Standard Operating Procedures Speech Language Pathology Advisory Council (SLPAC)

Transcription

1 Standard Operating Procedures Speech Language Pathology Advisory Council (SLPAC) Policy section Approved by BOD DATE I. Policy Below are the required policies associated with the Speech Language Pathology Advisory Council (SLPAC). The Policy section of the Standard Operating Procedures may be revised by majority vote of the SLPAC. Any such revision(s) to the Policy section of the SLPAC Standard Operating Procedures will be forwarded by the Chair of the SLPAC to the Board of Directors (BOD) for consideration/approval. A. Enabling Resolution or Authority and Charge (LC ) An Audiology Advisory Council (AAC) and a SLPAC shall be established to identify and discuss issues of concern to members and provide advice to the Board of Directors. The Advisory Councils and its members shall not make any public statement or take positions on behalf of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) or the Advisory Council without having obtained approval from the Board of Directors. Each Advisory Council shall have the following responsibilities: Identify, analyze, discuss, and prioritize issues of concern to members. Advise the Board of Directors on issues that need to be considered as the Association engages in planning to advance the purposes of the Association. Provide advice to the Board of Directors on issues the Board of Directors brings to the Advisory Councils. Review ASHA's approved budget and forecasts and provide input and recommendations on budget items to consider in the development of the next year's budget, including the need for any dues increase. Participate in the peer review of all ASHA policy documents. Review and comment on policy documents prior to final approval by the Board of Directors. Rationale: Experts on association governance recommend that associations review their governance periodically to determine if it meets the needs of members and if it is efficient and effective. The current governance structure and process has been in effect for nearly 10 years. Responsible stewardship of an association requires that the governance structure be reviewed periodically to determine if it is meeting the needs of members and is being carried out in a cost effective manner. As membership in an association grows or as the association faces different challenges, a system of governance that served well at one time may no longer be satisfactory. The obligation, then, is to conduct a review of governance and to recommend changes in governance structure and process if they are warranted. The Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Structure and Process was assigned this obligation and recommends that ASHA use a governance model that includes a 16 member Board of 1

2 Directors and an Audiology Advisory Council composed of 53 members and a Speech Language Pathology Advisory Council composed of 53 members. By recommending this governance model, the Committee believes that it has proposed a governance structure and process that is responsive to ASHA member wants, needs, and trends; will serve members and the professions more efficiently and effectively; meets current and future governance challenges; and, will be personally satisfying to those members who give their time to participate in ASHA governance activities. B. Related Resolutions BOD Amend Article V, Section 5.21 of the ASHA Bylaws to add a seat, distinct from the international member, on the Audiology Advisory Council and on the Speech Language Pathology Advisory Council for members living in the United States Territories. Rationale: This resolution was prepared because currently individuals living in the U.S. Territories and members living in other countries are not distinguished in the representation of the Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Advisory Councils. Article V Advisory Councils 5.2 Composition Each Advisory Council will have 53 members, one (1) from each of the 50 states, one (1) from the District of Columbia, one (1) from the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), and one (1) from a member who resides outside the United States. Currently, the one (1) member who resides outside the United States can live in either a U.S. Territory or a foreign country. The needs of members living in the U.S. Territories are unique. They are U.S. citizens living on islands. The U.S. Territories are a diverse group of islands inhabited by culturally and linguistically diverse peoples. However, there are commonalities among them including: Differences in time zones. Members in Guam, for example, are 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. This requires greater awareness on the part of the coordinators of live continuing education activities. Varied and frequent job opportunities on the islands and typically high vacancy rates for speechlanguage pathologists and audiologists that require unique recruitment and retention efforts. Limited higher education training programs. Recruiting doctoral level faculty remains a challenge. This also makes doctoral level training close to impossible for the territories. Insurance practices and coverage vary by territory. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, for example, a private practice only requires a business license. Licensure practices that vary by island/territory. BOD RESOLVED, That Articles IV and V of the Bylaws be amended to read as follows Article IV Board of Directors 4.3. A committee consisting of six members and the Immediate Past President serving as Chair shall present a slate of no more than three but at least two candidates for each office to be elected by the membership. Three members of the committee shall be appointed to staggered 2 year terms by the Committee on Committees, and their term of office shall begin on January 1. 2

