ACBS Committee Descriptions (terms, roles, and mission) Updated 02/14/2021
1. Introduction
a. Committee Composition: Committee members and chairs have to be members in good standing with ACBS. It is recommended that committees be diverse in composition (eg. gender, nationality, etc.).
b. Standing Committees: See list below. (section 3)
c. Ad hoc Committees: An ad hoc committee and its chair may be appointed by the President with the consent of the Board of Directors, for a specific and limited purpose and for a specified term, not to exceed two years. The charge to an ad hoc committee shall specify the Board Member Liaison through whom that committee is to report to the Board.
d. Reporting Responsibilities: All standing and ad hoc committees shall provide an annual report to the Board of Directors for the meeting held during the annual conference. This report shall include, but not be limited to, a statement on activities and projects (including financial statements as needed) for the past year and plans for the upcoming year. Other reporting throughout the year will also be required, but will depend on the committee.
e. Budgets: Committees are entitled to a small budget to allow for conference calling/communication. All committees are also entitled to space at the annual conference for meetings. Other financial needs shall be submitted to the Board Member Liaison for consideration.
2. Committee Chairs
a. Terms: Length of term shall depend upon the committee. By default, the term length shall be three years unless otherwise noted. A term of office of a committee chair or co-chairs shall begin at the next annual meeting following that person’s appointment. They may not serve as chair/co-chair more than two successive full terms, successive term to be approved by the President.
b. Appointment: Fourteen months prior to the end of a current chair term, the Board of Directors will hold an open call for new committee chair or co-chair applicants. Potential chairs or co-chairs may be nominated by the current/outgoing chair or may self-nominate in response to the open call. Potential chairs/co-chairs will complete an application which will be reviewed by the current chair(s), the committee liaison, and 2 additional members of the Board of Directors. Applicants will have one month from the open call to complete their applications. Applicants will be discussed and a new chair or co-chairs selected by the current chair, the committee liaison, and two additional members of the Board of Directors.
c. Responsibilities: Newly chosen committee chairs will shadow the current committee chair(s) from the time they are chosen until the annual meeting at which time the newly chosen chair (s) will assume their official role (s) as chair (s). Two years into their term they are asked to recommend a new chair or co-chairs who would be suitable to replace them once their term ends. This person is preferably a current member of the committee and would be selected via the process outlined above.
Chairs of committees must be members of the Association in good standing.
d. Vacancies: In the event that a committee chair opts to discontinue service prior to the end of their term, a minimum of 6 weeks notice must be given except in the case of emergency. Upon premature termination, the Board will ask the outgoing chair and committee members for new chair nominations. The Board will also hold an emergency open call for a new chair. Those nominated will complete the committee chair application; nominations and applications must be submitted within two weeks.
Applicants will be discussed and a new chair selected by the current chair, the committee liaison, and two additional members of the Board of Directors
A chair appointed to a partial term of office of less than two years may serve two successive full terms.
e. Removal: Any appointee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Board, only following four weeks prior written notice to the appointee and an opportunity to provide a defense before the Board.
3. Communications Policy - Purpose of a Communications Policy
Clear and consistent communication about topics relevant to our members and association is essential. This can only be achieved by clear communication guidelines and coherent practice, shared, understood and utilized throughout our organization. The purpose of this statement is to clarify the authority and responsibility of individuals or groups, while they are associated in an official capacity with ACBS, in expressing such opinions.
Nothing in this policy statement is intended to limit or preclude normal and routine correspondence of the board, committees, special interest groups, and chapters. Nor is this statement intended to restrict individuals from expressing their personal views; however, anyone holding a position of leadership must recognize the probability that their personal views might be confused with their official views.
Considerations
Responsibility and authority to communicate is explained below. Policies for Board communication are different than it is for other affiliated ACBS groups, but the following two considerations apply to both. First, a statement by an individual or group should be well researched, reasoned, and documented.
Second, if the matter is one involving, or likely to elicit, substantial controversy within the membership, the individual or group should the pros and cons of the question. If a statement is made in support of a particular position, they must make it clear that the statement represents their personal opinion and not that of ACBS.
Committee Chairs
Committee chairs may speak on behalf of ACBS only with respect to established policies or matters already authorized to them by the Board of Directors, or when all of the following conditions have been fulfilled:
Statements must be within the individual’s technical competence and jurisdiction.
The development of the statement has been coordinated with the president and/or the executive director.
The statement expresses the opinion of a substantial majority of the committee based upon their understanding of the general sentiment of a majority of the members.
The statement makes clear that the opinion expressed is that of the committee only.
Committees
The following documentation should be approved by the Board of Directors or Executive Director prior to circulation beyond the Committee. All policies and activities must remain in compliance with ACBS bylaws.
