Narrative: b. 7. B.

Secondary: Secondary CTE programs in Minnesota are required to address all aspects of industry in their curricula, and the Minnesota Department of Education has provided resources and professional development around all nine aspects of industry that are common to any enterprise. Students should gain strong experience in, and understanding of all nine aspects, which are:

1. Planning – How an organization plans (including goals and objectives); types of ownership (public or private); relationship of the organization to economic, political and social context; assessment of needs.
2. Management – Structure and process for effectively accomplishing the goals and operations of the organization using facilities, staff, resources, equipment and materials.
3. Finance – Accounting and financial decision–making process, method of acquiring capital to operate management of financial operations including payroll.
4. Technical and Production Skills – Basic skills in math, communications, computer, time management and thinking; specific skills for production; interpersonal skills within the organization.
5. Underlying Principles of Technology – Technological systems used in the workplace and their contributions to the product or service of the organization.
6. Labor Issues – Rights of employees and related issues; wages, benefits and working conditions.
7. Community Issues – Impact of the company on the community, impact of the community on the organization.
8. Health, Safety and Environment – Practices and laws affecting the employee, the surrounding community and the environment.
9. Personal Work Habits – Non–technical skills and characteristics expected in the workplace.

Postsecondary: Sec 2 (e) and 2 (h) above for a general discussion of how information about all aspects of industry is disseminated to students.

Program Advisory Committee Initiative: An online Program Advisory Committee Handbook has been developed for use in high schools and colleges. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Office of the Chancellor Division of Academic and Student Affairs and the Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF) collaborated on this joint project designed to reinvigorate program advisory committees in the state of Minnesota.

The handbook seeks to help two–year college faculty and administrators improve the structure and use of advisory committees so that they become an effective tool for improving CTE for college students. This resource provides high schools and colleges a guide to form an advisory committee and work with its members. The handbook clearly and thoroughly explains the purpose and structure of a committee and the roles of its members. It can serve as a tool for all committee members and may be especially helpful when introducing new members to advisory committee responsibilities. Although the handbook was designed specifically for faculty in two–year technical and professional programs, its use can be extended to all secondary and postsecondary institutions. It is anticipated that the program advisory handbook will be an important resource as new local consortia in Minnesota are developed.

In 2009 MN Career and Technical Education (CTE), finalized a contract with the Center for Occupation Research and Development (CORD) to revise and update the 2004 MN Program Advisory Committee Handbook. The goal of the updated handbook is to assist Community and Technical Colleges in implementing local advisory committee procedures. The revised handbook will incorporate all relevant information written in the 2006 Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and the Minnesota Five–Year State CTE Plan. In addition the handbook will contain information for Local consortia to build common (secondary/postsecondary) CTE program advisory committee structures along the lines of programs of study/career pathways.