification of committee members (name, title, and affiliation); An indication of the committee members' presence or absence from the meeting; The names and titles of others present at the meeting; The signature of the recorder and elected chair; Evidence of that industry partners have taken an active role in making decisions that affect the program. Minutes must be maintained in college files and made available to the Coordinating Board staff upon request. Attached is a sample for recording advisory committee minutes recommended by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 10

12 ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CHAIRPERSON: MEETING DATE: MEETING TIME: MEETING PLACE: RECORDER: MEMBERS: (P=Present) Name and Title P OTHERS Present: Business Affiliation PREVIOUS MEETING: Name and Title Agenda Item Action, Discussion, Information Responsibility Approve Minutes from Last Meeting Old Business: New Business: Curriculum Decisions: Other: MINUTES Key Discussion Points Discussion Old Business: New Business: Curriculum Decisions: Other: CHAIRPERSON SIGNATURE (or designee) DATE: NEXT MEETING: 11

13 El Paso Community College Advisory Committee Membership Academic Year: Program/Discipline: Number Name Title Employer Street/PO Box Mailing Address City State Zip Business Phone Cell Phone Address Comments Term of Appointment 12