Industry Advisory Board – Organization and Responsibilities
School of Engineering, Rutgers University
September 2013
The Industry Advisory Board (IAB) is an external consultative group supporting the Dean of the School of Engineering at Rutgers University. The Board serves a critical role in linking the School’s strategic objectives and activities with the interests of external constituents and industry groups. It is composed of industry leaders, including Rutgers alumni and members of the research, engineering and other communities served by the School of Engineering.
The IAB is led by a Chair and Vice-Chair, both of whom serve two-year terms and work with the Dean to direct the IAB’s activities. It currently has 24 members and may be expanded in the future. Board members serve three-year staggered terms so that one-third of Board seats are open each year. Terms can be renewed up to three times at the discretion of the IAB’s Nominating Committee.
Comprised of at least four Board members, the Nominating Committee screens and appoints new IAB members with the advice of the Dean. Members may also suggest to the Nominating Committee individuals that can help fulfill the IAB’s mission. The Committee also has discretion to end a member’s term.
Additional Board committees are created periodically to support specific IAB initiatives. Members are expected to participate in the activities of at least one committee each year.
The Board meets four times annually – twice in person (Spring and Fall) and twice via teleconference (Summer and Winter). Members are expected to participate in at least three meetings per year. Meetings are used to brief members on issues at the Engineering School and at Rutgers at large, discuss strategic priorities and work on committee and Board projects.
IAB members are expected to encourageorganizations and individual donors to provide financial support to the Engineering School, and to set an example through personal giving in an amount significant in relation tothe means of the member. Full participation of members in personal giving on an annual basis is expected.
Members may also be called on to provide advice concerning the Engineering School’s priorities and goals and serve as a sounding board for the Dean, provide feedback on the contributions of the School in relation to the needs of industry, make the School’s work more widely known to alumni, industry, and the public at large, identify and recruit new Board members, participate in School activities such as mentoring students, judging competitions and identifying speakers for various events, and provide opportunities for students and faculty such as internships, facility tours and research grants.