Book Description

To better meet the needs of a technologically changing workplace and large, diverse and mobile population, the West Virginia State Plan for the Administration of Vocational and Technical Education requires local education associations to utilize program advisory committees as a key source of input for program review and curriculum update. Effective councils provide current information on the skills needed in the work force. They evaluate existing programs and report on their findings. By seeking input from community members through their active involvement on advisory councils, both school and community benefit. The advisory council forms one part of a total team picture that cooperate to ensure that vocational-technical education programming is responsive to the current needs of the community. A number of types of councils are described, including: (1) General Advisory Councils; (2) School Advisory Councils; (3) Program Area Advisory Councils; and (4) Ad Hoc and Special Committees. The functions of local advisory councils are grouped into three broad categories: (1) Development and evaluation of the vocational-technical program; (2) Promotion and publicizing of the program; and (3) Coordination and support of the work of program area advisory councils. Suggested activities for each category are highlighted. Steps toward organizing a local council are included, noting that procedures should be modified based upon the individual institution and community. Nine appendices are included that provide sample checklists and documents: (1) Reference List of Suggested Areas that Councils May Address; (2) Statement of Purpose; (3) Advisory Council Charter; (4) Letter of Appointment; (5) News release; (6) Agenda for the First Meeting; (7) Bylaws of an Advisory Council; (8) Example of First-Year Program of Work; and (9) Agenda for a Regular Meeting.