3 Article V Advisory Councils 5.1. Responsibilities An Audiology Advisory Council and a Speech Language Pathology Advisory Council shall be established to identify and discuss issues of concern to members and provide advice to the Board of Directors. The Advisory Councils and its members shall not make any public statement or take positions on behalf of the Association or the Advisory Council without having obtained approval from the Board of Directors. Each Advisory Council shall have the following responsibilities: 1. Identify, analyze, discuss, and prioritize issues of concern to members. 2. Advise the Board of Directors on issues that need to be considered as the Association engages in planning to advance the purposes of the Association. 3. Provide advice to the Board of Directors on issues the Board of Directors brings to the Advisory Councils. 4. Review ASHA's approved budget and forecasts and provide input and recommendations on budget items to consider in the development of the next year's budget, including the need for any dues increase. 5. Participate in the peer review of all ASHA policy documents. 6. Review and comment on policy documents prior to final approval by the Board of Directors. C. Composition The SLPAC will have 54 members, one (1) from each of the 50 states, one (1) from the District of Columbia, one (1) from the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), one (1) from a member who resides outside the United States, and one (1) who resides in a U.S. Territory and who is distinct from the member who resides outside the United States. Members of the SLPAC will be ASHA members who are certified speech language pathologists and who declare affiliation with this council. Student members of the Advisory Council must be members in good standing of NSSLHA. D. Fiduciary Responsibilities Members of the SLPAC will annually review ASHA's approved budget and forecasts and provide input and recommendations on budget items to consider in the development of the next year's budget, including the need for any dues increase. They provide recommendations to the BOD. E. Term of Office Members of the SLPAC shall be elected to staggered 3 year terms or until their successors are elected, and their term of office shall begin on January 1 of the year determined for each such member by the Committee on Nominations and Elections. Terms of office for NSSLHA members of the Advisory Councils shall be determined by NSSLHA and shall not exceed 3 years. No person shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms. Individuals are eligible for nomination and election after sitting out one term. Individuals appointed to a term that was either 1) either vacated by another councilor during the term or 2) was not filled by election are appointed by the COC for the duration of the original term and less than 3 years. If a councilor is interested in being considered for a second 3 year term he/she needs to be elected for the second term. 3

4 F. Service Eligibility Requirements Eligibility to serve on the SLPAC requires that the applicant be a Speech Language Pathology member of ASHA from the state (or constituency) of the available position. G. Nomination and Appointment/Election Procedures for Service on the SLPAC A member of the Association may submit nominations and be a candidate for election to the SLPAC only from the constituency in which the member resides. Each member is entitled to nominate up to two individuals from that member's constituency. Election ballots will be sent to ASHA members who reside in states that are holding an election. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes in an Advisory Council election will be duly elected. The Committees on Committees will approve the appointment in the event of a vacancy in a SLPAC position. H. Chair of the SLPAC The Chair is one of the 54 members of the Advisory Council and serves as the board liaison. The primary roles and responsibilities are as follows: Facilitating the identification, discussion, and ranking of issues of concern to members; Serving on the Board of Directors as full members; Informing the Board of Directors on Council recommendations related to member issues, future budget items, and dues increases; Monitoring participation of Advisory Council members in the peer review process; Determining the annual Advisory Council meeting locations and dates (within the first 6 months of the year) and with the approval of the BOD; Coordinating the annual meetings of the Advisory Councils in conjunction with National Office staff liaisons and other appropriate individuals; and Facilitating and chairing electronic communications and discussions of their respective Advisory Council. In collaboration with the ex officio, the chair will Attend and participate in all meetings of the Board of Directors Be informed about the Association's mission, services, policies, and programs Assist the Board of Directors in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities Review agenda and supporting materials prior to board meetings and conference calls Attend the annual ASHA Convention Annually review and vote on the Association's budget Contribute to a review of the Chief Executive Officer Prepare and present information at meetings on behalf of the Association as needed Initiate and facilitate communications among the members of the Advisory Council throughout the term of office Serve as the Board of Directors liaison to the Advisory Council and prepare and present information at meetings of the Advisory Council on behalf of the Board of Directors Serve as the Advisory Council liaison to the Board of Directors and prepare and present information at meetings of the Board of Directors on behalf of the Advisory Councils Term of Office The chair s term can serve for three years 4

