IV. The Committees

IV. A. Award Committees

IV. A. 1. C. Wright Mills Award Committee

IV. A. 2. Lee Founders Award Committee

IV. A. 3. Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship Committee

IV. A. 4. Lee Student Support Fund Committee

IV. A. 5. Lee Scholar Support Fund Committee

IV. A. 6. Erwin O. Smigel Award Committee

IV. A. 7. Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award Committee

IV. A. 8. Joseph B. Gittler Award Committee

IV. A. 9. Arlene Kaplan Daniels Paper Award Committee

IV. A. 10. Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award Committee

IV. A. 11. Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award Committee

IV. B. Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee

IV. C. Committee on Committees

IV. D. Editorial and Publications Committee

IV. D. 1 Policy Statement: SSSP Online Membership Directory

IV. E. Justice 21 Committee

IV. F. Elections Committee and Election Procedures

IV. G. Membership and Outreach Committee

IV. H. Permanent Organization and Strategic Planning Committee

IV. I. Program Committee

IV. I. 1. Policy Statement: Author Meets Critics Session

IV. I. 2. Policy Statement: Submitting Previously Published Papers

IV. I. 3. Policy Statement: Multiple Submissions of the Same Paper

IV. I. 4. Policy Statement: Excursions and Tours

IV. I. 5. Policy Statement: Video Conferencing at the Annual Meeting

IV. I. 6. Policy Statement: Virtual Permissions Policy

IV. I. 7. Policy Statement: Liability Waiver

IV. I. 8. Policy Statement: How to Handle Requests for Meeting Space During the Annual Meeting

IV. J. Accessibility Committee

IV. K. Site Selection Committee

IV. L. Nominations Committee

IV. M. Committee on Social Action

IV. N. Transnational Initiatives Committee

IV. O. Anti-Harassment Committee

IV. P. Committee on Mentorship

IV. Q. By-Laws Committee

IV. The Committees

The Board of Directors approved that committees may hold virtual meetings before the annual meeting, as long as the Committee Chair notifies the Administrative Office, maintains responsibility for scheduling and publicity, and submits attendance and meeting minutes to the Administrative Office after the virtual committee meeting. All virtual meetings must take place prior to July 31.

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IV. A. Award Committees

IV. A. 1. C. Wright Mills Award Committee

The C. Wright Mills Award Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and at least nine other members (per the Board of Directors, consider including winners and finalists from the past five years on the committee). In appointing these members, the President, with the assistance of the Chair of the Committee and the Administrative Office, will ensure that the committee is diverse, based on, but not limited to, racial-ethnic background, gender and sexual identities, geographic locations, faculty rank, and institutional settings (e.g., academia, practitioners, organizations, etc.). The Chairperson-elect shall serve as a member of the committee during the year prior to becoming Chairperson. The Committee serves during the term that the individual who appointed them is President.

Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee must select among books submitted by individuals and/or publishers, the book(s) which critically addresses an issue of contemporary public importance; brings to the topic a fresh, imaginative perspective; advances social scientific understanding of the topic; displays a theoretically informed view and empirical orientation; evinces quality in style of writing and explicitly or implicitly contains implications for courses of action. Self-nominations are accepted. Edited volumes, textbooks, fiction, and self-published works are not eligible. The book(s) considered for the award must have been copyrighted in the calendar year before the award is made. Exceptions may be made for a book bearing a copyright in the calendar year before the award is made, but that was not released until the year the award is made for the first time.  The committee must verify that the version of the book submitted is a first edition (not a reprint or later edition). While hard copies of the nominated book are preferred, if such is cost prohibitive, we will accept a confidential/not for circulation PDF and/or e-book of the book instead.  This will be in consultation with the Chair.  A member of the committee who has a book nominated for the award may not continue service on the committee.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The Administrative Office sends the Call for Nominations to a list of publishing companies. The Call for Nominations is published on the Society’s website. The deadline for nominations is December 15. After the nominations have been received, publishers are contacted by the Administrative Office to obtain missing books for the committee. All committee members must read the books and provide an initial evaluation of the nominees. The way in which this process is conducted is determined by the Chair in consultation with the committee members.

After the initial screening of the books, a cut may be made depending upon the consensus of the committee. For example, if all are agreed that a book does not meet the criteria listed in the call for nominations, a given book may be dropped from the list after the initial reading. All books that survive the initial screening may be assigned to a subset of committee members for a more thorough reading. From the scores based on the more intensive reading, several (usually five or six) books become finalists for the award. The list of finalists is prepared by the Chair and sent to the Administrative Officer no later than May 1. This assures that the full list of finalists is listed in the preliminary program and on the Society’s website.

All committee members evaluate each of the finalists. The ratings of each of the finalists are sent to the Chair who tabulates them. If the committee determines that there are two equally deserving books, co-winners are selected. After a winner(s) is determined, the Chair will send the winner’s name to the Administrative Officer no later than July 1. The Chair will also send out notification letters of the results to all finalists. The non-winner finalists will be recognized with a certificate of recognition for being a finalist and a letter will be written by the Executive Officer to relevant officials at the author’s institution.

The Administrative Office will invite the finalists and their publishers to advertise in the Annual Meeting final program. All finalists’ books will be displayed at the Annual Meeting Book Exhibit. The Board of Directors approved limiting awards to one primary recipient for SSSP awards. The winner and guest(s) as well as the Editor and guest(s) are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony. A SSSP "symbolic" sustaining membership and plaque of recognition are awarded to the winning author. Either the President or the Chair presents the award at the Awards Ceremony. 

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IV. A. 2. Lee Founders Award Committee

The Lee Founders Award Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect and at least five other members. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the award is made in recognition of the significant achievements that, over a distinguished career, have demonstrated continuing devotion to the ideals of the founders of the Society and especially to the humanistic tradition of Alfred McClung Lee and Elizabeth Briant Lee.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The Call for Nominations is published on the Society’s website. Nominations are eligible for the year of the nomination and the following two years, should the nominee not be selected for the award the first year.  It is not uncommon for the committee to only receive one nomination. The deadline for nominations is April 15. If no person is deemed worthy of the award, the award is not given. The Board of Directors approved limiting awards to one primary recipient and one honorable mention (if desired) for SSSP awards. The committee must reach a consensus on the winner no later than June 1. The Administrative Office will send out notification letters of the results to all nominators. The winner and guest(s) are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony. A plaque of recognition is awarded to the winner. Either the President or the Chair presents the award at the Awards Ceremony.

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IV. A. 3. Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship Committee

The Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and at least five other members. The committee must be comprised of members at all levels of seniority, although there will be no student members on the committee. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of selecting the most deserving minority student(s) to receive a fellowship from the Society. The applicants must be enrolled in or accepted to a social and/or behavioral science doctoral program, have financial need and a strong commitment to a career of scholarly activism. The deadline for online applications is February 1 (receipt date).

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

On average the committee receives approximately 30 applications each year. The committee must work diligently to read and evaluate the applications, keeping in mind the July 15 deadline. This is not an easy task, given the high degree of quality among the pool of applicants. Each member must submit their top choices and the committee must reach a consensus on the winners. Online application materials are verified by the Administrative Office and distributed to the committee.

The Administrative Office sends the Call for Nominations to a variety of regional and national social science associations and to departments with graduate programs in Sociology. The Call for Nominations is published in ASA Footnotes and on the Society’s website. The Administrative Office will supply information to potential candidates, if requested.

Two winners and one honorable mention (if desired) must be selected by July 15. The Administrative Office will send out notification letters of the results to all applicants. The committee will award two $15,000 stipends. Payments will be made in equal installments in September and January. The honorable mention will receive a complimentary one-year membership in the Society. The winners and guests are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony. A plaque of recognition is awarded to the winners. Either the President or the Chair presents the awards at the Awards Ceremony.

