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ASCP committees help advance the Society’s work by planning and implementing strategic objectives set by ASCP leadership and governance bodies.
ASCP uses “committee” as a generic umbrella term for committees, commissions, councils, work groups, task forces, etc., though each has a distinct role in the governance structure.
Commission: governing body that outlines short and long-term strategic direction as it pertains to their focus of the association, as well as oversees the integration of these objectives into the ASCP membership and its committees. All Commissions report to the ASCP Board of Directors.
Council: a representative body of a specific ASCP membership class, strategically voicing the professional and education needs of those members to ASCP governance. All councils report to the Commission on Membership.
Steering Committee: internal volunteer groups that plan and carry out strategic initiatives as determined by their respective Commission.
Product Committee: internal volunteer groups that review and develop ASCP educational resources and products. All product committees report to the Commission on Continuing Professional Development.
Task Forces/Work Groups: a temporary (a few months to a year) specialized volunteer team charged with addressing a time-sensitive issue, typically through delivering recommendations. Task forces and work groups report to a commission or committee as relevant to their objectives.
Prospective volunteers can apply through the online ASCP Committee Application.
Committee applications are open year-round. Applications submitted prior to June 1st will be considered for the appointment cycle of that calendar year. Applications submitted following June 1st are considered for the appointment cycle for the following calendar year.
Application review and appointment occur 2-3 months leading up to the ASCP Annual Meeting in the fall. All committee appointments are approved by the ASCP Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting, with terms beginning immediately.
Applications remain in consideration for three years following submission date.
Appointments are generally developed through collaboration between committee chairs and ASCP staff and then move through an approval path that includes the reporting Commission, if applicable, and the President-elect, with final Board approval at the Annual Meeting. This process is set by the ASCP Bylaws.
ASCP reviews applicants’ skills, experiences, and knowledge areas to determine how they align with the current needs of the committee. The ASCP Volunteer Program prioritizes a balanced continuity from new perspectives and actively encourages diversity across multiple dimensions (e.g. practice type, geography, experience level, etc.).
Yes, all committee members must have active ASCP membership. Some committees may include non-members in special circumstances (often as an ex-officio representative of another organization).
Volunteers are expected to:
Time commitment varies by committee and is typically documented in the committee’s charter. Most committees consist of a mix of in-person and virtual meetings.
While specific charters may vary, committee member terms are typically three years, and members may be eligible for two full terms (six years total). Committee chair terms are commonly one year, renewable for up to six terms (six years total).
It is recommended that volunteers be limited to 3 committees, and committee chairs to 2 committees, except in certain circumstances (e.g., ex-officio/representative roles or short-term task forces).
Volunteers often receive and discuss confidential information. Under the duty of loyalty, it is crucial to protect this information and the organization by proactively managing potential conflicting personal and professional affiliations. While many conflicts are inconsequential, ASCP requires all volunteers to complete conflict-of-interest disclosures and follow related policies.
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Yes. For meetings that require travel, ASCP reimburses reasonable, approved expenses in accordance with its IRS compliant travel policy. Volunteers will receive the travel policy from their staff liaison and must submit expenses through the ASCP reimbursement portal with required documentation and within established submission timelines. Guests may be permitted to accompany you if you attend a meeting, but ASCP does not fund guest travel or meal expenses.
If conflicts arise, volunteers should communicate early with the committee chair and staff liaison. If a member becomes consistently inactive or absent, the chair may address it directly and, if needed, discuss resignation or non-reappointment.
ASCP has plenty of immediate volunteer opportunities with rolling applications. This is a great way to get involved sooner or begin your ASCP volunteer experience. Participation in immediate volunteer opportunities are recommended to strengthen one’s committee application.
Click here to learn more about ASCP’s immediate volunteer opportunities.