The Role of Employer Advisory Committees: Moving to the Next Level Wisconsin Educational Approval Board Conference November 17, 2011 Jay Hollowell

Our Agenda The Reasons Why Employer Advisory Committees (EACs) Are So Important Taking Employer Partnerships to the Next Level An Employee Advisory Committee Checklist Characteristics of Effective EACs WIN-WIN Results

The Reasons Why Employer Advisory Committees Are So Important The mission of career schools, colleges and universities lays the very foundation for institution/employer relationships. The Employer Advisory Committees (EAC) serve as a framework and a means to develop partnerships with vested interests for both schools and employers.

The Reasons Why Employer Advisory Committees Are So Important Employers are an excellent marketing resource Employers provide invaluable feedback regarding program competencies, the employment community and the industry-at-large EACs provide a platform for ongoing communication among the school and its employment partners Employers, through EACs, play a vital role in areas of institutional effectiveness

EACs and Institutional Effectiveness Components How do EACs influence Student Retention Rates? Graduate Placement Rates? Level of Graduate Satisfaction? Level of Employer Satisfaction? Student Learning Outcomes? Financial Aid Default Rates?

Traditional Employer Advisory Committee Roles Program Feedback Guest Speakers Career Fairs Externships Tours Ongoing Communications

Taking Employer Partnerships to the Next Level

Program Feedback >>> - Industry Feedback / Trends - Additional EAC Roles (ex: Focus groups for new programs) - Special Purposes (ex: Recommendations for technology and/or needed resources) - Feedback on Performance Skills

Feedback on Performance Skills What Employers Want! Technical Skills and Experience Communication and Articulation Planning and Organization Problem-Solving / Rational Thinking Professional Demeanor

Feedback on Performance Skills Leadership/ Teaming Reaction to Pressure Preparation Behavioral Results Forward Thinking

Taking Employer Partnerships to the Next Level Guest Speakers >>> - Guest Speakers-at-Large - Co-Speakers with School Ambassadors at Community Events

Taking Employer Partnerships to the Next Level Career Fairs >>> - Personalized Career Fairs - Interview Opportunities - Training Opportunities - Additional Community Service Events - EAC participation in awards ceremonies, graduations and school social activities

Taking Employer Partnerships to the Next Level Externships >>> - Externship Site Appreciation Events - Graduate Skill Checklists - Company Training Needs

Taking Employer Partnerships to the Next Level Campus Tours >>> - Opportunity to relate facilities, equipment and resources to successful graduate outcomes - Opportunity to demonstrate additional services to students - Platform for setting up employer site tours

Taking Employer Partnerships to the Next Level Ongoing Communications >>> - Opportunities for Employers to Communicate Among Themselves Through a School Network - Basis for Positive Visibility Across the Employment Community

An Employee Advisory Committee Checklist EAC meeting agendas are prepared and distributed two weeks prior to meetings EAC members are introduced and given the opportunity to meet each other Key school staff are introduced – faculty may very well participate in EAC meetings An overview of the school, mission, history, programs, etc. is provided

An Employee Advisory Committee Checklist The number of times the EAC will meet is determined A chairperson is designated from the employer- base Outcome expectations for committee members are clear as well as orientation/training provided – what do committee members need to know to do their jobs?

An Employee Advisory Committee Checklist Responsibilities across all members are evenly distributed Leadership is provided from the campus Meeting notes or minutes are distributed to committee members, including action plans, anticipated results and timelines, within two weeks of meetings

Characteristics of Effective EACs Planning and strategy are key elements of the meetings Agendas are accomplished on schedule Committee members have a clear understanding of the schools mission and purposes as well as their roles and functions Committee members are serving as ambassadors for the school to the outside community

Characteristics of Effective EACs EAC members have the opportunity to engage with school personnel Value is added to the school through committee member involvement The EACs are making a difference in program effectiveness and graduate placement

A New World (Again) Faculty Development & Professional Growth Management & Staff Training Compliance Accreditation Standards Image

WIN-WIN Results Schools have a short list of solid and consistent employer contacts, resulting in increased graduate employment opportunities - employers have a base of qualified job applicants Schools, through their EACs and employer-base, have a pulse on industry changes resulting in better programs and more successful graduate outcomes - employers have access to educational tools and resources that can help them with those changes at their own establishments Both schools and employers have synergistic visibility in each others communities

WIN-WIN Results Employer Advisory Committees that are active and fully utilized help our schools to reach the next level of service to our students.

The Five Clues We Should Know C L U E S

Our purpose - our mission - has never been greater or more important than now. There is no other educational venue that, despite the current challenges and attention, can provide more of an opportunity for an adult learner to accomplish in a hands-on environment, and against sometimes insurmountable odds, his or her career objectives.

Our employers are the real key to this success and should be intricately involved with each of our institutions. We owe it to ourselves, to the community-at-large and, most importantly, to our students to develop, fully utilize and expand our employer partnerships and advisory committees in all facets of our operations.

Lets Talk! Jay Hollowell Vice President - Training & Client Services MaxKnowledge, Inc x83