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Mission & Responsibilities

Responding to Community Needs

Members of the Board of Directors are chosen for their knowledge of and connections with local business and industry. It is the role of the Board members to maintain awareness of local industry and community needs for technical college programs, and to communicate those needs to the President and administrative staff.
The Board of Directors reviews and approves, based on community priorities, new programs to be added or expanded, existing programs to be canceled or reduced, and facility improvements or expansions needed. Board members should base their decisions on their understanding of the current or potential job market in their community and region of service.

Reviewing and Approving Goals and Objectives

Each year, the Board of Directors reviews the college's annual and long-range goals and objectives to make sure community priorities are being addressed. The Board participates in strategic planning to establish the college's mission, purpose, vision, and long-range goals and objectives. Strategic planning also sets the direction and tone for annual goals and objectives and identifies needed resources to implement the plans.

The strategic plan is re-written every three years and updated annually. The Board of Directors must approve the strategic plan each year, including review of the technical college's mission statement. In addition, goals and objectives for the Board to accomplish should be identified each year according to the technical college's goals and objectives.
Evaluating Institutional Effectiveness

• Performance Accountability System (PAS): The Board is asked to review and approve the Performance Accountability System (PAS) documentation prepared by college staff and submitted to the Department of Technical and Adult Education each year. PAS contains four modules aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the individual programs and the college as a whole: program assessment, community needs assessment, planning, and budgeting.
• Performance Accountability Review (PAR): Every three years, the college undergoes a Performance Accountability Review (PAR), to make sure the college is following Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) standards. A peer review team, comprised of Presidents and key staff from other technical colleges, also reviews the local application for Carl Perkins federal funds. A written report from the team is later sent to the President and is shared with the Board of Directors for their information.
• Annual Report: The local Board of Directors reviews, approves, and submits an annual report to the State Board regarding performance of the college based on its goals and objectives.
• Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Standards: TCSG has established standards at both the institutional and program levels, to assure institutional excellence and consistency among technical college programs. Program standards are based on competencies determined by technical committees and certification requirements within each specific program area. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to assure that TCSG standards are being met at the college.
• Accreditation: DeKalb Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The accreditation process includes a regular cycle of annual reports and periodic peer reviews. Members of the Board of Directors need to be aware of the college's accreditation status and efforts required to obtain or maintain accreditation. Additionally, some programs require program accreditation through separate national accrediting bodies (example: Medical Lab Technology). Board members need to be aware of how well programs are accomplishing program accreditation standards and participate in program reviews as needed.

Reviewing and Approving Budget and Finance

Planning and evaluation tie directly to the college's annual improvement budget request. The Board reviews the local application for federal funds, as well as annual improvement plans, and annual budget projections. The fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30. Monthly financial reports are presented for review and approval at each meeting of the Board, subject to audit. The annual operating budget is shown in comparison to the current month and/or the year-to-date actuals. A summary financial report provides enough detail to allow Board members to understand the financial status of the technical college without providing unnecessary detail.

Policy Development and Implementation

The State Board of Technical and Adult Education delegates responsibility for policy development of day-to-day operations of the college to the local Board of Directors. Local Board policies must be in compliance with general policies and guidelines established by the State Board. Examples are:

• Annual calendar for classes
• Student grievance and appeals procedures; Student handbook policies
• Student activity fees (including library fees, parking, insurance, etc.)

 

While the local Board of Directors sets student policies, the Board is not involved in personnel policy setting or the employee grievance procedures.

Community Advocacy

The Board of Directors is in the best position to represent the college to the community and to serve as conduits of information to and from the community. It is vital for local Board members to maintain a feeling of ownership, sponsorship and support for the college and its objectives. Board members are selected because they are community leaders and can carry the technical education message to a wide range of people in the community through their business, volunteer, and personal activities.

It is the role of the Board member to remain alert to opportunities to tell the success stories of the college through day-to-day interactions with business associates, neighbors, elected officials, members of civic and religious groups, chambers of commerce, developmental authorities, local boards of education representatives, other governmental personnel at the local, state, and federal levels, and the general public.

• Public Relations: Positive public relations are essential to the image of technical education in the community. Board members assist in public relations efforts through volunteering for speaking engagements, public forums, and using personal contacts with the local media. Board members may be asked to be commencement speakers at college and GED graduations.
• Legislative Advocacy: The key to legislative advocacy is to cultivate year-round, personal relationships with elected officials and governmental decision-makers. Members of the local Board of Directors are not expected to lobby during the legislative session on behalf of the college. Rather, the role of the Board member is to help educate elected officials about the importance of technical education, in the local community and throughout the State of Georgia , on a year-round basis. The college may hold legislative and business forums (Appreciation Breakfasts, Luncheons or Dinners), which Board members are expected to attend. Board and staff use this as an opportunity to showcase the significant accomplishments of the college in its community and to explain special needs that the legislator is being asked to support. When the Board member has developed an ongoing, personal relationship with the legislator, the case for the college is much stronger.