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IV. A. 4. Lee Student Support Fund Committee

The Lee Student Support Fund Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and one other member.  Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of allocating funds to facilitate conference attendance by undergraduate and graduate students. Preference will be given to students who are ABD and/or nearing completion of their Ph.D.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The announcement and application are available on the Society’s website. The deadline for applying is March 15.  An automated e-mail is sent to each applicant confirming the receipt of their application. The Administrative Office will confirm that each applicant is a current member, is participating in the annual meeting, and if the applicant received funding from this fund last year.

The committee has a specific amount, currently $15,000, to distribute among the qualified applicants. Only complete applications submitted online will be reviewed. Applicants may only apply for one travel fund.  If an applicant is an international student, they must apply to the Lee Student Support Fund. Travel support may include transportation costs, luggage fees, hotel, per diem, or other costs not associated with airfare, railway, or driving expenses between the applicant’s university and the conference location.

The committee will evaluate applicants using a point system based on the following criteria:

• Location: 3 for Pacific U.S., 2 for Mountain U.S., 1 for Central U.S., 0 for Eastern U.S., 4 for Canada, 5 for Other International Students (point system is relative to the location of the meeting each year)
• Conference role: 3 for multiple roles, 2 for discussant (or being a Division Chair), 1 for organizing/presiding
• Presenting a paper: 3 for 3 papers, 2 for 2 papers, 1 for 1 paper, 0 if no paper but playing another role (which should be counted above)
• Received a travel award last year: 0 for yes, 1 for no
• Academic career stage: 4 if on the job market, 3 if Ph.D. candidate (i.e., has completed all coursework and qualifying exams), 2 if Ph.D. student, 1 if Master’s student, 0 if undergraduate student
• Amount of financial support receiving from university or advisor: 3 if $0, 2 if $1-$500, 1 if $501-$1,000, 0 if more than $1,000
• Belongs to a marginalized social group (e.g., in terms of race/ethnicity, disability, gender/sexuality): 0 if no, 2 if yes

Each applicant is assigned a total point score based on the criteria above. Thirty awards of $500 each for the students with the most points for a total of $15,000. Awardees must pick up their checks at the SSSP Annual Meeting.

The Chair provides a list containing the applicant’s name, contact information, and award amount to the Administrative Officer. All applicants will be notified no later than May 15 by the Administrative Office whether their application was accepted or rejected.

If a qualified applicant notifies the Administrative Officer that they are unable to attend the annual meeting before award checks are processed, their award money will be distributed to the next qualified applicant. Following the annual meeting, if a qualified applicant returns their award money, the unspent funds will be returned to the Society’s general fund and will not be carried over to next year’s budget.

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IV. A. 5. Lee Scholar Support Fund Committee

The Lee Scholar Support Fund Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and one other member. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of allocating funds to facilitate conference attendance by non-U.S. based international scholars from politically, economically, and culturally oppressed groups in disadvantaged countries not considered part of the Global South who without these funds could not attend the annual meeting. The specific purpose is to facilitate scholarly participation by persons engaged in research related to social problems and social struggles. More generally, the purpose of this fund is to foster cooperative relations among persons and organizations engaged in applying sociological findings to confront social problems and create social change. Preference will be given to applicants who have not received support from the Lee Scholar Support Fund Committee before.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The announcement and application are available on the Society’s website. The deadline for applying is March 15. An automated e-mail is sent to each applicant confirming the receipt of their application. The Administrative Office will confirm that each applicant is a current member, is participating in the annual meeting, and if the applicant received funding from this fund in the last decade.

The committee has a specific amount, currently $6,000, to distribute among the qualified applicants. Only complete applications submitted online will be reviewed. You may only apply for one travel fund. If an applicant is an international student, they must apply to the Lee Student Support Fund. International scholars from the Global South, as defined by the American Sociological Association, must apply to the Transnational Initiatives Fund. The Board of Directors approved requiring those who receive travel fund awards to stay at the SSSP conference hotel.

The Chair provides a list containing the applicant’s name, contact information, and award amount to the Administrative Officer. All applicants will be notified no later than May 15 by the Administrative Office whether their application was accepted or rejected.

If a qualified applicant notifies the Administrative Officer that they are unable to attend the annual meeting before award checks are processed, their award money will be redistributed to the remaining qualified applicants. Following the annual meeting, if a qualified applicant returns their award money, the unspent funds will be returned to the Society’s general fund and will not be carried over to next year's budget.

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IV. A. 6. Erwin O. Smigel Award Committee

The Erwin O. Smigel Award Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and one other member. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of allocating funds to facilitate conference attendance by unemployed and underemployed sociologists. The award is based on need and retirement alone is insufficient justification for financial need. While retired applicants are eligible to apply, as with all applicants, they must demonstrate financial need.

Erwin O. Smigel Award Guidelines:1) the Smigel Fund monies are to be used to help pay for three or four unemployed or severely underemployed sociologists’ transportation to and registration fees for the SSSP meeting (students must apply to the Lee Student Support Fund, international scholars from the Global South, as defined by the American Sociological Association, must apply to the Transnational Initiatives Fund, and non-U.S. based international scholars from politically, economically, and culturally oppressed groups in countries not considered part of the Global South must apply to the Lee Scholar Support Fund); 2) applicants must be SSSP members who are presenting a paper at the main SSSP meeting (rather than at an adjacent workshop or meeting) or participating as a SSSP elected or appointed officer or committee member; 3) a maximum of $500 dollars is to be granted to any one recipient. The Board of Directors approved requiring those who receive travel fund awards to stay at the SSSP conference hotel. 4) preference will be given to applicants who did not receive support from the Erwin O. Smigel Award in the previous year.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The announcement and application are available on the Society’s website. The deadline for applying is March 15. In an effort to increase applications, the Chair will send an outreach letter with the assistance of the Administrative Office on January 15 and February 15 to current members who fit the dues categories for un(der)employed members. An automated e-mail is sent to each applicant confirming the receipt of their application. The Administrative Office will confirm that each applicant is a current member, is participating in the annual meeting, and if the applicant received funding from this fund last year.

The committee has a specific amount, currently $1,500, to distribute among the qualified applicants. Only complete applications submitted online will be reviewed. A maximum of $500 is to be granted to any one recipient.  The Chair provides a list containing the applicant’s name, contact information, and award amount to the Administrative Officer. All applicants will be notified no later than May 15 by the Administrative Office whether their application was accepted or rejected.  All unspent funds will be returned to the Society's general fund and will not be carried over to next year's budget.

If a qualified applicant notifies the Administrative Officer that they are unable to attend the annual meeting before award checks are processed, their award money will be redistributed to the remaining qualified applicants up to the maximum amount allowed. Following the annual meeting, if a qualified applicant returns their award money, the unspent funds will be returned to the Society’s general fund and will not be carried over to next year’s budget.

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IV. A. 7. Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award Committee

The Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and no more than six members. If possible, committee members should reside in the area where the annual meeting is to be held. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of selecting a local grassroots social justice organization in the metropolitan area of the city in which the annual meeting is held that year. When the annual meeting is held in the United States, the area includes the Metropolitan Statistical Area as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Census. While the recipient can be an organization that engages in direct service work, preferred recipients for the Social Action Award will be organizations that also work at the level of systems change. The organization may not be a local or regional chapter of a national or international organization and must be one that will benefit significantly from the award.  The nomination of organizations that include directly impacted people and communities in leadership positions and decisions are also encouraged.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The Call for Nominations and nomination form are available on the Society’s website. The deadline for nominations is April 1. The committee receives between 4-6 nominations. The committee must work diligently to read and rank the nominations. Each member must submit their top choices to the Chair. The Board of Directors approved limiting awards to one primary recipient and one honorable mention (if desired) for SSSP awards. The committee must reach a consensus on the winner no later than June 1.

The Administrative Office will send out notification letters of the results to all nominators. The winning organization will be invited to speak for up to 10 minutes at the Awards Ceremony about the organization’s mission and crucial work. A $2,500 check and plaque of recognition are awarded to the winning organization. Either the President or the Chair presents the award at the Awards Ceremony. All revenue from the raffle ticket sales will be used for the award and the Society will make up the difference to equal $2,500.

