Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process Dr. Raymond Greenlaw Department of Computer Science Armstrong Atlantic State University

Outline • Introduction • Initial Planning • Membership Issues • Use of Board in Assessing PEOs • Pitfalls and Challenges • Perspectives and Roles Within University • Conclusion Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Introduction • Industrial advisory board also known as… • Advisory board • Board • External advisory board • Affiliates board • Community advisory board Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Introduction • Creation driven by deans • Fund raising • Political influence • Student internship programs • Placement of graduates Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Introduction • Departmental level • Useful feedback to program • Assessment goals set for advisory board • Great effort required to set up and use industrial advisory board effectively Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Initial Planning • Form internal advisory board committee • Chair understands assessment process • ABET’s terminology relating to assessments – program educational objectives (PEOs) • ABET’s expectations regarding assessment of PEOs • Decide function • Meet regularly and document work • Educate new faculty members Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Initial Planning Questions for the committee to consider: • What type of feedback is the committee expecting from advisory board? • How can such feedback be obtained? • How can this information be documented and used in the assessment of PEOs? • What level of commitment is needed by members? • What time commitment? • How can the committee obtain buy in from department? Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership Issues • Introduction • Rotation • Agenda • Meetings • Turnout • Follow Through Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Introduction • Challenges of non-urban settings • Desired size vs. practical size • General rule: 25 to 30 members • Half will show up for events/meetings Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Introduction • Who should be considered? • Reliable • Interested in the program • Willing to serve and with time • Capable of making contributions to assessment process • Candidates: • Alumni • Business people • Local retirees • Colleagues at neighboring institutions Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Introduction • Where do you meet potential members? • Through deans and department heads • Former students • Technical talks in community • Fund raising events • Technocrat meetings • Through current members • Web sites for local technical companies Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Introduction How should potential members be approached and asked to serve, and for how long? • Informal conversation • Formal invitation letter • Responsibilities • List of current members • URL of current board’s Web site • Recent departmental news Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Rotation • Maintain diversity, balance, continuity • Three-year rotation • Thirty members • Goal: 5 first-years, 10 second-years, 15 third-years • Invite select third-years to serve more • One-third turnover rate (recommended) Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Agenda • Announce meeting times in advance • Send agenda and reminder one month in advance • Emails and hard copies • Follow-up phone calls Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Meetings • Schedule regular annual meetings • Meet twice/year (recommended) • Probably see each member at least once • Document discussions • Present salient points to department • Analyze and evaluate information gathered • Document and assess actions resulting from evaluations Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Turnout • Maintain attendance logs • Follow-up with members • Thank you letters • Summary of items accomplished • Next meeting date Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Membership: Follow Through • Periodic correspondence • Departmental newsletters • Talk announcements • Homecoming announcements Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Program Educational Objectives ABET’s definition: Program Educational Objectives (PEOs): Broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve. Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Program Educational Objectives Program outcomes: Narrower statements that describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These relate to skills, knowledge, and behaviors that students acquire in the matriculation through the program. Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Program Educational Objectives • PEOs must be measurable • Scenario - computing PEOs: • Graduates shall work in the computing industry in managerial roles. • Graduates shall receive advanced degrees and teach computing at the high-school level. Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

PEO Scenario • Board selection • Professors from local universities where students go for graduate work • Principals from local high schools • Managers or executives from local computing companies • Tools • Board member surveys • Alumni surveys Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

PEO Scenario Sample Survey: Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Pitfalls and Challenges • Problem: • Self-motivated board member dictating policy or changes to curriculum • Solution: • Well-written invitation letters • Initial two-year terms (optional renewal) Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Pitfalls and Challenges • Key Challenges • Maintaining high-energy level of all • Achieving high attendance and good participation • Obtaining useful feedback • Maintaining continuity • Educating the board • Keeping the board engaged • Having the board work as a team Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Pitfalls and Challenges • Common struggles • Maintaining a full complement of members • Scheduling and holding regular meetings • Sending out good agendas in advance • Developing appropriate surveys and rubrics for obtaining feedback • Documenting, assessing, and evaluating meeting results • Following through with implementing recommendations • Regularly communicating with members • Reporting back to department Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Pitfalls and Challenges Considerations • Owning vs. dictating policy • Provide student resumes • Invite board members to speak on campus • List members and affiliates on Web site Essentials • Strong leadership on committee • Faculty involvement Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Perspectives and Roles Within University • Students • Faculty • Department heads • Deans • Members Chair must set expectations and define roles Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Conclusion Maintaining a strong and productive advisory board, and utilizing that board in the accreditation process for the assessment of program educational objectives requires steady work. Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process

Utilizing an Industrial Advisory Board in the Accreditation Process