Form and Function of Advisory Boards
If asked to present a proposal to senior management on the form and function of advisory boards, how would you position it? How would you demonstrate the value of an advisory board to enhancing the accomplishment of the purpose(s) of your governing board?
Jeanne,
Agreed, but I'm not sure I understand what you mean by organizational interfacing. If I'm interpreting you correctly, interfacing with the organization is fine, but the value of advisory boards is to provide industry and curricular advice and help the institution network within its business community to enhance opportunities for the institution and its graduates.
Dr. Robert Roehrich
I would position the forming and functions of an advisory board as a strategic necessity due to the opportunities boards offer for organizational interfacing. Without organizational interfacing, you lack the benefit of having advisers and advocates who help drive improvements through their technical knowledge, expertise, or past experiences.
Timothy ,
Agreed, but be sure to establish a clear set of guidelines and policies to direct and monitor the activities of your board(s). This coupled with my previous response regarding training and development should position them well and create the confidence they need to perform as a well developed board.
Dr. Robert Roehrich
Considering the fact that our Board is a small group of involved persons, I would likely appeal to elements of time and effectiveness.
I would try to sell them on the fact that in some cases they don’t need to navigate unfamiliar waters alone and that putting together a good board of advisers would create a powerful asset that could be useful to them when they need to get objective advice, compare against competitors, gauge trends, seek new strategic positions, have introductions made or build enrollment, etc.
Carolyn,
You acutely expressed a often unrecognized value of advisory and governing boards; serving as a "think tank" for the institution. However, in order to gain the benefit from these boards, the administration has to be open to candid feedback and willing to seriously consider board input. Being open with a board can provide valuable business and education intelligence.
I appreciate your insight and hope the course provided you with a good starting point from which to enhance your board experiences and I appreciate the link you sent to the article.
Dr. Robert Roehrich
I would position the formation of an Advisory Board as a value added service to the organization. Now armed with the information from the course, I would supplement the information with research articles and bring personal experience into the discussion. My time serving on a Board and the changes that were made in the organization after forming a Board could provide a springboard for discussion as others may have had similar positive experiences. With a properly selected Board, a school/organization has a "think tank" resource. I located an article that might be helpful to a school considering Board formation. Here is the link: http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/contributors.asp?id=1361
John,
Agreed, however, how would you incorporate an awareness of the Federal gainful employment requirements in the advisory committee's activities? Have you had the opportunity to review them with your committee(s)? How do thees actions interface with your curriculum design and delivery?
Dr. Robert Roehrich
John,
Agreed, however, how would you incorporate an awareness of the Federal gainful employment requirements in the advisory committee's activities? Have you had the opportunity to review them with your committee(s)? How do thees actions interface with your curriculum design and delivery?
Dr. Robert Roehrich
Outlining the purpose would begin with the importance of serving the industry where the graduates find successful employment and involving those industry leaders in the evaluation process of the institution's mission and success outcomes.
I would propose that we form a committee that consisted of atleast 2 external members per faculty member, that must have recent experience in the area in which they are advising and be willing to participate by giving technical advice, assess the impact of changes, and serve as a public relations advocate to the college. I would explain how imput from the advisory board would be of great value with their current knowledge of industry trends and imput from potential employers on what they would like for potential employees to be learning and skills they need to be successful.
If I were proposing an Advisory Board to Senior Management, I would do so in the vein of a well crafted Advisory Board will make the job of the Governing Board easier overall. Advisory Boards are required for Accreditation and as I bang the compliance drum fairly regularly, it's not a hard sell. However, in current economic times - in which most businesses / schools are trying to save money, having a good advisory board that assists with a current perspective on markets, program content and especially job placement for Graduates is quite valuable. If we're heeding the advice of the board with respects to curriculum, technology and placement, it provides a solid foundation to lead to student success and overall student / alumni satisfaction. This leads to greater profitability which means the CEO is doing his job making the job of the Governing Board that much easier. Unfortunately, in the past I've seen a CEO which had to be relieved of his duties and it was not a good situation for the Board, the School or the Students.
Wayne,
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
Q-1: I completely understand your owner's position on a not establishing a governing board. When ownership is the sole source of authority there is no need for a governing board. If ownership ever decides to bring on additional investors and the number becomes too large to control the company then a governing board should be established.
