Dare to make your mark. Join the Parent Advisory Council About the Council The Champlain College Parent Advisory Council is a group of current and former parents who are committed to investing in Champlain College and its future as we prepare our students for lifelong career success. Members of the Parent Advisory Council play a leadership role through participation, service, and financial support. Through your active engagement, you are making a direct impact on your student s experience at Champlain. Parent leaders are an integral component of the vibrant experience we offer our students, and parent engagement is critical as our students seek internships and embark on meaningful careers after graduation. Through our involvement with the Parent Advisory Council, we have seen firsthand how dedicated Champlain College is to the success of their curriculum and our daughter s future. We ve been able to develop a deep bond with Champlain s faculty and administration, and actively participate in the direction the College is taking. We feel there is no better place that our daughter could prepare for her career. BILL & MICHELLE LACROIX P 17 Parent Advisory Council Members Ready to learn more? Contact us to find a meaningful way to participate: parentrelations@champlain.edu or (802) 860-2778. We look forward to connecting with you!
Member Expectations & Benefits What You Give What You Get Serve a minimum one-year term, renewable for up to four years by mutual agreement Make an annual Leaders Circle gift ($1,000+) Promote Parent philanthropy Participate in at least one Parent Advisory Council meeting per academic year Provide College leadership with insight into the Champlain experience Encourage other parents to become involved with Champlain Be an advocate for Champlain College and serve as a resource for other families in your region Stay informed about the College Invitations to exclusive events on campus Private, bi-annual telephone calls with key College administrators Opportunities to engage with the President, Cabinet, Deans, the Board of Trustees, and likeminded fellow Parents Inside information about important College initiatives Opportunities to help determine Parent Fund priorities A Parent Advisory Council dinner with President Laackman during Family Weekend Special reserved seating at your student s Commencement ceremony Opportunities within Committees Help the Office of Admission secure the next competitive class Advise our Faculty on emerging industry trends Support internship, career, and networking opportunities for current students and young Alumni Attend and/or host regional events in your area
Committee Descriptions Each Parent Advisory Council member shall join at least one of the following committees. The time commitment is flexible, but you can expect to average about 20 hours annually. Divisional/School Advisory Boards: Purpose: To provide advocacy, advice, and outreach to our Academic Divisions as they strive towards the College s vision and mission; to identify thought leaders and anticipate emerging future trends; to help shape our continually evolving curriculum. Responsibilities: Varies by division please contact parentrelations@champlain.edu to indicate your interest and area of expertise so that we can follow up with the appropriate materials. Admission Committee: Purpose: To engage Parents in support of the Admission process as we strive to recruit the next competitive class; to provide peer-to-peer support for families who are considering Champlain College; To assist Champlain in elevating our brand nationwide. Responsibilities: Serve as an Admission Ambassador for prospective families; Support Admission events on campus and regionally; Make welcome calls to incoming Families; Participate in Accepted Student events to connect with new families and share your experience as an engaged parent; Be an advocate for Champlain College and serve as a resource for other families in your region; Consider hosting a send-off event for admitted students. Careers & Networking Committee: Purpose: To support internship, career, and networking opportunities for current students and young Alumni; To advise on industry best practices and desirable skill sets; To help ensure that Champlain students are poised for lifelong career success upon graduation. Responsibilities: Share internship, networking, and career opportunities; Help us launch an employment pipeline with your organization; Offer informational interviews or a job shadow; Participate in a mock interview; Identify parents to speak on campus about their careers; Advancement Committee: Purpose: To increase Parent giving and participation; to educate fellow Parents on the purpose, priorities, and goals of the Champlain College Parents Fund. Responsibilities: Solicit 10-15 other Champlain families for gifts to the Parents Fund; Lead Senior Parent Giving campaign; Thank Parents for past support of Champlain; Help determine Parent Fund priorities. Events and Communications Committee: Purpose: To increase Parent engagement and affinity; to facilitate connections among fellow Parents and to ensure that all current Parents are informed about important news and activities at the College; To elevate Champlain s brand nationwide; Responsibilities: Plan Parent and Family events in collaboration with Parent Relations; Attend regional events to advocate for Champlain College and promote the Council; Encourage attendance by calling fellow Parents; Consider hosting events for Parents, Alumni, and/or incoming students. In addition, actively participate in Champlain s social media channels; Suggest content for the monthly Parent e-newsletter; Share your experience with fellow Parents by working with our Marketing Team.
