Program Advisory Committees contribute to regular Program Review by providing external users of the program (students, graduates, employers, and transfer partners) an opportunity to provide feedback to faculty and staff on ways to improve the effectiveness of the program.
Well-established Program Advisory Committees develop strategies for students and graduates to communicate directly with employer and transfer partners to share their experience in the program and also learn about employment and next-level educational expectations.
Program Advisory Committees should convene at least annually with the goal of providing "advice" and feedback that aids faculty and staff in the ongoing informed improvement process to ensure programs are timely, relevant, and provide value to the communities they serve.
Per the College Plan 5.1.4:
- The Academic or Occupational Program Director will convene (at least annually) one or more Advisory Committees appropriate to the assigned programs of study.
- Communities of interest should have significant representation and input from non-program personnel.
- There must be an Advisory Committee roster indicating the communities of interest that the members represent. Advisory committee meetings may be held in person or by synchronous electronic means.
- The Advisory Committee must (1) review program goals, (2) program learning outcomes assessment, and (3) progress on program action plans.
- The Advisory Committee should make recommendations to improve the program.
- The best practice is for a program Advisory Committee Chair to be selected from one of the non-program affiliated communities of interest to co-lead the meeting and prepare feedback to the program leadership on behalf of the committee.
Please submit your completed advisory committee rosters, agendas, and meeting minutes to DL-MC-AA-Support@mesacc.edu. These documents will be filed as appropriate in our Program Review files.
Advisory Committee Resources
Sample Advisory Committee Roster
Sample Advisory Committee Agenda