August 2016

AERA voting members will have the opportunity to vote on a bylaw change to allow for a new procedure for nominating AERA SIG members to serve as members of the SIG Executive Committee. The recommended change also alters the term of service of the Chair of the SIG Executive Committee to parallel that of other AERA Committee chairs—that is, one year as chair-elect and two years of service as chair.

The purpose of these recommended changes is to put in place a nominating procedure that is independent from the SIG Executive Committee. Currently the SIG Executive Committee makes the final determination of the slate for SIG Executive Committee election.

The idea for a change in the nominating procedure emanated from the SIG Executive Committee itself. Through the revised procedure, those serving on the nominating committee will have relevant experience related to the work of the SIG Executive Committee, but none will be a part of that body.

Were the bylaw change to be approved, a SIG Nominating Committee would be comprised of five persons: the immediate AERA past president serving for one year, the at-large member of AERA Council in his or her second year of service and not on the AERA Executive Board serving for two years, the past Chair of the SIG Executive Committee serving for two years, and the two immediate past at-large members of the SIG Executive Committee each serving a one-year term.

This referendum will be brought to the AERA membership for vote in September.