Description of Activities for the AUCCCO Board of Directors

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the AUCCCO Board of Directors! It is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a team that leads a growing, national organization. As a board member you will work closely with other innovative thinkers to help advance the AUCCCO mission: to assist professionals involved in the leadership of outreach, consultation, and campus community interventions. AUCCCO provides opportunities for networking, professional identity development, idea exchange and creating standards for quality outreach services. AUCCCO promotes a broad understanding of outreach, prevention and education services based on the assumption that outreach must extend the expertise of counseling centers to the larger campus community. AUCCCO recognizes that, as the campus climate has a profound influence on students’ lives, outreach services must be informed by perspectives that address the intersection of multiple social identities, promote social justice, and celebrate diversity in all its forms. The Board of Directors establishes policy and procedures for the Association in keeping with its stated objectives.

Members of the Board must be from active member institutions, in good standing with the organization, and employed in counseling centers. The first step in becoming a Board Member is to have a discussion with your Director about the support you would need from your center in terms of time and funding, which would include:

Two in-person meetings per year

• In June, in conjunction with the annual AUCCCO Conference. The commitment is to arrive on Sunday or Monday of the conference week for meetings on Monday and Tuesday and stay after the conference conclusion on Friday afternoon for additional meetings. AUCCCO has been able to cover Board members hotel rooms for the additional nights outside of the conference and one to two meals on the additional days depending on meeting times/schedule (for example, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday nights). This also requires an understanding that you will be away from your office that entire week in professional development activities. Total cost = 2 extra days away from the center plus costs associated with attending the conference (travel, meals and hotel rooms during the conference) 
• Mid-year Board of Directors meeting in January. Members of the Board are expected to arrive Wednesday or Thursday evening in anticipation of two full days of meetings on Thursday and Friday or Friday and Saturday. AUCCCO is currently capable of funding the hotel rooms (shared) and two working meals per day. Board members should seek funding from their centers to cover travel to and from the meeting and at least one meal per day of the meeting days. Total cost varies depending on location but will involve 2-3 days away from the center and the potential cost of $500-1,000. (The association is working to cover Board member travel to the mid year meeting but that financial support is not currently guaranteed).
• Board meetings conducted periodically via telephone conference call or by other electronic means. These meetings typically last 1 hour and are held monthly. No financial cost, but does require time during your workday.
• Board business conducted throughout the year via email that may require some attention. Time cost varies by assignment.
• Participation on and chairing standing committees: Diversity/Inclusion, Social Media, Mentoring, Membership, Conference and Proposal Review, Website Management, and Assessment & Research. Time costs vary by assignment.

Board members are elected to serve 2-year terms, and must be willing to consider running for one of the Executive Committee positions:  President, Treasurer, Secretary, or Parliamentarian.  Participation in an exec position could extend your Board involvement for up to an additional three years, depending on the position.  Time costs vary according to assignment and position. There will be some time given to AUCCCO activities each week as a member of the Executive Committee.

The Board of Directors is currently working to build a budget that would allow the association to cover board activity expenses.  Center directors can be referred to Batsi Bvunzawabaya (batsirai@upenn.edu)  or Kim Martin (kmartin@miami.edu) with questions related to the financial commitment. Participation will be one of the most rewarding and enriching professional experiences you will experience in your career. You will not only make connections far and wide, you will also improve your outreach and prevention work for your center and campus community. Thanks for your interest. Best of luck as you move forward in considering a position on the AUCCCO Board of Directors.

Helpful Links: 

http://auccco.com/Board-of-Directors

http://auccco.com/Becoming-a-Board-Member