Agriculture Council for Access and Opportunity

The mission of the council is to promote a system that values difference in meaningful ways, thereby enhancing our land-grant mission of teaching, research and extension.

The council's role includes:

• Supporting healthy and thriving communities through our educational programs and opportunities.
• Increasing the representation of a wide range of backgrounds among our employees at all levels and across the state.
• Nurturing the understanding and skills development of employees and volunteers to help them better reach all North Dakotans.

• The NDSU Agriculture workforce represents a broad range of backgrounds, skillsets and perspectives.
• Employees have access to educational programs and resources that help them improve their ability to reach varied audiences across the state.
• NDSU Agriculture continues strengthening relationships with our 1994 North Dakota land-grant institutions and Tribal partners.
• Resources developed and utilized by NDSU Agriculture will be reviewed through multiple perspectives before distribution.

Members will have an opportunity to:

• Provide input and direction to NDSU Agriculture on programs and processes that enhance access and opportunity throughout the system.
• Learn from a wide range of perspectives and programs provided by NDSU and partners.
• Network with other professionals from across the organization who are dedicated to increasing opportunities for all.
• Have a voice, help others learn, and broaden their own knowledge and understanding.
• Make a difference and create positive change.
• Help engage and meet the needs of all North Dakotans.

Members will have an opportunity to:

• Attend meetings of the council.
• Determine steps to meet organizational needs.
• Promote a wide array of educational opportunities for NDSU Agriculture through training, speakers and experiences.
• Serve as a sounding board for the Civil Rights review process.
• Collaborate with other councils across the university on university-wide initiatives.

• Good communication skills (listening, speaking)
• Organizational skills
• Willingness to participate and be a team player
• Desire to learn and be involved
• Passion for people/education
• Interest in engaging people from different backgrounds
• Willingness to serve
• Willingness to contact others about potential needs statewide

The term of office is three years. Reappointment to a second three-year term is an option. The benefit of having one-third of the membership change each year is that it allows for new ideas and ensures the smooth operation of the committee.

The NDSU Agriculture tribal liaison is a permanent member of the council and will serve without term limits, contingent upon the continued existence of the position.

The council will ideally be composed of at least 18 members from various roles across NDSU Agriculture.

When council members' terms expire at the end of the third calendar year, they should indicate by Nov. 1 whether they intend to seek an additional term or leave the council. If they elect to leave the council, a call will be put out to NDSU Agriculture to seek new members in November. The NDSU Agriculture leadership team will review new members in December, and appointments will be made by Jan. 1, when the new members will begin their three-year term.

If a member of the council needs to leave mid-term, that member may elect to recommend a replacement to complete the remainder of the term, or the council may recommend someone else, or the seat may remain vacant until the November call for new members. The NDSU Agriculture Leadership team will review midterm appointments.

At the end of each calendar year, the council will vote to select a chair for the following year. The chair will serve a one-year term.

The Agriculture Access and Opportunity Council will meet in January to establish a schedule and duration for its meetings. In addition, members will spend time outside of council meetings assisting with subcommittee work, educational programs, and skill development for all units within NDSU Agriculture and its partners.

The council chair will coordinate the meetings, preparing and distributing an agenda in advance of each session. Meetings may include educational opportunities for members, updates on current activities, and conversations about how to address access and opportunity needs across the entire organization.

• Create meeting schedule.
• Create and archive meeting agendas and minutes.
• Facilitate council meetings.
• Invite any proposed guest speaker for council meetings or organization-wide trainings.
• Recruit and appoint new council members as terms expire.

The NDSU Agriculture tribal liaison heads a standing committee dedicated to strengthening relationships with 1994 partners. The council may establish additional subcommittees as needed to address the organization's needs. Subcommittees may encompass non-council members to collaborate on the work of that committee.