Reports to the Board
Formal opinion statements
Surveys of the full ACBS membership
Policies or Significant Policy changes for Committees
The above may be communicated to the Board or Executive Director by sending these items to one of the following:
- Designated Board liaison
- President
- Executive Director
4. Board and Committee Relationship:
The purpose of a committee is to assist the Board of Directors in regard to their given area of responsibility, bring to the Board information on which action and decisions may be based, and execute programs desired by the Board.
The function of appointed committees is to evaluate issues, conduct background work, and to make recommendations to the Board concerning those matters delegated by the Board to the specific committee.
As committees are extensions of the ACBS Board, ACBS Board Members or staff may attend any meetings of committees and are encouraged to do so when feasible.
Based on Board approval, committees are asked to implement policies, rules, and guidelines for ACBS, or assume obligations on the Associations’ behalf.
5. Standing Committees
a. Conference Strategy Committee: This committee in consultation with the Executive Director shall make decisions regarding broad policies related to ACBS’s Annual Conference. They shall recommend future conference locations, evaluate venue proposals, and choose future conference sites, with final approval reserved by the ACBS Board. They are tasked with thematic determinations, plenary speaker approval, conference structure determination (timing, length, etc.), and other related decisions. They shall invite pre-conference workshops, or create an ad hoc to complete the task. They will act as a resource for conference program chairs, as needed.
In the past, the Conference Strategy Committee has been responsible for:
• Organizing the annual world conference by selecting plenary speakers, pre-conference workshops and working on non-program items (social events, etc.)
• Ensuring diversity in selected speakers and workshops
• Reviewing conference evaluation information to improve the conference.
b. Program Committee: This committee is responsible for formulating and preparing the program for the annual convention (excluding plenaries and pre-conference workshops), working in close coordination with the Conference Strategic Planning Committee, Committees on Continuing Education, Executive Director or any other committees as necessary. It shall liaise with other committees (DEI, Chapters and SIGs) for recommendations for program building. President-Elect appoints the chair of the committee for the year of his/her presidency.
c. CE Committee: This committee shall be responsible for staying abreast of industry guidelines on Continuing Education and evaluating ACBS and co-sponsor training events for suitability and approval. This committee does not follow the typical ACBS committee system and has no chair and no rotation guidelines at present.
d. Membership Committee: This committee shall be responsible for recruiting new professional, student, and affiliate members, retaining current members, and facilitating transition from student to professional membership. The committee is charged with establishing and sustaining long-term membership options, evaluating the needs of members and their satisfaction, and liaising with Diversity and Chapter & SIGs committees.
In the past, the Membership Committee has been responsible for:
• Conducting a Membership survey
• Composing engagement emails to be sent out to new members
• Composing emails to re-engage members due to renew
• Facilitating the process of identifying ACBS Fellows.
e. Training Committee: This committee shall support the development, evaluation, and availability of high-quality CBS training (e.g. ACT, applied RFT), and do so in a manner consistent with statements of the ACBS community’s values as described in the Trainers’ Agreement. Here, “high quality” means training that creates conditions that establish higher levels of psychological flexibility through empirically supported processes, and that increases the trainees’ ability to apply CBS. Toward that mission, one standing duty of this committee is to oversee and coordinate the peer-review process for being listed as a recognized ACT trainer on the ACBS website.
In the past, the Training Committee has been responsible for:
• Oversight of the peer-review process, including updates to the process and forms
• Creating a video describing how peer-review operates
• Conducting and evaluating a Trainer’s survey
• Encouraging diverse trainers to apply for the peer-review process
• Developing a Trainer’s Think Tank for World Conferences (which encourages trainer community building)
f. Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: This committee shall develop strategies to promote diversity within the association, as well as to disseminate Contextual Behavioral Science to diverse populations. This committee is charged with considering diversity at all levels of ACBS. For example, this committee shall serve to support diversity with regard to both basic and applied science, as well as to promote conventional demographic diversity.
In the past, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee has been responsible for:
• Development of application and process for DEI scholarships
• Raising funds for DEI scholarships
• Conducting a Diversity Committee Survey
• Recommending diverse presentations for the World Conference
• Organizing and hosting diverse webinars
g. Communications Committee: This committee is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the communications media of ACBS. These media include, but are not limited to websites, newsletters, listservs, and social media. This committee will also oversee marketing efforts through communications channels designed to increase awareness of and membership in ACBS. This committee will develop and maintain a strategic plan to maximize synergy and impact of these communications methods.
• Social Media Subcommittee - This subcommittee is responsible for working alongside the ACBS for internal and external communications via social media vehicles. This includes developing content for current and future listservs, social networking functions (e.g., Facebook, twitter), and blogs.
