News
NIRSA Governance Commission Update
Recommendations will be presented at the 2008 Annual Conference in Austin
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Mick Deluca
|
George Brown
|
Tony Clements
|
Tom Dison
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Kathleen Hatch
|
Sam Hirt
|
Maureen McGonagle
|
|
The Governance Commission (GC) will be actively engaging members in discussions at the Annual Conference regarding the best thinking about a proposed new governance model. Member input continues to be crucial to the exploration of a better practice for our association’s governance. There will be several opportunities to learn more about the process and proposed elements, and to share feedback, including:
- March 25, 2008: Email will be sent to all members with detailed information about the process, the elements, and the timeline
- Tuesday, April 1: GC presentation to the Board of Directors (BOD) - open meeting
- Friday, April 4: Governance Town Hall meeting (11:30 a.m.);
Regional Business Meeting Q&A sessions (4:00 p.m.)
- Saturday, April 5: GC Presentation and Committee of the Whole session at the Annual Business Meeting (10:30 a.m.)
Please choose to be informed and active in this process.
Background information
The process for exploring a better governance practice for NIRSA has been detailed and thorough. Significant effort has been made to gather pertinent information from a noted consultant, other higher education associations, our members, legal counsel, and staff; and to keep our members informed. Specific efforts of the GC and/or BOD include:
January 2007
- Published a NIRSA Know article to introduce the issues and the need for conversation
April 2007
- Held a Committee of the Whole at the Annual Business Meeting to garner member feedback
June 2007
- Participated in a full-day retreat with consultant Bud Crouch, a noted expert in Association Management, to discuss and define the issues
July 2007
- Appointed 26 NIRSA Members to a Peer Advisory Review Team and 23 NIRSA members to a Young Leaders Advisory Group
- Conducted the first of over 25 GC teleconferences over the next seven months
August 2007
- Conducted an online survey and four teleconferences with the Young Leaders regarding various governance issues
September 2007
- Published a NIRSA Know article featuring an initial NIRSA Governance Commission Objectives chart to highlight areas of focus
- Participated in an audio/web program, The Governance Task Force: Transforming Your Board of Directors, offered by the American Society of Association Executives and The Center for Association Leadership
- Conducted individual interviews with 12 Council of Higher Education Management Associations (CHEMA) about their governance models and practices
- Conducted online survey with the Peer Advisory Review Team about various governance issues
October 2007
- Conducted follow-up online survey with the Peer Advisory Review Team
- Presented the “Basic Tenets” to the NIRSA BOD; received their support on the document
- Began sharing “Basic Tenets,” process, and timeline with the membership at regional, state and provincial conferences and workshops
November 2007
- Began sharing thoughts with and receiving feedback from the NIRSA National Center staff
- Received feedback from NIRSA legal counsel
- Conducted additional online survey with the Peer Advisory Review Team and the Young Advisory Group
December 2007
- Received feedback from the Executive Committee and NIRSA legal counsel regarding the proposed structure
January 2008
- Updated the BOD on progress and timeline
February 2008
- Received feedback on the direction and proposal elements from association consultant Bud Crouch
- Met in Portland to further hone elements of a proposed new governance structure
March 2008
- Updated the NIRSA BOD regarding current direction and timelines
- Published NIRSA Know article to educate members about the process and opportunities for feedback
- Sent email to all members with detailed information about the process and current thinking
Your Governance Commission:
- Mick Deluca, UCLA (chair)
- George Brown, University of Alabama
- Tony Clements, University of Illinois
- Tom Dison, The University of Texas at Austin
- Kathleen Hatch, Washington State University
- Sam Hirt, Vanderbilt University
- Maureen McGonagle, DePaul University
|