Signature Initiatives optional, based on your committee selection Welcome Calls to New Families: Council members are invited to make personal phone calls to the parents of incoming first-year students and welcome them to the Champlain College community. Volunteer callers answer questions about the College and provide valuable insight into the Champlain experience. The goal is to create an ongoing dialogue among parents and, in turn, build a stronger, more vibrant parent community. A list of no more than 15 new families, FAQs, and call instructions will be provided to volunteers by early June. Volunteers call new families during June and July. Expected time commitment: 1-2 hours. Strategic aims: Improve admission yields; strengthen the Parent community. Associated committee: Admission Committee Accepted Student Events: Parent leaders have the opportunity to support Champlain s Admission efforts during our Accepted Student events each spring (late March/early April). Mix and mingle with prospective families during the Friday evening cocktail hour, participate in a Parent panel on Saturday morning, or staff a Parent table during the campus showcase on Saturday afternoon. These events are a critical element in our strategy to secure a competitive and robust incoming class. Expected time commitment: 5-7 hours, including preparation. Strategic aims: Encourage admitted students and their families to choose Champlain; demonstrate a strong and unified Parent network; strengthen and grow the Parent community. Associated committee: Admission Committee Parent Professional Network: By joining the Parent Professional Network, you will directly support our students lifelong career success. Members roles vary, but you can assist by connecting Champlain College with your employer, hosting a job shadow, participating in informational interviews, reviewing student resumes, establishing an internship pipeline, and sharing valuable career advice with students and young alumni during an on-campus info session or Career SmartTalk. The Parent Professional Network is co-managed by the Career Collaborative and the Office of Advancement. Expected time commitment varies based on selected activities. Strategic aims: Support career preparedness and success; Expand the Champlain College network; Elevate our brand; Associated committee: Careers & Networking Committee Parent Thank-a-Thon: By participating in our annual Parent Thank-a-Thon, you can help acknowledge and steward generous Parents like you who have made a gift to the Champlain College Parents Fund. A list of 10-15 parent donors will be provided to you each semester. Volunteers will make brief thank you calls to let fellow Parents know how much their gifts are appreciated. Expected time commitment: 1-2 hours/semester. Strategic aims: Enhance financial stability; Increase retention of Parent donors; Improve stewardship of Parent donors. Associated committee: Advancement Committee
Signature Initiatives Continued Peer-to Peer Parent Fund Solicitations: Gifts from Parents support internship opportunities, curriculum and program development, global travel, community service and civic engagement, hands-on learning and robust student activities. Every gift from a Parent strengthens the activities that take place both inside and outside the classroom during these transformative college years. As a Parent leader, you can encourage fellow Parents to support this important work by soliciting other families for gifts to the Parents Fund. A list of no more than 10 previous Parent donors will be provided. Calls can be made from your home or office, usually in November/December or March/April. Expected time commitment: 1-2 hours. Strategic aims: Enhance financial stability; Increase Parent participation. Associated committee: Advancement Committee Ski Weekend Reception: Assist in envisioning and planning a welcome event for families who are participating in Champlain s annual Parent Ski Weekend, usually the first Saturday in February at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, VT. Encourage fellow Parents to attend and help to execute a thoughtful, warm, and welcoming experience for all. Expected time commitment: 2-3 hours of planning and outreach, in addition to attending the event. Strategic aims: To increase Parent engagement and affinity; to facilitate connections among fellow Parents. Associated committee: Events & Outreach Committee Parent Marketing Ambassadors: Highly engaged Parents can be our very best ambassadors. Help our Marketing team tell the Champlain story to prospective families by volunteering to participate in a video or be featured in a publication targeted for Parents whose sons or daughters may be considering Champlain. Expected time commitment: 1-2 hours. Strategic aims: To increase Champlain s applicant pool by showcasing the Parent experience. Associated committee: Communications or Admission Committees For questions or to join the Council, please contact Sarah Boston Andriano: sandriano@champlain.edu or (802) 860-2778