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WLC ADVISORY BOARD
Submitted by: Work and Learning Center, Madison, WI
SUMMARY
The Work and Learning Center receives input from an advisory board
comprised of members from the local business community.
Reasons for Practice
School leaders believed that WLC needed the influence and advice of
community businesses, representing all career clusters, in order to
maintain a relevant secondary vocational program. Cal Stone, WLC founder
and principal, was also influential in recommending that the school
start an advisory board.
Length of Time in Effect
The WLC Advisory Program began in September 1994.
FULL DESCRIPTION
The Work and Learning Center (WLC) Advisory Board has been used as
a tool for advice and for help in keeping Work and Learning Center's
program relevant. Contributions have included:
- Helping Work and Learning Center (WLC) to develop a business resource
directory for the local area to be used by the entire program. This
resource directory lists businesses that are willing to serve as speakers,
offer tours, or provide job shadowing, mentorship and work experiences
for students.
- Being directly involved in, and recommending individuals for, yearly,
ongoing panel presentations for third- and fourth-semester students
(seniors) on such topics as job overview and employer expectations
and career path decisions.
[Download sample worksheet
(60KB PDF File).]
- Being directly involved in, and recommending individuals for, fourth-semester
job shadowing experiences..
- Serving as mentors to second-semester students (juniors).
- Providing financial support, and recommending businesses to provide
financial support, for the WLC Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund
allows third- and fourth-semester students (seniors) to attend summer
sessions at Madison Area Technical College and provides postsecondary
education assistance to WLC graduates. ates.
- Providing continual feedback concerning recommended technology
and software updates for WLC's computer lab
- Giving recommendations and examples of job-finding and job-keeping
skills that can be incorporated into the WLC program to assist students
in becoming successful employees.
The WLC Advisory Board was developed with help from the Future Madison
Corporation, and through the process of making many cold calls to businesses
to generate interest in board membership. It takes time, patience, and
endurance to start a board. WLC used ideas from other existing advisory
boards for implementation. The school tries to get input each year from
staff in order to determine the yearly goals for the WLC Advisory Board.
WLC believes that active involvement and feedback from the board is
very necessary for maintaining board membership.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Janet L. Weitz
Work and Learning Center
15 South Brearly Street
Madison, WI 53703
Tel: 608-204-4340
E-mail: jweitz@madison.k12.wi.us
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