Mission

The primary mission of the University of Kansas School of Health Professions board of advocates is to provide a means for active participation of friends and alumni of the School of Health Professions who are committed to the continuing development and recognition of the school. The experience, advocacy, counsel, and participation of the board, individually and collectively, will play a significant role in helping the school achieve its set goals.

The board serves the school through many activities:

• Advocate for the school in fulfilling its mission to serve the citizens of Kansas, the region, and the nation, and to develop tomorrow's leaders through exemplary education, research and service.
• Support the mission-based activities of the school.
• Advocate and create opportunities for effective interaction between the school and the communities it serves.
• Be ambassadors in the community to educate the public on the roles of other health care professionals, other than physicians and nurses, in the delivery of top-quality health care services.
• Seek and inform the dean of the school of pertinent community interests related to health and health care.

Membership

Membership on the board of advocates is open to people who are in recognized leadership positions. Invitation to join the board is decided by the dean based upon the recommendations of the executive committee of the board and/or the school's administrative council. The principal criteria for recommendation for membership are demonstrated support for the school and/or expertise that would support the school’s mission of education, research and service. The maximum size of the board will be 25 members.

Membership on the board is for three years with a maximum of two consecutive terms. An appointment to a second term is made by the dean in consultation with the chair of the board. After the two terms of service, individuals may be reappointed to the board again after a one-year time period and at the invitation of the dean in consultation with the chair of the board.

Emeritus status will be conferred upon board members having completed one or more terms of board membership. Emeritus members are encouraged to attend board meetings and will receive invitations to all School of Health Professions public events.

While not members of the board, some executives of the KU Medical Center, including the executive vice chancellor, will be invited when necessary to attend and participate in some of the meetings.

Organization

The board of advocates will be administered by an executive committee consisting of the dean of the School of Health Professions, a chair of the board and a secretary of the board.

Executive Committee

The dean, in discussion with board members, will designate a chair and a secretary of the board of advocates. The chair and secretary will serve two-year terms.

The executive committee will meet approximately two times a year to assist the dean in identifying ways the board can fulfill its mission and to assist in the identification of new board members.

The executive committee shall appoint ad-hoc committees as necessary or desirable to further the mission of the board.

The executive committee may recommend to the dean the removal of a board member for cause.

Officers

In addition to serving on the executive committee, the officers shall perform the following duties:

• The chair will assist the dean in creating the agenda and conduct board meetings.
• The secretary will be responsible for the implementation of any official correspondence of the board and will work with the Office of the Dean staff in maintaining the minutes of the board and executive committee meetings. The secretary will also maintain a roster of members’ names, addresses, and communication preferences, e.g. email, fax, and postal address.

Meetings

The board of advocates will hold a one-day meeting in the fall semester of every year on the KU Medical Center campus located at 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas. Two short 45-minute teleconference meetings will also be held each year. The first teleconference will be early in the spring semester and the second will be early in the summer semester.

All members of the board shall have voting privileges.

An agenda for each meeting will be established by the dean of the school in collaboration with the chair of the board and circulated before the meeting.

Benefits Accruing to Members of the Board

Benefits and opportunities to members of the board of advocates include the following:

• Advise and guide the school in areas of specific interest.
• Interact with KU Medical Center and School of Health Professions administrators, students, faculty, and staff.
• Interact and network with an outstanding group of business and professional leaders as colleagues in support of the school and medical center.
• Participate in all of the school's special events, public events, lectureships, and student events.
• Receive communications from the school and medical center, including KU Medical Center publications such as annual reports and magazines, KU Endowment Association publications, and School of Health Professions publications.
• Receive School of Health Professions public relations information and participate in the school’s social media channels.