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IV. A. 8. Joseph B. Gittler Award Committee

The Joseph B. Gittler Award Committee consists of a Chair and no more than seven members. The current Vice-President is responsible for selecting the Chair and members of the committee. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the award should be given to the SSSP member whose scholarship over the preceding three or more years has most significantly promoted ethical solutions to social problems. By ethical solutions, we mean scholarship that promotes awareness and/or activism to increase public recognition that social problems and social injustices are ethical issues; or scholarship that identifies and promotes societal level responses to social problems and injustices. By scholarship, we mean academic work including both applied research (qualitative or quantitative research) and normative work (e.g., argumentative, historical, philosophical, textual or theoretical analyses).

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The Call for Nominations and nomination form are available on the Society’s website. In addition, the award should be advertised via division newsletters. Active solicitation of nominees will be part of the committee’s duties. The deadline for nominations is April 15. If no person is deemed worthy of the award, then the award is not given. The Board of Directors approved limiting awards to one primary recipient and one honorable mention (if desired) for SSSP awards. The committee must reach a consensus on the winner no later than June 1. The Administrative Office will send out notification letters of the results to all nominators. The winner and guest(s) are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony. A $500 check and plaque of recognition are awarded to the winner. Either the President or the Chair presents the award at the Awards Ceremony.

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IV. A. 9. Arlene Kaplan Daniels Paper Award Committee

The Arlene Kaplan Daniels Paper Award Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and no more than four members. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of identifying the best paper published within two calendar years prior to the award on Women and Social Justice which addresses contemporary issues of women’s justice locally, nationally, and globally; brings a fresh perspective to women’s inclusion in global society and advances new theoretical directions discussing women and social justice; is theoretically informed and possesses and empirical orientation. Self-nominations are acceptable.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The Call for Nominations and nomination form are available on the Society’s website. The deadline for nominations is April 15. If no person is deemed worthy of the award, then the award is not given. The Board of Directors approved limiting awards to one primary recipient and one honorable mention (if desired) for SSSP awards. The committee must reach a consensus on the winner no later than June 1. The Administrative Office will send out notification letters of the results to all nominators. The winner and guest(s) are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony. A plaque of recognition is awarded to the winner. Either the President or the Chair presents the award at the Awards Ceremony.

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IV. A. 10. Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award Committee

The Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and no more than two members. Only current members of SSSP can nominate someone who is or was a past member of SSSP. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of identifying an outstanding faculty member who has exercised an extensive leadership role within the SSSP and other professional societies and within the larger community. The nominees must address social issues of contemporary public importance; bring a deepened public understanding to these issues; advance social understanding of leadership for change within the larger society; and propose courses of action to effect that change.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The Call for Nominations and nomination form are available on the Society’s website. The deadline for nominations is April 15. If no person is deemed worthy of the award, then the award is not given. The Board of Directors approved limiting awards to one primary recipient and one honorable mention (if desired) for SSSP awards. The committee must reach a consensus on the winner no later than June 1. The Administrative Office will send out notification letters of the results to all nominators. The winner and guest(s) are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony. A plaque of recognition is awarded to the winner. Either the President or the Chair presents the award at the Awards Ceremony.

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IV. A. 11. Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award Committee

The Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and two current members of the Teaching Social Problems Division. The Chair-Elect and other members shall be nominated by the President-Elect in consultation with the Committee on Committees and appointed by the Board of Directors. They shall serve during the President-Elect’s term as President. The Chair-Elect shall serve as a member of the committee during the year prior to becoming the Chair. Ideally, one of these members would be the previous year’s award recipient.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Only current members of SSSP can nominate someone who is or was a past member of SSSP. The Board of Directors has approved that the Committee Chair may contact any nominees or nominators who do not meet the membership requirement and provide them with a deadline to update their membership status in order for their nominations to be considered.

Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of identifying an outstanding faculty member or community activist. The award was established to recognize the value of quality mentoring relationships between mentor and mentee and/or mentoring programs especially those for undergraduate or graduate students and/or for social activists, particularly for younger scholars and activists. The goals of effective mentoring should include fostering sensitivity and understanding of significant problems of social life; encouraging understandings of institutional inequalities and strategies for overcoming them; promoting problem centered social research and/or social activism.

The award will be given to a scholar, activist, or a program that demonstrates these goals by creating and implementing innovative mentoring approaches; and/or creating and implementing innovative mentoring programs; and/or involving peers and mentees in publications, grants, and conferences, as well as readily sharing knowledge of such opportunities.

The Call for Nominations and nomination form are available on the Society’s website. The deadline for nominations is April 15. If no person is deemed worthy of the award, then the award is not given. The Board of Directors approved limiting awards to one primary recipient and one honorable mention (if desired) for SSSP awards. The committee must reach a consensus on the winner no later than June 1. The Administrative Office will send out notification letters of the results to all nominators. The winner and mentees are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony. The winner will receive a plaque of recognition and up to three of the winner’s mentees will receive a one-year SSSP membership as well as annual meeting registration fees for the year the award is presented. Either the President or the Chair presents the award at the Awards Ceremony.

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IV. B. Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee

IV. C. Committee on Committees

The Committee on Committees consists of six members elected by the membership to staggered three-year terms. The committee selects its own Chair each year.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Duties of the Committee

The committee must secure current members to serve on the following committees prior to the annual meeting. A member may not serve on more than two committees within the Committee on Committees’ authority. There should be a commitment to nominating a diverse slate of nominees. This includes diversity based on racial-ethnic background, gender and sexual identities, geographic locations, and institutional settings (e.g., academia, practitioners, organizations, etc.).

The President-Elect can appoint members to serve as well. The Committee on Committees Chair contacts the President-Elect to see if the committee can offer assistance with additional nominations. The Administrative Officer will contact the Committee on Committees Chair in early March and request that they contact their committee members and find out which committees they will be responsible for.  The Administrative Office will prepare committee lists (current members) of those who are willing to serve on appointed committees and send the lists to the appropriate Committee on Committees’ member by March 15 of each year.

• Secure one or more persons to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Accessibility Committee for a one-year term.
• Secure one person for each committee to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Erwin O. Smigel Award Committee, Lee Scholar Support Fund Committee, and the Lee Student Support Fund Committee for a one-year term.
• Secure two persons to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Permanent Organization and Strategic Planning Committee for a three-year term.  The President-Elect will appoint a Chair from among the members who have served on the committee for at least one year.
• Secure two persons to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Committee on Social Action and the Doris Wilkinson Faculty Leadership Award Committee for a one-year term.
• Secure one or two persons to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Transnational Initiatives Committee for a three-year term.
• Secure two current members of the Teaching Social Problems Division to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award Committee for a one-year term.  Ideally, one of these members would be the previous year’s award recipient. 
• Secure three persons to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Elections Committee for a one-year term. 
• Secure three persons from the area hosting the next annual meeting to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors who are willing to serve on the Local Arrangements Committee for a one-year term.  The President-Elect nominates the Chair.  The Chair often recruits their own committee.
• Secure at least four persons to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Arlene Kaplan Daniels Paper Award Committee for a one-year term.
• Secure at least five persons for each committee to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Lee Founders Award Committee, and the Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship Committee for a one-year term.
• Secure no more than six persons from the area hosting the next annual meeting to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award Committee for a one-year term.
• Secure nine persons to be considered for appointment by the Board of Directors to the C. Wright Mills Award Committee for a one-year term.

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IV. D. Editorial and Publications Committee

The Editorial and Publications Committee consists of six members elected by the membership to staggered three-year terms. Members who are nominated for election must have editorial experience.  The Chair of the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee serves as a voting, ex-officio committee member. The Editor(s) of Social Problems serves as a non-voting, ex-officio committee member. The outgoing Editor(s) of Social Problems serves a three-year term as a voting, ex-officio committee member. The Chair of the Justice 21 Committee shall serve a two-year term as a voting, ex officio member. The committee selects its own Chair each year.