Q-2: Good response to the rationale for an advisory board. Curriculum input is generally the primary reason for engaging an advisory board. As you will see from the balance of the course, managing their input to the curriculum process can be extremely beneficial. Receiving input for content and balance is a good reason for their existence, but as you will see they also have many other contributions to make. I like the concept of the "master mind group" and would like to know how you plan to maximize their contributions along the lines you identified.
R. Roehrich
Dr. Robert Roehrich
Answer to your question of 9/2/08
Advisory Boards
Question: How would you present, to senior management or school owners, the value of the two types (governing and advisory) of boards?
Governing Boards are not a viable choice in my situation because the school is private and relatively small. Additionallly, it is not foreseeable that the owner would relinquish power over the CEO, to a Board.
New Question: Wow would I present advisory boards to the school's owner?
Answer: The use of an Advisory Board has many beneficial reasons worth investigating. In presenting this information to the owner I would adhere to the following outline.
A. General Statement on Advisory Boards
B. School benefits
C. Owner benefits
D. Related costs
The most important function of an Advisory Board for the owner of my school would be the ability to evaluate and advise our on curriculum changes. It seems we are constantly tinkering with the content, order, and times of various aspects of each hour's instruction. The goal is to insure proper mix to minimize time in school and maximize understanding and skill. Since an advisory board can be a single purpose objective this would be an advantegeous selling point.
Another big benefit is the formation of a master mind group. According to Napoleon Hill the benefit evolves out of the members' application of their unique skills, education, and experiences applied to a common objective in a spirit of harmony. Our particular problem is now being seen from fresh eyes. Solutions are identified because of the different paradigms brought to bear.
The owner would be pleased to have other qualified opinions addressing the curriculum balance. The California Court Reporter's Board sets the school's curriculum. However, once the content is set we are free to adjust timing and order to enhance effectiveness. Help without being dictated to, I believe, would be well received by the owner. He wants what is best for the school. He also wants to have the control.
Additionally, getting input from a board meets a stipulated ("suggested") strategy of the Accreditation Council.
The fact that the members of an advisory board are voluntary means the financial aspect is not unduly burdensome, no salaries for the members. The cost of time for the employees, the owner, and meeting costs: food,beverages, and mailings are minimal and acceptable.
The tradeoffs are manageable. That is, the cost of instituting and maintaining an advisory board verses the solving of a nagging problem of perfecting curriculum will enhance the effectiveness of the students, our customers.
I giver them gift certificates to our student clinic for free treatmetns and I give them rather large gift baskets at then end of the eyar and I have given plaques to ex members and I invite them to events sponsored byt he school and give them passes to events in town.
I thought I answered this already but the advsiory board is valuable as a tool for recruiting invaluable knowledge and expertise on many aspects of management, education and marketing. I have had adiosry baord members assist wiht HR probelms, marketing events, studetn complaint issues. If its [possible to accumulate a board of expertise for free or little exensse why wouldn't an institution take adbvantage of that?
Cynthia,
You sound like the poster child for advisory boards! I am impressed with your articulate and thoughtful summary of how you use your advisory group to advance your school. How do you acknowledge your board for their contributions?
Thank you for your valuable perspectives.
R. Roehrich
I have used an advisory board for 12 years. They have been invaluable in assisting the college management on a range of topics but mostly with internal affaris relating to students, faculty and employees. I have an HR person on the advisory board, marekting people, people who serve the community in non-profit organizations and people who have organizational training skills.
I think I would tell management that they are missing a viable opportunity for inexpensive or free professional advice. We have also used our advisory baord in our greivance process in that faculty and students alike have presented to them and they have helped management resolve issues.
Dr Stover:
From your postings, it appears that you have identified areas for contributions from your advisory board and are capitalizing on their input. Would you please share other ways you utilize the advisory board for input to the operational, marketing and career placement functions at your school?
R. Roehrich
The purpose of our governing board includes the establishment and implementation of policy and procedures, which is based on operational issues and accreditation standards. Through the formation and utilization of the advisory board, it becomes a less daunting (and less expensive) task for the governing board in the areas of program regulations/requirements and classroom policy. The input from the advisory board becomes an invaluable tool.