• Website Subcommittee - This subcommittee is responsible for developing content for and managing the ACBS website.
In the past, the Communications Committee has been responsible for:
• Viral marketing of the World Conference
• Consultation with social media and web development initiatives
• Translation of items for the membership for inclusion on the ACBS website
• Updating Wikipedia and specific pages of the ACBS website
h. Publications Committee: The purpose of this committee is to assist in the success of the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, and future association journals or magazines (as distinct from the on-line newsletter or website, which is a form of membership communication). The publication committee will provide independent oversight of the journal. The purpose of this committee is to make the editor and editorial staff accountable to the society. It is designed to prevent JCBS from moving in an ACBS inconsistent direction (e.g., a rogue editor that goes against the spirit of ACBS). Among other issues, the committee deals with issues of promotion, impact, quality, coverage, efficiency, organization, readership, cost, publisher relations, membership relations, and the selection of editors. The committee will review the content of the publications (e.g., are the publications consistent with the ACBS vision). It should also review the journal finances. Finally, it should review the editors report, which will describe the journal’s performance (e.g., speed of manuscript flow, numbers of publication, citation rates), and future plans (e.g., anticipated special issues, content areas and directions).
In the case of a journal crisis (e.g., the editor suddenly quits), the committee can hold an ad-hoc meeting, review the situation, and formulate a recommendation to the board. The board will also have the power to ask the committee to meet to make a recommendation.
The committee, through its chair, shall provide an annual report to the Board of Directors for the meeting held during the annual conference. This report shall include, but not be limited to, a full financial statement on all publications and projects and a projected budget for the succeeding year. At least one of the editors of each association journal shall serve as a member of this committee.
In the past, the Publications Committee has been responsible for:
• Monitoring and improving the impact of JCBS
• Monitoring and improving editorial flow of JCBS
• Contract implementation and renewal negotiations with the publisher of JCBS
i. Chapters and SIGs Committee: This committee shall be responsible for advising and supporting chapters and special interest groups (SIGs). The committee facilitates the creation and continuation of chapters and SIGs, liaises chapters, and the board and promotes collaborations among chapters & SIGs.
The committee will promote and encourage the values of the main association to ensure the activities of the chapters and SIG to be compatible with the overarching goals and philosophy of ACBS. The committee shall be responsible for reviewing annual reports submitted by the chapters and SIGs, and promoting connections with ACBS international.
In the past, the Chapters and SIG Committee has been responsible for:
• Establishing seed loans for Chapters and SIGs
• Developing virtual and networking resources for new chapters
• Facilitating Chapter and SIG meeting at the World Conference
• Developing welcome emails for and supporting new Chapters and SIGs
• Coordinating with the Student Liaison to facilitate new student engagement into local chapters and SIGs
j. Awards Committee: The committee shall develop and administer a cohesive awards and recognition program and nominate candidates for appropriate awards and recognition to the Board of Directors.
In the past, the Awards Committee has been responsible for:
• Development of a rubric for review of applications for the Junior Investigator Awards
• Processing and selecting Asher Awardees
• Processing and selecting Junior Investigator Awards
k. Past Presidents Committee: This committee shall serve as an advisory committee to the ACBS Board based on need or request. The former presidents of ACBS may contribute their experience and knowledge for the institutional memory and betterment of the Association. The Past Presidents Committee shall nominate candidates for appropriate awards and recognition (fellows) to the Board of Directors. The Board of directors will approve the nomination for the award(s) or recognition by 2/3 vote.
l. Developing Nations Committee: The purpose of the committee is to evaluate and support the dissemination of CBS in developing nations (DN). This will include 1) developing strategies to raise money, 2) addressing needs of DN in research and applied training, 3) promoting distance training, 4) distributing funding, and 5) facilitating links between trainers and DN.
In the past, the Developing Nations Committee (DN) has been responsible for:
• Awarding DN Scholarships & raising funds for these scholarships
• Mentoring DN Scholars
• Assisting members in developing nations to access ACBS opportunities
• Responding to issues arising from developing nation members
m. Grants Committee: The Association of Contextual Behavior Science (ACBS) Research Development Grants provide financial support for research that advances the field of Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS). The purpose of these Research Development Grants is to provide financial support for high quality, innovative original research projects.
In the past the Grants Committee has been responsible for:
• Creating the Grant application and review process.
• Facilitating the Grant review and awarding.
• Reviewing grants in progress.
• Recommending new grants for consideration.
n. Investment Committee: The purpose of the investment committee is to oversee the investment of assets owned by, or held in trust for, ACBS as part of the association's investment portfolio.
5. Ad Hoc Committees