The Editorial and Publications Committee shall have oversight responsibilities with respect to publication of the Agenda for Social Justice book series. In this capacity, the Editorial and Publications Committee will conduct a bi-yearly evaluation of the Justice 21 Committee’s work and offer itself as a resource to them in order to ensure the quality and timeliness of this respective publication. The Editorial and Publications Committee has the responsibility prior to the expiration of each Justice 21 Committee member’s term to inquire if they will rotate off the committee or are requesting a second term. This should be done one year in advance prior to term expiration. If the Justice 21 Committee member elects to rotate off the Justice 21 Committee after their first term, the Editorial and Publications Committee will publish a call for applications and appoint a group to select members of the Justice 21 Committee. If the current Justice 21 Committee member requests a second term, the Editorial and Publications Committee can recommend reappointment of the Justice 21 Committee for a second and final term not to exceed four years. The Editorial and Publications Committee will periodically review and publish its criteria for the oversight of the Justice 21 Committee, including the selection of its members. Final decisions regarding the editorial policies of the Agenda for Social Justice editorial policies are made by the Editorial and Publications Committee. The Chair of the Justice 21 Committee remains the final judge over acceptance and rejection of manuscripts and over format (within the limits set by the budget).

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Duties of the Committee

• Provide oversight responsibilities with respect to the publication of Social Problems.  The committee must ensure the quality and timeliness of this publication.

• Conduct a yearly evaluation of the Editor(s) of Social Problems.  The committee can recommend reappointment for an additional term not to exceed three years.

• Review periodically and publish its criteria for the oversight of the Editorial Office and for the selection of an Editor. Final decisions regarding the editorial policies of Social Problems are made by the Board of Directors or by the membership by vote or referendum. The Editor(s) remains the final judge over acceptance and rejection of manuscripts and over format within the limits set by the budget.

• Provide oversight responsibilities with respect to publication of the Agenda for Social Justice book series.  The committee must ensure the quality and timeliness of this publication.

• Conduct a bi-yearly evaluation of the Justice 21 Committee’s work and offer itself as a resource to them.  Publish a call for applications and appoint a group to select members of the Justice 21 Committee as needed, at least every other year. The Committee can recommend reappointment of the Justice 21 Committee for a second and final term not to exceed four years.

• Review periodically and publish its criteria for the oversight of the Justice 21 Committee, including the selection of its members. Final decisions regarding the editorial policies of the Agenda for Social Justice editorial policies are made by the Editorial and Publications Committee. The Chair of the Justice 21 Committee remains the final judge over acceptance and rejection of manuscripts and over format (within the limits set by the budget).

• Supervise the preparation and the arrangements of publications of the Society other than Social Problems.

Evaluating the Editor(s) of Social Problems

The evaluation process will focus on finding out what sorts of challenges are being faced by the Editor(s), how the committee can help deal with these challenges, and what improvements or changes are needed to continue to move the journal forward.

Each year, the Editor(s) will include how the journal has fared over the past year and where it is going looking ahead in the annual report.  The Editor(s) will include a section that specifically addresses the tasks of the Editor(s) and provides answers to some combination of the following questions:

1) How does the Editor(s) feel the Editorial Office is functioning?

2) Does the Editor(s) have the needed resources to carry out the journal’s activities?

3) Has the Editor(s) implemented additional strategies to improve the visibility of the journal?

3a) If so, elaborate and indicate if that is going well or not?

4) What barriers exist to fulfilling the Editor’s goals with the journal?

5) Looking forward for the coming year, are there any problems on the horizon that could be addressed before they become a problem?

6) Are the working relationships (with other Editors, the host institution, the SSSP Administrative Office, etc.) positive, negative? Note: This question should be removed from the exit interview of the outgoing editors.

7) What additional ideas does the Editor(s) have for improving the journal and what resources would be needed to implement them? Note: This question should be removed from the exit interview of the outgoing editors.

The answers provided will facilitate an informed discussion year after year, with the ability to chart changes and improvements, opportunities, and challenges over time.

Evaluating the Editor of the Agenda for Social Justice

The evaluation process will focus on finding out what sorts of challenges the Editor is facing, how the committee can help, and improvements or changes needed to continue moving the book series forward.

On a bi-yearly basis, the Editor will include how the book series has fared over the past two years and where it is heading. One section addresses the tasks of the Editor and provides answers to some combination of the following questions:

1) How does the Editor feel the Editorial Group is functioning?

2) Does the Editor have the needed resources to carry out the group’s activities?

3) Has the Editor implemented additional strategies to improve the visibility of the book series?
3a) If so, elaborate and indicate if that is going well or not?

4) What barriers exist to fulfilling the Editor’s goals with the book series?

5) Looking forward to the coming two years, are there any preemptive or proactive ways to resolve potential future challenges?

6) Are the working relationships (with other Editors, the SSSP Administrative Office, and others) positive, negative?

7) What additional ideas does the Editor have for improving the book series, and what resources would be needed to implement them?

The answers provided will facilitate an ongoing informed discussion, with the ability to chart changes and improvements, opportunities, and challenges over time.

Contracting with a Publisher

Social Problems

The Society contracts with a publisher to handle various business aspects of publishing Social Problems. On December 12, 2013, the Society signed a five-year contract with Oxford University Press.  A second five-year contract was in effect from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024.  A third five-year contract is in effect from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029. The contract will automatically renew for successive 5-year periods, unless terminated by either party giving the other at least twelve months’ prior written notice of termination, with termination to be effective at the end of the initial term.  The Editorial and Publications Committee must recommend to the Board of Directors whether to renew the contract or seek bids from alternative publishers before the contract expires.  The final decision remains with the Board of Directors.

If the Board of Directors decides to rebid the publisher contract, the search for a new publisher will be led by an Ad Hoc Publisher Search Committee comprised of the Executive Officer, Chair of the Editorial and Publications Committee, the current Editor of Social Problems, the Chair of the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee, the Treasurer, and one at-large member of the Editorial and Publications Committee.  The Executive Officer will serve as Chair and will be a non-voting member.  The Administrative Officer may be asked to serve in an advisory role. This ad hoc committee will review all bids, provide frequent updates to the Editorial and Publications Committee, select finalists, and make a recommendation to the Editorial and Publications Committee as a whole.  The Editorial and Publications Committee will vote on the recommendation of a new publisher and then forward their recommendation to the Board of Directors. The Editorial and Publications Committee should also be included in any interviews with publisher finalists conducted.

The Agenda for Social Justice

The Society maintains a contract with a publishing company to handle the various business aspects of publishing the Agenda for Social Justice. If necessary, an Ad Hoc Publisher Search Committee will search for a new publisher. The Ad Hoc Publisher Search Committee is comprised of the Executive Officer, Chair of the Editorial and Publications Committee, the current Editor of the Agenda for Social Justice, the Chair of the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee, the Treasurer, and one at-large member of the Editorial and Publications Committee. The Executive Officer will serve as Chair and will be a non-voting member.  This ad hoc committee will review all bids, provide frequent updates to the Editorial and Publications Committee, select finalists, and make a recommendation to the Editorial and Publications Committee as a whole. The Editorial and Publications Committee will vote on the recommendation of a new publisher and then forward their recommendation to the Board of Directors. The Editorial and Publications Committee should also be included in any interviews with publisher finalists conducted at the annual meeting.

Policy Press / University of Bristol Press has published the Agenda for Social Justice volumes since 2016. The Editorial and Publications Committee can, if necessary, form an Ad Hoc Publisher Search Committee to recommend to the Board whether to continue the publication arrangement or to select a new publisher. The final decision remains with the Board of Directors.

Other Publications

The Editorial and Publications Committee may recommend other publications to the Board of Directors.  Given the wide use of Social Problems articles and their high quality, anthologies utilizing the articles have been well received.  Proposals must be prepared by current members.  The Editorial and Publications Committee reviews the proposals and makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors as to whether or not the book is endorsed by the Society as a sponsored publication.  Approved proposals are submitted to the publisher for consideration.  The agreement on sponsored publications stipulates that any royalties earned by these edited volumes will be paid to the Society.

