•provide creative participation by enlisting the help of large numbers of students in group programs
•plan activities
•brainstorm, eliminate impractical ideas, and present the best ideas to the larger group for consideration and decision
•decide on action and carry out assignment
•functions; an advisory committee (study problems and make reports and recommendations); a coordination committee (plan, direct and gain the cooperation of other groups); a work committee (specific tasks to be done); a combination of all three

Committees succeed with
• clearly stated objectives
•being well-organized, including expectations
•knowledge of previous achievement and expectations
•understanding of limits and strengths
•atmosphere that enables expression of feelings and needs
•a sense of togetherness
•leadership shared among members
•ability to evaluate ideas apart from personalities
•ability to follow through the steps of logical problem solving

A committee chairperson must
• be sure he/she and the committee members have a clear understanding of the committee goals
•know available resources
•know to who he/she is responsible and must report
•know the limits of his/her authority
•arrange committee meeting times and agendas
•notify advisers and committee members of the meetings
•share group leadership
•follow through, check, coordinate, and then as always, evaluate

Responsibilities of Chairperson

1. Everyone should be clear on the committee's function and responsibilities. You can hand out a written outline.
   

2. Know your resources – use of xerox machines, computers, people who are knowledgeable of your task, written information or reports on your topic.
   

3. Know to whom you are responsible and must report, usually the Vice-President. Possibly there is a need to coordinate actions with another committee.
   

4. Make sure reports are completed and deadlines are met.
   

5. Arrange "pre-planned agenda" and meeting times. Make sure all members are informed of meeting times and places.
   

6. Make sure members are aware of plans. Have a good system of communication for meetings. Give fair notice of meetings in advance.

Kinds of Committees

1. Standing – usually elected or appointed for the entire year. Some examples: elections, publicity
   

2. Special – appointed for a specific purpose. The committee is dissolved once the purpose is accomplished. Examples are committees appointed to develop a code of conduct. Committees such as these may be appointed to investigate or act for the group.

STEPS IN GROUP DECISION-MAKING

1. Clarify the Problem or Situation

   –The problem or need for a decision needs to be clear to the group members. For example, the problem of trying to get better food in the cafeteria might be clarified by the group to be the problem of obtaining more fresh fruit, larger entree portions and more salad varieties.
   

2. Collect Information

   –Questions like: how much?, what will others think?, where?, what restrictions are there?, etc., will be answered at this stage. The group may identify sources of information to be gathered when they lack information and who will gather the data.
   

3. List Alternatives

   –Brainstorm possible solutions and then narrow the list down to the workable suggestions and those the group would like to consider further.
   

4. Weigh or Evaluate the Remaining Alternatives

   –The group examines what would occur if they select each alternative. The group will identify the criteria being applied to evaluate each possible solution and be explicit. Resources like time, money, interest, skills may all be criteria in designing a project.
   

5. Select an Alternative or "Tentative Decision" to Try

   –This alternative to try will be the best solution picked by the group consensus during the evaluation of alternatives. Group consensus means all have had input and are in agreement.
   

6. List the Steps to be Followed in Implementing the Decision

   –The group determines what needs to be done and in what sequence to meet the goal of the decisions. This is the plan to get to the place where the group wants to be with the issue.
   

7. Evaluate the Experience

   –This determines if the solution is a good one, if it is worth it, or has value. Questions like: what good things happened?, what went wrong?, what changes will make it better?, what reaction did we get from others?

HOW TO HANDLE CONFLICT SITUATIONS

Conflict situations can occur anywhere, anytime, and it is important to realize that conflicts can be handled in a positive way, so as not to be destructive. It is HOW the conflict is handled, not the conflict itself, that is often the problem. So, if you find yourself in a conflict situation, try these ideas:

1. Look for the positive aspects of the other person's arguments. Try to insert praise for these ideas into your own argument. Practice changing negative statements into positive ones.
   

2. Remember that your perceptions are highly subjective and affected by personal bias.
   

3. Listen responsively.
   

4. Try not to criticize. Rather, make constructive criticisms.
   

5. Stress points on which you do agree, as you discover them, and build from there.
   

6. Try to look at the problem from the other person's point of view, and sense how he/she is feeling, as your are exchanging dialogue.
   

7. Limit your disagreement to one issue at a time. Come to resolution on one point and them move on. There is no use beating a dead horse!
   

8. Be careful to set a belt line, which you and your adversary won't strike. Hitting someone's Achilles Heel destroys his/her definition of self.
   

9. Remember to give the other person and yourself freedom to change.
   

10. Take responsibility for your own ideas and actions – use first person pronouns.
    

11. Attempt to keep a rational and logical head on your shoulders. If you feel your grip on reality begin to slip, take a moment to regain a proper perspective.

INTERPRETING (making sense of data)

GENERALIZING (drawing connections)

APPLYING ( utilizing in real life situations)