Advisory committees play a critical role in the operation of Lane Community College's professional-technical programs.
Learn More About Advisory Committees
Through their members, they provide a cross-section of expertise and experience to effectively influence the direction and momentum of Lane programs.
Advisory committees serve as both the champions and gatekeepers of the broader college mission. In this respect, they are bigger than themselves in their ability to influence the quality of the work force today and in the future.
An advisory committee is a formally organized committee of citizens selected from the community to provide expert advice and assistance to Lane Community College's professional- technical programs.
The advisory committee serves as an ongoing partnership between Lane and the professional-technical community. It is designed to ensure that the knowledge and skills students receive are current with those needed in the workforce.
Advisory committees are an important resource in helping Lane make wise decisions, resulting in the best education programs for the residents of Lane County.
What do Committee Members Do?
- Needs assessment
- Academic program review/curriculum planning
- Facilities upgrading recommendations
- Public relations
- Recruitment
- Cooperative Education/Internship
- Leadership
Advisory committee members are expected to attend quarterly meetings, suggest agenda items, serve on subcommittees as requested, follow through on assignments and become thoroughly familiar with the educational program.
In addition, in order for advisory committees to operate successfully, the following characteristics are expected of its members:
Participation.
Offer advice, opinions, ideas and recommendations about the educational program in a manner that attempts to reach consensus on issues.
Preparation.
Provide pro-active responses to issues and projects based on thorough preparation prior to meetings.
Professionalism.
Share professional expertise, balance the goals of the educational program and the profession, and maintain confidentiality where appropriate.
Commitment.
Make the committee a time priority, share information openly, and develop recommendations that benefit students, the program, and the college.
Entrepreneurship.
Develop partnerships, obtain resources and recommend new and innovative ways to increase public awareness of college training programs.
Advisory committee members are appointed and approved for three-year terms by Lane Community College's Board of Education. Committee members serve in a voluntary, consultative capacity to the College.
Members are recommended by the College Board, staff, advisory committee members, professional groups and business representatives. Recommendations are based on the potential members' expertise and experience, their enthusiasm toward the career area and their willingness to serve.
Members are also selected with an attempt to balance representation with respect to racial, cultural, ethnic and gender diversity and with consideration of the spectrum of occupations within a particular program.
To be effective, advisory committees must be mutually beneficial for the college and its members. Advisory committee members can expect:
Professional Satisfaction.
Members act as role models for their profession and mentor new colleagues while building their own network of professional relationships.
Citizen Satisfaction.
Members directly impact the way federal, state and local funds are spent while building a skilled work force.
Personal Satisfaction.
Members have the opportunity to grow personally in their knowledge of meeting management, group process and systems thinking, leading them to their own "next" career step.