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IV.  D.  1.  Policy Statement: SSSP Online Membership Directory

The online membership directory is available on the Society’s website and can only be accessed by current members, principally for the purposes of networking and building camaraderie. The electronic membership directory provides several search options, including name, e-mail, affiliation, city, and country. Members can make changes directly to their own listing or choose to remain unlisted in the directory. The Administrative Office has responsibilities for the quality of this service.

The directory is for internal use only and should not be shared with other organizations or non-members without the approval of the Board of Directors. The information contained in the directory should not be used to create mailing lists, e-mail blasts, bulk communications, or other lists without the approval of the Board of Directors. The directory should not be used to make unsolicited contact with other members to promote a private business or services or to lobby for or against a resolution or other matter requiring a vote by the membership without the approval of the Board of Directors. If members have any doubt about the appropriate use of the directory, they are asked to inquire with the Administrative Office.

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IV.  E.  Justice 21 Committee

The Justice 21 Committee shall consist of six members of the Society selected by the Editorial and Publications Committee. The committee members shall serve four-year terms, with the terms staggered so that at least two members are selected each year, depending on the number of vacancies. The Editorial and Publications Committee can recommend reappointment for a second and final term not to exceed four years. The Justice 21 Committee will choose its chair by vote biennially, from among its membership. The Justice 21 Committee Chair will serve one two-year term, with up to a second and final term not to exceed two years. In addition to those six Committee members, the Committee will also recruit one member who will focus on Publicity and Outreach, and this position will serve one two-year term that can be renewed for a second term. The Justice 21 Committee will take responsibility for recruiting for this position. The Board of Directors approved waiving the student membership fee during the term of service for the Justice 21 Publicity and Outreach position.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the Committee shall have the responsibility to edit all Agenda for Social Justice publications.

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IV.  F.  Elections Committee and Election Procedures

The Elections Committee is composed of a Chair and three or more members.  The committee makes no nominations.  The Administrative Officer sends the ordered list developed by the Nominations Committee and approved by the Board of Directors to the Chair to secure the verbal consent of nominees by no later than two weeks following the annual meeting.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

If names appear on more than one list, candidates are contacted in the order they appear on each list.  If an individual declines to run, that person may be eligible to serve in another office.  If this occurs, the person is offered the higher-ranking office first.  A member may hold no more than two elected positions, and no more than one position that is subject to a general election by the entire membership of the Society (e.g., Board of Directors, Committee on Committees, etc.).  Members may serve in one position at the division-level (e.g., Division Chair or Division Co-Chair) and one generally elected position in the Society simultaneously.  Determination of the candidate’s willingness to run is made by the Elections Committee.  A minimum of two candidates must be proposed for any vacant position.

By October 1 of the year following the annual meeting, candidates shall be contacted by the Elections Committee in the order in which they were nominated and asked to serve.  Candidates may accept or refuse in writing, or orally; the date of response shall be noted in writing.

After being contacted, candidates shall have a two-week grace period to accept or decline candidacy.  Candidates who make no decision by the close of this period, and/or who decline to pay dues for the year in which they were nominated, shall be ineligible to run for office.

If there are insufficient candidates for any given position after the priority list is exhausted, the President or the Executive Committee; or Board members, as polled by either the Nominations Committee or Committee on Committee Chairs, according to which candidates fall into their jurisdiction, shall recommend further candidates.  The same procedure shall hold in the event of an unexpected vacancy in any Committee or the Board of Directors.

Once the slate of candidates has been identified, the Graduate Research Associate will ask candidates to complete an online candidate form within a two-week period.

Candidate lists shall be completed by December 15 of the year following nominations, even if there are fewer nominations for any given office than otherwise prescribed by the By-laws.  The slate of candidates will be posted on the Society’s website by December 15 each year.

Posting the Ballot

By February 1 of each year an e-mail to all members who want to receive group announcements will announce the opening of the general election on February 15.  Electronic mail will be used for the notification of elections, notification of meetings, and any other official announcements.  It is considered the member’s responsibility to notify the Administrative Office of any changes in e-mail or postal address in a timely fashion.

By February 15 of each year the Elections Committee shall report the final results of the nominations procedures to the membership.  This report shall take the form of the Administrative Office posting the ballot on the Society’s website and declaring the election open.  The election site shall remain open for four weeks, closing on March 15.

Final Results

The Administrative Officer will work with the Elections Committee Chair and distribute a personalized e-mail notification letter to all candidates.  A week later, the Administrative Officer will inform the Board of Directors of the election results.  Five days later, the election results will be posted on the Society’s website.  These tasks must be completed by no later than April 1.  In case of ties, the Board of Directors shall be requested to cast the deciding vote.  After all candidates have been notified of the election results, the Administrative Office will communicate with each person elected and advise them of the office’s responsibilities.

a. The Elections Committee shall review the computer record of votes cast, note and resolve any irregularities, and file a report with the President and the Administrative Office.

b. If any candidate disputes the election results, they shall be granted access to the report discussed in “a” and may appeal the report of the Elections Committee to the Board of Directors.  The decision of the Board of Directors on the appeal shall be final.

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IV.  G.  Membership and Outreach Committee

The Membership and Outreach Committee consists of nine members elected by the membership to staggered three-year terms. Each cohort of elected committee members should include at least one graduate student. The members of the committee shall each year elect a chair from among those committee members who are serving their third year on the committee. At the annual meeting, a member of the committee will act as secretary/minute taker. In order to maximize efficient transitions, the minute taker shall be the individual who will assume chair responsibilities in the following calendar year. The Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, and the IT Specialist will attend committee meetings to provide additional information from their perspectives and answer any questions.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The duties of the committee are to recruit new members, to raise awareness of SSSP, to provide posts for the Society’s social media accounts monthly, and to recommend retention strategies to the Administrative Office, to the Executive Officer, and to the Board of Directors.

In order to promote graduate student membership within the Society, the Board of Directors approved the Student Member Spotlight Program as a permanent feature on the SSSP website. The student representatives are responsible for selecting students, with the bulk of the work of organizing and outreach falling on the senior student representative, to be spotlighted on the website each year (solicited through an online nomination process, including self-nominations).

The spotlight will include a brief interview with the selected student conducted by a student representative, with emphasis on their work and recent accomplishments. A portion of the interview will be transcribed and featured on the Student Member Spotlight webpage along with a photo and a link to a website or student profile that can be shared with the social media post and interview via SSSP’s social media outlets. The featured student will have an opportunity for a social media takeover for a day. The Board of Directors approved a $200 stipend based off the recommendation of the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee to be paid to the student representative in charge of the student member spotlight each year.

Timetable for Various Committee Activities:

• Provide the Administrative Officer with a social media post to be shared across SSSP's various social media platforms: By the 1st of each month
• Student representatives select a graduate student member to be interviewed and featured on the Student member Spotlight Program webpage: Once a quarter
• Set Promotional Strategy Schedule: October 15*
• Send proposed edits to promotional websites to the Administrative Officer (in response to request): October 31
• Selections of target e-mail lists (if applicable): November 30

*This schedule is to be modified on an annual basis in consultation with the Membership and Outreach Committee Chair at the beginning of the term according to the promotional strategy in place for the year.

