Advisory Board Guidelines

Purpose

To provide a formal evaluation and assessment of program effectiveness by utilizing representative industries, employers, professional associations or and/or peer institutions. Membership may include representatives of these groups as well as program alumni. Members are term appointed by the College Council of SUNY Canton.

Advisory Board Goals

  1. Help maintain and improve program quality as evidenced by the program’s curricular requirements and student demonstration of student learning outcomes including those of capstone, internship or practicum experiences as appropriate.
  2. Help assure that program curriculum and learning objectives maintain alignment with the evolving needs of employers and/or related graduate programs.
  3. As applicable, evaluate laboratory facilities for adequacy in meeting program needs.
  4. Assist the academic program in garnering industrial support for internships, coop, and practicum experiences, graduate placement, and facility/laboratory upgrades.
  5. Assist the academic program in the pursuit and maintenance of professional accreditation or certification when appropriate.

Board Operating Requirements

  1. Advisory Boards will meet at least annually in review of program operation. Meetings may be held on campus, off site, or online.
  2. Meeting announcements should be posted at least one month prior to the scheduled meeting and an agenda should be published and distributed several days prior to each meeting.
  3. Invitees: Advisory Board members, SUNY Canton President, Provost and Academic Dean. Other invitees should include department/program faculty members, selected students, program alumni, and possibly other Institutional representation (e.g. Admission, Career Planning, Advancement).
  4. Each meeting will include:
    • a review of program operation to include enrollment trends, graduation numbers, placement rates, curricular revisions (implemented and under consideration), and demonstrations of program effectiveness and student preparedness.
    • a brief discussion of industry trends that may impact future curricular requirements for academic programs.
  5. Each meeting will conclude with published minutes to include the following information:
    • Advisory Board meeting date, location, and attendees
    • Review of meeting discussion
    • Summaries of accomplishments, concerns, and action items
    • Probable date and location of next meeting
    • Distribution of the minutes will include Board members, attendees, President, Provost, Academic Dean, and all departmental faculty members
    • Minutes will be posted on the program webpage
    • Official copy of the published minutes will be kept by the Academic Dean’s office