Managing and Mo)va)ng Academic Advisory Boards in Animal Health for High Performance

A. Paige Adams^*Rebekkah StutevilleBenjamin A. Wolfe

• Kansas State University Olathe, Olathe, United States

Academic leaders and faculty in professional academic programs oWen gather input from pracXXoners to test the relevance of academic curricula. Program advisory boards for professional programs are used to provide feedback on curricula and industry needs, but there is limited research examining the management of these boards. Research exists on managing volunteers in nonprofit organizaXons and managing boards of directors; however, academic advisory boards are posiXoned in-between informal volunteer arrangements and formal boards of directors with oversight responsibiliXes. The objecXve of this project was to use exisXng research on volunteer and board of director management to understand the experience of three academic advisory boards that provide advice and guidance on animal health academic programs. Two surveys were administered to exisXng advisory boards at Kansas State University's Olathe, Kansas Campus. The survey quesXons were aimed at determining the strengths and weaknesses of the campus's academic advisory board recruitment and management pracXces using evidence-based pracXces for effecXve volunteer management. The study's findings suggest that the primary moXvaXon in serving on an academic advisory board is a strong desire to contribute to the mission and vision of the insXtuXon. Several tacXcs emerged when engaging board members, including strong leadership in sebng purpose and objecXves, space for members to parXcipate in dialogue in strategy, and tasks that align with their knowledge, skillset, and network. Best pracXces from this study demonstrate meaningful ways to engage advisory boards so that volunteers feel more valued in how they can posiXvely impact the future of educaXonal programming.