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IV.  H.  Permanent Organization and Strategic Planning Committee

The Permanent Organization and Strategic Planning Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and six members appointed to staggered three-year terms.  The President-Elect will appoint a Chair from among the members who have served on the committee for at least one year.  The Chair will serve during the term in which the President-Elect is President.  At the annual meeting, a member of the committee will act as secretary/minute taker.  In order to maximize efficient transitions, the minute taker shall be the individual who will assume chair responsibilities in the following calendar year. The Executive Officer and the Administrative Officer will attend committee meetings to provide additional information from their perspectives and answer any questions.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Duties of the Committee

• performs a critical survey of the functioning of the Society

• develops proposals for the improvement of the organization and operation of the Society

• examines the distribution of functions between volunteer members and paid staff for more effective achievement of organizational objectives

• initiates the process of planning new goals and future development of the Society

• reviews the maintenance of a system of permanent records and operating procedures

• reviews the Society’s website

• conducts personnel evaluations of the Administrative Officer, Meeting Manager, Assistant to the Administrative Officer, Information Technology Specialist, and the Graduate Research Associate at each annual meeting, if time permits

A subcommittee (Chair, one committee member, and the Treasurer) will perform a virtual site visit of the Administrative Office the same year that the Society’s contract is to be renewed.  The visit should take place in the spring and be routinely initiated by the Administrative Officer.  The meeting should be organized jointly by the Chair of the Permanent Organization and Strategic Planning Committee and the Administrative Officer.  Care should be taken to identify and agree upon a convenient time for all involved parties.  The purpose of the visit is to discuss a range of operational issues of current concern, to review the Society’s website for content, design, and links to relevant organizations, to plan new goals, and identify future development issues.  The Chair will prepare a report summarizing the meeting.  The Administrative Officer will distribute the report to the Board of Directors and the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee.  A budget item for committee expenses is included in the Society’s budget.

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IV. I. Program Committee

The Program Committee consists of a Chair and three or more members.  From time to time, committees are chaired by co-chairs.  This typically means extra work on the Administrative Office.  The Executive Officer and the Administrative Officer encourage one of the co-chairs to be the lead person, i.e., that one of the co-chairs be the person with whom they would communicate principally.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The duties of the committee are to develop and implement plans for the annual meeting program based upon the theme for the meeting.  The theme is developed by the President-Elect and announced with a description in the final program for the annual meeting that occurs one year before the program will be held.  In recent years, Presidents have kept the committee near the lower limit of three persons, but some Presidents have chosen to have a larger committee.  The Administrative Officer works closely with the Program Chair providing information on past successes and failures, provides support needed in completing the duties of the committee, and lays out the annual meeting program.

The following paragraph appears in the By-laws and is meant to convey the wide latitude granted to the committee in planning a stimulating program.  “The committee shall be empowered to stimulate discussion at the annual meeting of topics it deems important in furtherance of the interests of the Society.  To this end it may arrange for the presentation of papers, colloquia, seminars, and any other formats it deems appropriate.  These forums for discussion may deal with research findings, theory, or policy questions.  The committee shall also invite the membership of the Society to contribute suggestions for topics around which sessions might be organized.  The committee shall make a special effort to provide for the critical discussion of constraints, internal and external to the social science professions in their pursuit of research, theory and policy analysis.”

Often papers are invited for special sessions.  In addition to the sessions organized by the committee, each Division is entitled to organize two division-sponsored sessions for the virtual meeting and two division-sponsored sessions and up to five co-sponsored sessions for the in-person meeting.  This encouragement comes in a joint meeting with the Program Chair, President, Administrative Officer, and the Division Chairpersons held during the annual meeting preceding the year during which the committee functions.

The Board of Directors approved the Transnational Initiatives Committee to sponsor and organize two sessions at the Annual Meeting.

Also, a joint meeting of the Program Chair, which has completed its work, and the Program Chair that is just beginning its intensive planning phase takes place at the annual meeting.  This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss what went well and what could be improved.  The President, President-Elect, and the Administrative Officer also attend this meeting to provide additional information from their perspective.

The Administrative Officer and the IT Specialist will meet with the incoming Program Chair and President to review the Program Committee Timetable and the Online Session Management System, if needed.  This meeting will occur following the joint meeting with the Program Chair, President, Administrative Officer, and the Division Chairpersons.

Timetable for Various Program Committee Activities:

A budget item for committee expenses and money for invited speakers’ dues and annual conference registration is allocated to the Program Chair and included in the Society’s budget.  If the committee needs additional money, the Chair must inform the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee.

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IV. I. 1. Policy Statement: Author Meets Critics Sessions

Author Meets Critic Sessions are designed to bring authors of recent books considered to be important contributions to the study of social problems and the advancement of social justice together with discussants chosen to provide different viewpoints.  Only books published during the previous two years from the conference meeting are eligible for nomination.  Only SSSP members may submit nominations; self-nominations are not accepted. No more than two (2) Author Meets Critics sessions will be offered by the Program Committee each year.  At the discretion of the Program Chair, the Committee may invite authors whose work is particularly relevant to the year’s theme.

Author Meets Critics Session proposals must be submitted to the Program Committee by the deadline date for the annual meeting.  Proposals must include:

• Title of Book (include publisher and publication date)
• Brief statement (about 200 words) about the book’s importance to the study of social problems and the advancement of social justice in general, as well as the relevance of the book for the annual meeting’s theme
• Session Organizer(s)—authors cannot serve as session organizers
• A list of potential critics, including their e-mail addresses

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IV. I. 2. Policy Statement: Submitting Previously Published Papers

Papers are not eligible for presentation or division competitions or awards/scholarships/fellowships if they have been published or accepted for publication before being submitted for consideration.

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IV. I. 3. Policy Statement: Multiple Submissions of the Same Paper

Papers are not eligible if they have been presented previously at SSSP or presented or accepted for presentation at other professional meetings, unless they have been revised substantially with new data, findings, or theoretical contributions.

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IV. I. 4. Policy Statement: Excursions and Tours

Only tours organized by the Local Arrangements Committee in relative proximity to the meeting site will be permitted. Please note that all walking tours scheduled during the Annual Meeting are non-refundable. This policy was approved by the Board and applies to all tour registrations, regardless of circumstances. Individual attendees can make their own tour arrangements, if desired.

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IV. I. 5. Policy Statement: Video Conferencing at the Annual Meeting

As a rule, virtual presentations are not permitted at the annual meeting, but the Program Committee, in consultation with the President of the Board of Directors, will consider rare exceptions in instances where the circumstances preventing the participation of a presenter/panelist and the importance of their contribution are such as to warrant an exception.

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IV. I. 6. Policy Statement: Virtual Permissions Policy (Virtual Meeting Only)

By participating as a presenter or audience member in this digital environment, you agree to be recorded. If you do not wish to be recorded, please do not participate.

Your participation in SSSP virtual sessions indicates consent to the following terms regarding aspects of the virtual session:

SSSP may record the presentations by video and audio. Any recordings, if available, may be accessible after the meeting.

Presenters must have rights to the content in their presentation and thus give SSSP copyright permission to promote the materials and/or recording to SSSP websites and to SSSP accounts on third-party websites (including but not limited to X, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Bluesky). Presenters retain all ownership rights, including copyright, patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property of content uploaded to these sites.

Presenters have no right of approval, no claim for compensation, and no claim (including, without limitation, claims based upon invasion of privacy, defamation, or right of publicity) arising out of or in connection with, any use, editing, or use in any composite form. Presenters agree and acknowledge that in the event any claims of action arise with respect to their materials or any other actions related to participation in the conference, they act in sole and individual capacity and that SSSP does not assume liability for presenters and audience member actions.

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IV. I. 7. Policy Statement: Liability Waiver

By registering for the Annual Meeting, I freely and voluntarily agree and acknowledge that I am undertaking participation in the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) events and activities as my own free and intentional act and I am fully aware that possible physical injury, exposure or infection with an infectious disease, including, but not limited to, COVID-19 (or its variants), might occur to me as a result of my actions or those of other attendees or participants including the Venue’s employees and the SSSP’s officers, directors, staff, or agents. I do hereby assume responsibility for my own well-being. I also agree not to allow any other individual to participate in my place. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 or other infectious disease exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. I hereby release, for myself, my heirs, and personal representatives, and do forever discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the SSSP, its directors, officers, staff, agents, members, and representatives, from any and all claims, liabilities, actions, damages, costs or expenses of any kind arising out of, in connection with, or relating to my attending or participating in the Annual Meeting including, without limitation, any illness, damages, or injury resulting from my travel to and from, and attendance at, the Annual Meeting, participation in events related to the Annual Meeting, exposure to an infectious disease (including COVID-19) or the manner in which the Annual Meeting or its related events and activities are conducted (collectively, “Claims”). I understand and agree that this Waiver includes any Claims based on the actions, errors, omissions, or negligence of the SSSP, its directors, officers, staff, agents, members, and representatives.

