What is a Steering Committee?
A steering committee is a group of decision-makers and senior stakeholders who provide governance, oversight, and support to a project or program. They don’t manage the day-to-day work—that’s the role of the project manager or team—but they help ensure that the project aligns with institutional priorities and has the resources and direction needed to succeed.
In higher education, steering committees are often used for complex, cross-functional, or high-visibility initiatives—like implementing a new student information system, redesigning advising, or launching a strategic plan. These committees typically include sponsors, deans, directors, or campus leaders who can offer high-level guidance and remove roadblocks.
What are the benefits of having a steering committee?
A well-composed and engaged steering committee brings strategic value to a project by:
- Providing Strategic Alignment: The committee can keep the project in sync with institutional goals and values.
- Supporting Decision-Making: Committee members offer timely input and approvals to keep momentum.
- Removing Barriers: The committee helps clear institutional hurdles and resolve issues that exceed the team’s authority.
- Sponsoring Change: The committee can also help champion the work across departments, divisions, or campuses.
- Sustaining Engagement: Committee members keep leadership informed and invested throughout the project.
For example, a university launching a new advising model might form a steering committee of deans, faculty, student affairs leaders, and IT executives to guide policy decisions, coordinate resources, and support communication across the institution.
Where might you see a steering committee in higher education?
Steering committees are especially useful for projects that span units, carry significant risk, or require cross-campus collaboration. Examples include:
- Technology implementations, such as ERP, CRM, or LMS transitions
- Accreditation and compliance efforts, where institutional buy-in and accountability are essential
- Strategic plan implementation, where progress needs to be reviewed, coordinated, and resourced
- Campus redesign or construction projects, involving multiple stakeholders and long timelines
- Equity and inclusion initiatives, to ensure broad input and visible commitment from leadership
Imagine a provost’s office leading a multi-year academic transformation initiative. A steering committee could help ensure input from deans, budget officers, faculty leaders, and student representatives—while reinforcing alignment with university strategy.
A step-by-step guide to setting up and working with a steering committee
- Define what the steering committee will (and won’t) be responsible for. Common roles include decision-making, oversight, risk management, and sponsor support.
- Choose individuals who bring authority, expertise, and diverse perspectives. Include a mix of sponsors, senior leaders, and influencers.
- Schedule regular touchpoints (e.g., monthly, quarterly) aligned with your project schedule. Use focused agendas and action items to keep meetings productive.
- Share updates, decisions needed, and relevant background before each meeting. Keep presentations strategic, not tactical.
- Track outcomes in meeting notes or a decision log. Assign follow-up items and clarify responsibilities.
- Keep the committee informed with brief updates or dashboards. Ensure they know when issues arise that need escalation or input.
Reflective questions
- What kinds of projects at your institution would benefit from a steering committee?
- Who are the key influencers or decision-makers that should be at the table?
- How do you currently escalate decisions or align across departments?
- What support or oversight would help your next big initiative succeed?
- How could a steering committee help sustain leadership engagement beyond the kickoff?