Advisory Council

Center for Community Partnerships Advisory Council Overview

Members:

• 5-10 community members representing different sectors of rural communities and geographic areas. The West Central Initiative, Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, and Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission always have a seat on the council, as they are key partners for our work.
• Four faculty members representing each of the four academic divisions.
• 2-4 students engaged in the Center’s work in varying ways.

Terms: Members of the Advisory Council will be asked to serve annually; each year, members may choose to step down or continue their term for up to three years. At the end of three years, members will be asked to recommend another person in a similar sector/role in rural communities; when another person is not available, the board member may continue.

Ongoing Roles:

• Provide input regarding assets, challenges, and projects in small towns in Minnesota and beyond with which the Center might engage.

• Provide input on ways UMN Morris faculty can apply research/creative activity to small town needs. 
• Provide input on internship/career experience needs for UMN Morris students.
• In work groups each year, review faculty research/creative activity, community-engaged learning, and community project proposals and make decisions about which projects/partnerships to pursue.
• In work groups, assist with aspects of event planning for events sponsored by the Center for Small Towns.
• Review a draft of the annual report and provide input.
• Consult on special projects each year (eg, website update; long-term budget planning; etc).

Meetings: The council meets two to four times each year, scheduled around members’ schedules. Work groups are formed annually to review fellow and project proposals; review annual community engagement award nominations; assist with event planning; and other tasks as needed. Advisory board members volunteer to serve on work groups when doing so is feasible for them. 

Advisory Board