Advisory Councils

One of my proudest accomplishments is helping start a national advisory council during my inaugural department chair term at the College of Charleston.  It started with a tiny handful of participants and grew to something unusual and highly successful.  I cannot take all the credit, but I learned the best way for communication/journalism units to build/enhance a national reputation!  Take a look at the list that our department assembled between 2003 and 2009:

http://www.cofc.edu/communication/council/memberlisting.html

The free advice:

1.  Don't populate your council primarily with alumni and local media professionals.  Go national.

2.  Rely on "snowball" growth.  Each new member attracts peers.

3.  Require the members to donate a non-trivial annual subscription.   

4.  Assign advisory tasks to council members, but protect the faculty from a "board of trustees" approach to advice.

5.  Involve students in mentor relationships with council members.

6.  Create high profile events.  http://www.cofc.edu/bullypulpit

If you'd like details, contact me at fergusond@cofc.edu.  I would be happy to be a consultant to your program.