Herstory

Before the formation of the SCW, the ACPA Task Force for Women existed to address specific concerns facing women. The Task Force sponsored a newsletter, a job roster, special convention programs addressing the needs of women professionals and students within ACPA. In 1973-1974, the Task Force became the Standing Committee for Women (SCW) at ACPA.

Since that time, SCW has grown from a group of 60 to over 1400 members. Women now occupy leadership roles in every segment of the ACPA structure. The number of women on ACPA commissions has more than doubled and the number of women chairs and speakers at conventions has increased dramatically. Commissions now frequently sponsor programs related to women's issues and each commission has a liaison to SCW for purposes of maintaining two-way communications within ACPA. The committee has actively informed it's members about issues related to women's concerns in higher education, especially programs related to Title IX, and other programs which encourage women to pursue advanced education.

SCW Directorate Member Position Description

he SCW directorate is comprised of approximately seventeen professionals that lend voice to the issues of women in the constituency within the larger Association (ACPA). The directorate serves as the leadership team for the Standing Committee for Women. SCW seeks to reflect the diversity of ACPA including; class, race, ethnicity, gender, age, faculty, sexual orientation, geography, and religion.

Directorate members are expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:

Three (3) year commitment to the board, beginning and ending with each ACPA annual Convention.

Convention – Plan to arrive early and stay through the close of each annual Convention. (Individuals running for Directorate positions are encouraged to plan to stay through the end of Convention for a new directorate meeting.) Attend and participate in SCW events at ACPA’s annual Convention.

Examples of Convention responsibilities include:

• SCW Directorate Meetings
• Joint Directorates Meeting
• Convention Opening
• Sisterhood Social
• SCW Open Business Meeting

Other events we sponsor and divide responsibilities for are:

• Women of Color Social
• Family Friendly Socials
• Sponsored Programs
• Showcase
• Other Standing Committee Socials and Events (for example, selling glow sticks at the SCLGBTA Social)

Mid-Year Retreat - Attend and participated in a five (5) day mid-year meeting hosted in the Fall. The approximate cost of this meeting is $350, plus individual travel expenses (Deposit/Registration amount of $125 due mid-July).

Participate in a post-Convention orientation conference call for new directorate members after being elected.

Participate in monthly conference calls with the directorate.

SCW General Tasks - Work is project-driven, and each year directorate members volunteer to work on one or more tasks for the committee. Some of these projects include:

• Submitting articles and editing content for the SCW newsletter, the ECHO, or writing on the SCW blog
• Managing the membership initiatives and directorate recruitment and election process
• Organizing major events and programs during Convention, special projects are the socials & showcase and our convention fundraising.
• Program & award review and selection coordinator
• Coordinating the EmpowHer Fellowship Program & mentoring
• Coordinating the mid-year meeting
• Coordinating technology, such as the SCW Website, Blog, Twitter, and Facebook accounts
• Coordinating family-friendly Initiatives

Other Considerations

Due to the financial and time commitments required of directorate members, we strongly encourage you to seek support from your department and/or institution. Directorate members are still expected to attend mid-year meeting even without departmental or institutional support. Having these conversations prior to running for a position has resulted in greater support for current directorate members.

We hope this position description provides you with helpful information as you consider running for the directorate. Please know that if you have questions or want more information, you can certainly speak with current directorate members about their experiences and the amazing leadership opportunity they have had, or check out the blog at http://acpascw.wordpress.com/ to read their stories. Please visit our website, http://www.myacpa.org/sc/scw, or email standingcommitteeforwomen@gmail.com or lfort@nhcc.edu or vdean@siue.edu directly should you have any additional questions. We look forward to your application!