I acknowledge that it is my obligation to follow all recommended health and safety measures while attending the Annual Meeting, including but not limited to CDC guidelines, SSSP requirements, as well as statutes, regulations, and other mandates applicable to the Annual Meeting (collectively, “Guidance”). I understand that the Guidance will continue to evolve over time. By registering, I attest that I have read this waiver, understand that I am waiving important rights, and agree to abide by its requirements.

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IV. I. 8. Policy Statement: How to Handle Requests for Meeting Space During the Annual Meeting

The Board of Directors approved establishing a procedure for reviewing and responding to requests for space during the annual meeting. Such requests shall be reviewed by the Program Committee Chair, the Administrative Officer, the President, and the Executive Officer on a case-by-case basis, with requests being granted based on the time and space availability as well as the merits of the event for which the space is being requested.

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IV. J. Accessibility Committee

The Accessibility Committee consists of a Chair, Chair-Elect, and one or more additional members. Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee strives to ensure that all facilities at the annual meeting are accessible to disabled participants. The committee has the responsibility of developing and recommending to the Board of Directors and to the membership policies that will encourage and assure the full participation of disabled persons in the Society and in the larger community.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

In mid-March, the Chair reviews and modifies the Accessibility for All information containing program accessibility guidelines for meeting participants. The Administrative Officer will assist the Chair with this task. The Administrative Office will post the Accessibility for All information on the Society's website. In June, the Administrative Office works with a graphic artist to design a web banner advertising the availability of the Comfort Zone and Lactation Room at the annual meeting. The Administrative Officer works with the Convention Services Manager to identify an Area of Rescue Assistance and All-Gender Restrooms at the conference hotel.  In July, the Administrative Office sends the Accessibility for All information to all program participants one month prior to the annual meeting.

The Chair may be asked to assist the Administrative Officer in identifying accessibility services such as sign language interpreters, sighted guides, etc. to facilitate registrant’s full participation in the annual meeting. The Chair will follow-up with all annual meeting registrants who request an accessibility service and encourage them to attend the Accessibility Committee meeting.

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IV. K. Site Selection Committee

The By-laws designate the Executive Officer and the Administrative Officer as the Site Selection Committee. Since 2004, the Society has utilized the meeting management services of HelmsBriscoe (placement fee paid directly by the hotel) when soliciting hotel bids. In addition to consulting with persons who live in the area proposed as the annual meeting site, the committee may consult with others in selecting a site according to criteria established by the Board of Directors. The Society will select a hotel on the basis of the criteria listed in Section VI. D. 1. of this manual and make every effort to select a unionized property for the annual meeting. It will select a non-union property only if a union property is not available or if the Board, in consultation with the Executive and Administrative Officers, determines that the selection of a union property severely harms the Society financially and/or undermines its ability to recruit and retain members.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Provisions are made in the annual budget for the Site Selection Committee to visit the annual meeting site up to three years in advance of the meeting date. The committee visits the proposed city in October or November and screens potential host properties.

The top two or three properties meeting the Society’s requirements, as specified under the “Hotel Contracts” section, are asked to prepare a written contract. The Administrative Officer prepares a comparison report of the property characteristics for the Board of Directors’ consideration. These options are forwarded to the Board of Directors in December, and a vote is taken via e-mail. The Executive Officer or Administrative Officer signs a contract for the annual meeting site approximately two and a half years in advance. This amount of lead time is necessary to secure a property compatible with the wishes of the Society’s members. This process has been found to be most effective in ensuring that site requirements are met.

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IV. L. Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee consists of the Chairperson of the Council of the Divisions, the Chairperson-elect of the Council of the Divisions, and four elected members. The four elected members will serve two-year terms, with the terms staggered so that at least two members are elected each year, depending on the number of vacancies.  Elected members are nominated by the Nominations Committee and elected by the membership in the General Election. The Chairperson of the Council of the Divisions will serve as Chair of the Nominations Committee and will be the primary point of contact with the Board of Directors.

The Nominations Committee nominates persons to stand for the following elected positions: President-Elect/President; Vice-President-Elect/Vice-President; Secretary; Treasurer; Board of Directors/Student Board Representative; Anti-Harassment Committee; Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee; Committee on Committees; Editorial and Publications Committee; Membership and Outreach Committee/Student Representative; and the Nominations Committee. Prior to the annual meeting, it would be helpful to identify willing nominees for these positions to suggest to the Nominations Committee.

The Nominations Committee should use a democratic process to select nominees and should ensure a diverse slate of nominees. This includes diversity based on racial-ethnic background, gender and sexual identities, geographic locations, and institutional settings (e.g., academia, practitioners, organizations, etc.). Nominees must be current members and must have attended at least one annual meeting to be considered for an elected office. Self-nominate and encourage nominees to complete an online nomination form by June 15.

The Nominations Committee can conduct their work and meeting(s) via e-mail and within an online meeting platform (e.g., Zoom, Webex) before the annual meeting, if desired.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

The duties of the committee are to nominate persons to stand for each elected office and elected committee position for which there will be a vacancy during the following year.

Every year, candidates are needed for:

President-Elect (1): At least 2 nominees, 4-6 names
Vice-President-Elect (1): At least 2 nominees, 4-6 names
Secretary (1): At least 2 nominees, 4-6 names
Treasurer (1): At least 2 nominees, 4-6 names
Board of Directors (2): At least 4 nominees, 8-10 names (NOTE: Some years there may be more than 2 vacancies.)
Board of Directors, Student Representative (1): At least 2 nominees, 4-6 names
Anti-Harassment Committee (1): At least 2 nominees, 4-6 names
Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee (1): At least 2 nominees, 4-6 names
Committee on Committees (2): At least 4 nominees, 8-10 names
Editorial and Publications Committee (2): At least 4 nominees, 8-10 names
Membership and Outreach Committee (2): At least 4 nominees, 8-10 names
Membership and Outreach Committee, Student Representative (1): At least 2 nominees, 4-6 names
Nominations Committee (2): At least 4 nominees, 8-10 names

Each year the Nominations Committee led by the Chairperson of the Council of the Divisions begins soliciting names for consideration at the following year’s meetings immediately following the annual meeting. All nominations should be submitted by June 15. In order to be considered for nomination at the meeting, the name of the person and a brief biographical sketch including information on scholarship and professional service, including service in SSSP, should be circulated to all members of the Nominations Committee in advance of the annual meeting. These potential nominees should have been contacted to determine their willingness to run.

The Committee shall invite nominations from all members of the Society through the Society's website, from Division Chairs and the Board of Directors, from members of Standing Committees, and whatever other sources it deems appropriate. Nominees must have attended at least one annual meeting to be considered for an elected office.

The Nominations Chair has the responsibility of presenting as its report an ordered list of nominees for each vacant position to the Board of Directors on the last day of the annual meeting for approval. The Nominations Chair will supply an oral review of a nominee’s credentials, if requested by a Board member during the meeting when the slate of nominees is discussed. The Administrative Officer sends the approved list to the Elections Committee Chair by no later than two weeks following the annual meeting. 

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IV.  M.  Committee on Social Action

The Committee on Social Action consists of the current Vice-President as Chair, Vice-President-Elect, Past Vice-President, two Division Chairs, and two general members, where the two general members are selected by the Committee on Committees, and the two Division Chairs are selected by the Council of Divisions at the previous year’s meeting, each serving three-year staggered terms.  Everyone serving on this committee will serve for three years, but initially two of the remaining four members will serve three years, one will serve two years, and the fourth will serve one year.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Duties of the Committee

• Propose social actions to the Board of Directors such as writing letters and opinion pieces.
• Work on clarifying and refining resolutions before resolutions are discussed by the Board of Directors.
• Explore ways that the Society can be more action oriented by connecting with organizations locally, nationally, and globally.

