What is an Ad Hoc Committee?

An ad hoc committee serves as a temporary body that covers tasks outside of regular operations. This is in contrast to standing committees which have more consistent mandates. The term “ad hoc” comes from Latin which means “for this situation”, highlighting the time-specific and task-bound nature of the committee.  Ad hoc committees gather experts to provide leadership and once its purpose is fulfilled, the committee is dissolved. These committees are seen in several fields such as professional, governmental, non-profit, and academic sectors.

What are the primary roles and responsibilities of the ad hoc committee?

The primary role of ad hoc committees is to address and solve unforeseen issues that fall outside the scope of standing committees. The responsibilities depend on the scale and nature of the issues at hand. Some examples of these are:

1. Investigating issues: Ad hoc committees are often formed to investigate issues that fall outside of the regular workflows before proposing solutions. For example, governments may create ad hoc committees to investigate cases of national interest. Corporations may create committees to investigate anomalous transactions in their financial statements.
2. Recommending interventions: After an investigation, committees present their findings and recommend interventions based on the evidence. This can be seen in governments when they create ad hoc committees to recommend suitable public policy.
3. Executing action plans: Headed by a committee chair, ad hoc committees may also be the ones to implement their recommendations. For example, a university ad hoc committee may carry out disciplinary action against a student.
4. Generate forward-looking strategies: Ad hoc committees are not limited to pressing concerns, They may also develop strategic plans or proposals for future initiatives. This could entail ad hoc committees generating corporate strategies or developing new product lines.

Types of Ad Hoc Committees

Ad hoc committees come in many shapes and forms, depending on their responsibilities and the nature of their originating body. Some common types include:

1. Governmental Ad Hoc Committees: These are often formed by legislative bodies such as Congress to investigate issues of national interest. For example, an ad hoc committee can be made to understand why students perform poorly at standardized testing and to recommend possible policy interventions. These committees usually investigate the issue at hand, report their findings to the legislative body that they answer to, and give policy recommendations.
2. Corporate Ad Hoc Committees: It is common for corporations to create ad hoc committees to investigate mergers and acquisitions, generate new strategies, or address pressing business continuity concerns. Boards of directors create ad hoc committees to address corporate actions that fall outside the company’s regular operations.
3. Academic Ad Hoc Committees: Universities and other academic institutions regularly create ad hoc committees to address pressing matters. For example, universities may create committees to investigate academic dishonesty, review tenure applications, or develop new curricula. These bodies tend to involve experts from relevant departments.
4. Nonprofit Ad Hoc Committees: Nonprofit organizations form ad hoc committees for tasks like planning events, organizing fundraisers, or establishing partnerships with corporations. These committees allow nonprofits to remain agile and effectively spread their scarce resources.