5 Appointment and Selection of the Chair Each Advisory Council will have a Chair elected in separate election by members of the Advisory Council. The Chair of the SLPAC will serve as the Advisory Council member of the BOD. The Chair of the SLPAC shall be elected by and from the members of the SLPAC. A call for nominations will occur in in July of each year. Nominations Seated SLPAC members and the following year AAC members elect can nominate the chair. SLPAC members in their first or second year of their initial 3 year term SLPAC members in their first or second year of their second consecutive 3 year term SLPAC members who are in their third year of service who have been re elected for a second consecutive term on the SLPAC. Voting The Chair of the SLPAC will serve as full voting member of the BOD with all the rights, privileges, and financial support of other members of the BOD. The Chair will have full voting rights on the SLPAC. Vacancy If a vacancy occurs in the office of SLPAC Chair, the applicable Advisory Council will hold an election to fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term. Each Advisory Council Chair shall be elected for a term of 3 years or until their successors are elected. An Advisory Council Chair whose term as an Advisory Council member expires during his or her term as Chair shall have the term as Advisory Council member automatically extended until the end of the term as Advisory Council Chair. I. Vice Chair of the SLPAC The Vice Chair is one of the 54 members of the SLPAC for the Council and charged with: Assisting the Chair in fulfilling their responsibilities. Assuming the responsibilities of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, with the exception of service on the Board of Directors Recording minutes from business meetings, minutes are prepared in a timely manner, and reviewed by council members, revised and disseminated well in advance of the next meeting. In collaboration with the chair and ex officio, the vice chair will Be informed about the Association's mission, services, policies, and programs Assist the chair in coordinating the annual meeting of the Advisory Council Assist the chair in facilitating communications among the members of the Advisory Council throughout the term of office Term of Office The vice chair s term can serve a one year term They can be elected to serve a second term as vice chair if eligible. Appointment and Selection of the Vice Chair The Vice Chair of the SLPAC shall be elected by and from the members of the SLPAC. 5

6 Nominations A call for nominations will occur in July of each year. Seated SLPAC members and the following year SLPAC members who have been elected can nominate the vice chair. SLPAC members in their first or second year of their initial 3 year term SLPAC members in their first or second year of their second consecutive 3 year term SLPAC members who are in their third year of service who have been re elected for a second consecutive term on the SLPAC Voting The Vice Chair of the SLPAC will be a full voting member of the SLPAC with all the rights, privileges, and financial support of other members of the SLPAC. Vacancy Since the term for vice chair is for one year, there is no necessity to extend the SLPAC member term. The position of vice chair will remain vacant until the next election process. J. Board of Directors Liaison The Speech Language Pathology Advisory Council Chair also serves as the BOD Liaison. The SLPAC Chair will participate in the deliberations of the SLPAC (please refer to the Roles and Responsibilities of the Chair, Section II.A) K. Vacancies If an Advisory Council member (1) changes residence to another constituency or (2) for any reason no longer fulfills the requirement for election to his or her seat or (3) advises the Chair of the Advisory Council that he or she is no longer willing to serve, the member shall no longer serve as a member of the Advisory Council. The Board of Directors shall elect a member of the Association from the constituency in which the resigning/former member resides to serve for the unexpired portion of the term of the Advisory Council member. ASHA members elected by the Board of Directors to serve the remaining portion of an SLPAC term for a SLPAC member who has resigned will be considered to have served one full term regardless of their length of service. Likewise, any Advisory Council member that resigns mid term will be considered to have served one full term regardless of the length of time served. L. Non Participation in Committee Activities Each member of the SLPAC will be notified of the Operational Procedures of the SLPAC and the schedule of events necessary to carry out their charge. In the event a member of the SLPAC fails to meet the designated expectations and responsibilities, the Chair of the SLPAC will resolve the matter with the member. Situations will be handled on a case by case basis. In the event that the non participation is by the Chair of the SLPAC, the case should be handled by the SLPAC members in consultation with the ASHA President. Any elected member of the Advisory Council, except those elected by NSSLHA, may be removed from office: By a vote of two thirds of the current members of the Advisory Council, or By written petition for removal signed by 10% of the total number of members of the profession represented by the Advisory Council residing in the member s constituency submitted to the President and approval of the petition by two thirds of the members of the Association representing the member s profession residing in that member s constituency who vote in response to the electronic or nonelectronic submission of the petition, or 6

7 If the member is absent from the constituent area he or she represents for more than 20 consecutive weeks, or If no longer a member in good standing of the Association, he or she may be removed by the Board of Directors. M. Annual Report Requirements The Chair of the SLPAC will provide an annual report to the BOD by December 31. M. Conformance to Governance Documents The SLPAC will conform to their Operational Procedures, ASHA Bylaws, and all other governing documents of the Association. N. Review of Operational Procedures The Operational Procedures of the SLPAC will be reviewed by the council and, if necessary, revised and submitted to the BOD for their consideration. 7