The Committee on Social Action can work with divisions who have access to the division sponsored projects budget to fund initiatives.

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IV. N.  Transnational Initiatives Committee

The Transnational Initiatives Committee consists of a Chair, a Chair-Elect, and four members, of whom at least two must be international members, appointed to staggered three-year terms, and a graduate student member.  In addition to the appointed members the Executive Officer serves as an ex-officio member.  In the event that a committee member becomes non-responsive, the Committee Chair is advised to petition the Board.

Initially, the Chair and one committee member will serve a one-year term; the Chair-Elect and one committee member will serve a two-year term; two committee members will serve a three-year term; and the graduate student member will serve a one-year term.  Thereafter replacements will be appointed as terms expire.  Unexpired terms may be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors.  The committee members shall serve three-year staggered terms so that at least two members are appointed each year.  The President-Elect shall nominate and the Board of Directors shall appoint a Chair-Elect from among the committee members who have served on the committee at least one-year prior to their appointment and who shall serve as Chair of the committee during the year that the President-Elect serves as President.

Consistent with criteria stipulated in the By-laws governing all standing committees, the Transnational Initiatives Committee will be reconstituted each year with a turnover membership of at least one-third, and no member may serve on the same committee of the Society for more than three consecutive years.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of identifying issues, promoting collaboration, proposing courses of action, and/or organizing events and activities that enhance the SSSP membership’s understanding of transnational dimensions of social problems, and increase the active participation within the SSSP of scholars, activists, and the association’s members and advocates who work and reside beyond the United States and Canada — and especially those who do so in countries outside the global North.  In addition, the committee has the responsibility of allocating funds to facilitate conference attendance by scholars located in those regions that fall under the definition of the Global South, as defined by the American Sociological Association, with partial travel support to participate in the annual meeting.  This includes economically disadvantaged countries and nation-states, as well as politically, economically, and culturally subjugated regions of all countries.  Monies for this fund shall be allocated at the discretion of the Board of Directors in consultation with the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee.

The Board of Directors approved the Transnational Initiatives Committee to sponsor and organize two sessions at the Annual Meeting.

The announcement and application are available on the Society’s website.  The deadline for applying is March 15.  An automated e-mail is sent to each applicant confirming the receipt of their application.  The Administrative Office will confirm that each applicant is a current member from the Global South, participating in the annual meeting, and if the applicant received funding from this fund last year.

The committee has a specific amount, currently $6,000, to distribute among the qualified applicants.  Only complete applications submitted online will be reviewed.  You may only apply for one travel fund.  If an applicant is an international student, they must apply to the Lee Student Support Fund and non-U.S. based international scholars from politically, economically, and culturally oppressed groups in countries not considered part of the Global South must apply to the Lee Scholar Support Fund. The Board of Directors approved requiring those who receive travel fund awards to stay at the SSSP conference hotel. The Board of Directors approved virtual participation in the session(s) in which they should present their papers for those who are awarded Transnational Initiatives support funds, and who are subsequently unable to attend due to financial constraints or difficulties in attaining travel visas.

The committee will evaluate applicants using the Global South Travel Evaluation:

Is this applicant working in the Global South (using the ASA definition)? 

____ Yes, then proceed with evaluation
____ No, inform the committee that this applicant is not eligible

The committee will evaluate applicants using a point system based on the following criteria (maximum 13 points):

• Conference role (maximum 3 points): 3 for multiple roles, 2 for discussant (or being a Division Chair), 1 for organizing/presiding
• Presenting a paper (maximum 3 points): 3 for three papers, 2 for two papers, 1 for one paper, 0 if no paper but playing another role (which should be counted above)
• Academic career stage (maximum 3 points): 3 if recent graduate, post-doc or on the job market, 2 if working two to five years after graduation, 1 if working over five years, non-tenured or tenure-track, 0 if tenured.
• Received a travel award last year (maximum 1 point): 0 for yes, 1 for no
• Amount of financial support received from university or institution (maximum 3 points): 3 if $0, 2 if $1-$500, 1 if $501-$1,000, 0 if more than $1,000

Each applicant is assigned a total point score based on the criteria above.

The Chair provides a list containing the applicant’s name, contact information, and award amount to the Administrative Officer.  All applicants will be notified no later than May 15 by the Administrative Office whether their application was accepted or rejected.

If a qualified applicant notifies the Administrative Officer that they are unable to attend the annual meeting before award checks are processed, their award money will be redistributed to the remaining qualified applicants.  Following the annual meeting, if a qualified applicant returns their award money, the unspent funds will be returned to the Society’s general fund and will not be carried over to next year’s budget.

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IV. O. Anti-Harassment Committee

The Anti-Harassment Committee consists of six members.  Three members will be elected by the voting membership and three members will be appointed by the President, one of whom will be appointed to chair the committee.  The Chair should have expertise in the area of gender violence or related areas and preferably be a member of the Board of Directors.  Each member will serve a three-year term with the terms staggered so that at least two members are elected each year.  In addition to the elected and appointed members, the Executive Officer shall serve as an ex-officio member.

Initially, two committee members will serve a one-year term; two committee members will serve a two-year term; and the Chairperson and a committee member will serve a three-year term.  Thereafter replacements will be appointed as terms expire.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the committee has the responsibility of recommending to the Board mechanisms for reporting violations of the anti-harassment policy; investigating and resolving reported violations of the anti-harassment policy; providing support and assistance to those reporting the violations and making every effort to be fair to all involved parties; the committee may seek external expertise and guidance for these processes.  The Board approved that, prior to the establishment of formal policy and procedure for reporting, investigating, and resolving reported violations of the anti-harassment policy, that in response to said accusations, the committee may request that the Board approve actions such as preventing an accused party from participating in or attending the annual meeting, serving in elected or appointed Society positions, or revoking membership, until adjudication of reported violations has been resolved.  Monies for this committee’s work shall be allocated at the discretion of the Board of Directors in consultation with the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee.

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IV. P. Committee on Mentorship

The Committee on Mentorship shall consist of four members: two SSSP Board of Directors members (who will serve two-year terms) and two Student Board members who will serve during the entirety of their respective Board terms. The Committee will choose one of the two Board of Directors members to be Chairperson of the Committee.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

Following criteria specified by the Board of Directors, the Committee shall have the responsibility of developing and operating the SSSP Mentoring Program. The Committee shall provide an annual call for mentors and mentees to the Administrative Office, match mentors and mentees, and provide mentors and mentees with information annually to create a common understanding of the program and the scope of the one-year virtual relationship between mentors and mentees.

At the 2022 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors voted to reinstate the SSSP Meeting Mentor Program. The Committee shall provide an annual call for mentors and mentees to the Administrative Office, match mentors and mentees, and provide mentors and mentees with information annually to create a common understanding of the program and the scope of facilitating interaction between new members or graduate students and veterans at the annual meeting.

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IV. Q.  By-Laws Committee

The By-Laws Committee shall consist of the Executive Officer and one or more members with substantial experience and knowledge about the organizational structure of the Society. The member(s) of the committee and the Chairperson shall be nominated annually by the President and appointed by the Board of Directors. The tradition has been for the President to ask the current committee members to serve an additional term. The duty of the committee is to draft new By-Laws or Amendments to the By-Laws for submission to the Board of Directors for consideration and approval. If approved by a majority of the Board, such changes shall be submitted to vote by the membership as specified in the By-Laws.  The By-Laws Committee Chair shall assist the Elections Committee in obtaining explanations of proposed amendments that are not self-explanatory in nature including interpretations from different points of view as specified in the By-Laws.

In order to protect the integrity of the Society, members of a committee, or the Board of Directors, must disclose any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest to the other members of the committee in any process involving the awarding of funds or anything else of value to an individual or group. The Committee Chair will then discuss the conflict or the appearance of the conflict with the Executive Officer, to determine the appropriate next step, which may be to require said member to withdraw from the process entirely or some portion of the process. Click here to access the policy.

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