Committee Structure

The president, with the advice of the PAC chairpersons, may form committees of members to address, discuss, and report on issues of importance to the PAC.

Standing Committees

The following standing committees of members have been established:

• Executive Committee: The chairs of each standing committee form the Executive Committee and will work with the president to set meeting agendas and work with the College staff between meetings on Parents Advisory Council business.
• Admissions: Members advise the admissions office and the alumni admissions program board on involving parent volunteers in the admissions process. The committee also assists in piloting parent volunteer initiatives such as representing Carleton at college fairs, hosting events for prospective students and their families, and serving as a resource for parents of prospective and newly-admitted students.
• Carleton Parents Fund: The Carleton Parents Fund provides unrestricted income to the College to close the gap between tuition and the actual cost of attending Carleton. Committee members assist with creating networks of interested parents, strategize about messages, contact peer parents, and write letters encouraging parents to participate in the Parents Fund.
• Careers and Life after Carleton: Working with the Carleton Career Center, parents will identify potential internship and career opportunities, assist in advising Carleton students who are seeking career and service placements, and work with staff on developing new initiatives.
• The Student Experience: this committee provides advice and counsel to the dean of students and key members of the student life and academic staff on a broad array of topics related to the four-year student experience.
• Communications and Community: this task force assesses communication among PAC members and between PAC and all parents, and makes recommendations focused on building community among parents.

Committee Membership

Committee members will be selected by the president, with the advice of the PAC chairpersons. Each member will serve on a committee. Parents from the same household generally will be asked to serve on separate committees. Each committee will be comprised of the number of members that the president, with the advice of the PAC chairpersons, deems appropriate.

Meetings

Committee meetings will take place during PAC meetings. The committee chairperson will preside at committee meetings and, with the advice of the president, the PAC chairpersons, and the staff liaison, will be responsible for the meeting agenda.

Staff Liaisons

The president has appointed a representative of the College administrative staff to advise and counsel members of each committee. The staff liaisons currently working with the PAC committees are:

• Admissions – Jennifer Hantho, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions
• Parents Fund – Chris Clark, Director of the Annual Fund
• Careers and Life after Carleton – Richard Berman, Director of the Career Center
• The Student Experience – Cathy Carlson, Associate Dean of Students, and Arjendu Pattanayak, Associate Dean of the College
• Communications and Community - Becky Zrimsek, Director of Alumni Relations