An accrediting body may require at least one of the meetings to be held at the facility. Our college have in the past hosted the advisory board meetings on campus and have found it to be beneficial in several ways.
First, it showcases the campus and allows your advisory board to assess the facility as well. Second, students will see the commitment the school makes in asking for feedback from the industry through meetings such as this. It communicates the service and dedication the shcool has for its students. Third, the members get a chance to communicate first-hand with the students and often invite themselves to come and speak with classes for a longer period of time.
Since we are a small institute we have our bi-annual advisory board meetings at local restaurants. We never visit the same restaurant and since one of our programs is Hospitality & Tourism it acts as a promotional venue for both the restaurant and our school. We have a selection process for picking a place: a large back room to conduct the engagement, a variety of dishes ( if Italian a variety of 4-course meals are offered), time required for agenda presentation, time for meal consumption and after dinner, discussion of agenda topics, Usually our meetings last over 4-hours. Prior to leaving each member is given an assignment to perform. Their answers are sent via e-mail and an “After Action Report (AAR) complied, analyzed and distributed to each member of the finding presented
Arthur,
Thanks for sharing the structure of your advisory board meetings, I especially like the practice of giving board members assignments. Using outside venues is valuable, but it also isolates members of the advisory board from having opportunities to interact with your students, the timing of which can be controlled with the agenda. Consider capitalizing on and promoting your hospitality and tourism program by collaborating with the restaurant to permit your best students to make the arrangements for the meeting. This provides an opportunity for you to "showcase" your students to the board while giving them a "real world" experience.
Dr. Robert Roehrich
I feel it would be more professional to have the meeting at our college. It gives an opportunity for those attending to embrace the very energy of the educational environment they are choosing to support.Those attending have a first hand experience of what is being offered and they get to witness how their decisions can help guide the shape and direction of what is being offered as a means of supporting each student's success.I feel it is tremendous to experience what you are part of.
Michael,
Agreed, having the meetings at your school should be the first preference. Include a tour of your facility, have members meet students who are available, have displays of student work and provide some of your faculty members with the opportunity of meeting and talking with your board members in a social setting. Do you have any other suggestions?
Dr. Robert Roehrich
I would use both of them the first one should be on campus the next one can be away from the campus this is the process we currently use for our PAC meeting.
Troy,
Yes, be sure the chosen venue is conducive to confidentiality and quiet enough to support an effective dialogue over the issues.
Dr. Robert Roehrich
