Advisory Committee Handbook

Purpose and Structure of the Professional-Technical Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee Policy

Advisory Committee Function

Advisory Committee Organization

Purpose~ A Professional-Technical advisory committee is a group of business and industry experts selected by local educational administrators to serve in an advisory capacity to the Professional-Technical program. The purpose of an advisory committee is to advise school administration and instructors with respect to the development and maintenance of quality Professional-Technical Education programs. Properly functioning advisory committees help local schools ensure that programs reflect the changing needs of students, business and industry and community.

Committee Member~

The committee's purpose is to advise and serve as the link between the school and industry. Professional-Technical programs are designed to prepare students to enter the work force in an occupational area and upgrade those already in the workforce.

The programs must stay as current as possible. Industry representatives on the advisory committee perform a service to the school and students by providing advice on all phases of the program.

The committee shall be advisory only, having no administrative authority, and is not created to take away any of the rights and/or privileges of the local governing board and administrative staff.

Committee Structure ~

An advisory committee is a group that is:

recognized for their expertise in their specific occupational area

composed of business, industry and labor representatives of occupation(s) for which training is provided, and

organized to advise school personnel on matters concerning the Professional-Technical program

Program representatives should study the collective make-up of persons employed in the occupation, including the geographical area served, and select representation that matches the industry and the community.

Representation on the committee should include as appropriate to the population of the local community, persons from both sexes, racial and/or ethnic minorities and the handicapped.

At the first or second meeting, the committee should consider establishing a set of operating policies and procedures, consistent with school or institution guidelines. Suggestions for this can be found in Appendix B.