Advisory Board Charter

Mission

The mission of the Advisory Board of the School of Management (SOM) is to advise, promote, and actively support the SOM in achieving its mission of becoming a premier teaching institution in Southern New England that contributes meaningfully to the learning communities of the college and the region.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the Advisory Board of the School of Management (SOM) at Rhode Island College is to enable effective partnership between the business community and the SOM in order to insure that:

1. Our curriculum reflects the current and future needs of the business community so that our graduates become significant contributors,
2. Our students are exposed in meaningful ways to businesses in the appropriate balance between theory and practice by providing appropriate mentoring, internship opportunities, and job placement opportunities,
3. Our faculty remains academically and professionally current in their fields through meaningful interactions with businesses such as research projects, consulting, and other activities that contribute to the competitiveness, growth, and overall success of the business community,
4. Our school increases its image and resources to facilitate continuous improvement processes.

Responsibilities

The Advisory Board has two major areas of responsibility, to provide business advice and expertise regarding the educational activities of the SOM programs, and to provide assistance in developing and strengthening the SOM's relationship with the external community.

Educational Activities

• Advise and counsel the dean, faculty, and staff on curricula, programs, and other initiatives

  Examples: review of courses and programs; guidance on future issues affecting the SOM; contribute to the development of a continuing education program

• Aid in evaluating strategic plans, measuring performance, and assessing learning outcomes

  Examples: consult in accreditation activities, especially those externally related; contribute to outcomes assessment, especially relating to employer perceptions of graduates' performance

• Share expertise with students and faculty

  Examples: become involved with student organizations; provide internships, mentoring, and training opportunities; give lectures to classes and presentations to learning communities; provide guidance/feedback on student business plans and other deliverables

External Relationship Activities

• Promote and advocate the SOM and college

  Examples: help the SOM develop contacts, working relationships, and networking opportunities; be an ambassador for the SOM and college; interact with SOM alumni; aid in recruiting potential SOM students

• Facilitate business linkages for students and faculty

  Examples: sponsor events and activities that bring the business world to students and campus communities; expand opportunities for student employment; aid in providing opportunities for faculty research, consulting, and professional development

• Develop funding opportunities

  Examples: assist the SOM in attracting funding support from corporations, foundations, and individuals; facilitate grant writing and acquisition; aid in establishing corporate education partnerships; help establish company-sponsored scholarships

Composition and Service

Membership

• Composition

  Board membership will consist of a diverse group of 12-20 members engaged in prominent positions in the private, not-for-profit, and government sectors. The Dean of the SOM will serve as an ex-officio member of the Board, and other administrators, particularly SOM department chairs, and interested faculty members are welcome as guest members.

• Chairperson

  The Dean shall appoint the inaugural Chairperson of the Board. Future Chairpersons will be recommended by the Dean and the current chairperson and approved by a simple majority of the Board for a term of two years and may be reappointed.

• Members

  The Chairperson of the Board, in consultation with the Dean, will be responsible for the nomination and appointment of new Board members for a term of two years. Members may be reappointed by a simple majority of the Board.

  Any Advisory Board member may resign at any time with verbal or written notice to the Chairperson. Replacements for resignees or others not fulfilling their term will be appointed by the Chairperson in consultation with the Dean. If an Advisory Board member has not fulfilled his/her obligations in accordance with the responsibilities outlined in this document, he/she may be rotated off the Board.

Service

• Meetings

  Meetings will normally be held twice a year, typically once during each academic semester in Alger Hall on the Rhode Island College campus. Meetings will be announced by the Chair of the Board at least three weeks in advance, an agenda distributed prior to the meeting, and minutes recorded at the meeting. If, prior to a Board meeting, at least half the Board members have indicated that they are not available to attend, the Chair in consultation with the Dean may elect to cancel the meeting in a timely fashion and set an alternative date. Other meetings or special events may be called as deemed necessary or desirable by the Advisory Board.

• Committees

  The Board will normally have three standing committees: Curriculum, Student and Faculty Development, and Funding and External Relations. The Chair may, on occasion, also appoint ad-hoc committees as needed. Each Board member will typically serve on one committee, which normally would meet twice a year outside of scheduled Board meetings, with additional communication by phone and electronic methods.

  The Curriculum Committee will advise the SOM on programs and courses especially relevant to the needs of industry. This will entail the regular review of programs and courses with the goal of providing guidance and recommendations to the SOM for curriculum enhancements. Also, mechanisms for the assessment by employers of student learning should be considered. Recommendations for continuing education programs and courses may also be addressed.

  The Student and Faculty Development Committee will develop recommendations and opportunities for student and faculty interaction with businesses. For student development, the committee may consider lectures and other classroom activities by Board members and others, interactions with student organizations, internship and professional training opportunities, means to mentor students, career events, information, employment opportunities, and other activities of benefit to students. For faculty development, the committee may consider means of assisting in creating opportunities for faculty members in applied research projects, consulting projects and other professional contributions, learning programs, and enhancing the integration of the classroom with business environments.

  The Funding and External Relations Committee will develop recommendations and opportunities for promoting the SOM’s image, networking, and funding. The committee may consider means to increase image such as attraction of speakers and participants for SOM events, networking, inclusion of students/faculty in company activities, identification of media contacts and opportunities, etc. Identifying and recommending external sources of funding include generating new income sources, leveraging existing SOM assets, providing assistance in grant application, identifying corporate training and education opportunities, identifying corporate sponsorship (scholarships, events, etc.) opportunities, etc.

Amendment of the Charter

Suggestions for changes to the Charter should be communicated to the Board Chair and the Dean, who may then bring suggestions to a Board meeting. The charter may then be amended by a majority vote of the Board.