APA OFFICER/COMMITTEE
DESCRIPTIONS
I: OFFICERS
Education Division - Vice President
Description: The Vice President for Education is
responsible for identifying and addressing issues in
education of interest to the Association and its members.
Working through the Committee on Education, which s/he
chairs, its six standing committees, the Classics
Advisory Service, and several ad hoc subcommittees, the
Vice President formulates issues, recruits members to
study them, and finds means to take appropriate action.
The Education Division also publishes the Educational
Papers Series and the APA Guide to Graduate Study in the
United States and Canada.
Program Division - Vice President
Description: The Vice President for Program is a
regular voting member of the Program Committee, with the
responsibility for reading, discussing and selecting
material submitted for the Annual Meeting. The Chair has
the additional responsibility of initiating and
expediting special projects, such as the evaluation of
submission and selection methods currently in progress.
Attendance at three meetings (early April; late June;
December) is required, with considerable correspondence
and frequent telephone consultations throughout the
year.
Publications Division - Vice President
Description: Generally oversees activities of
Editorial Boards for Monographs, Textbooks, and Non-Print
Publications and of TAPA through consultation with
Chairs of Boards and Editor of TAPA. advises
President on appointments to the editorial boards. In
conjunction with staff of Scholars Press determines
prices and printruns of APA publications, coordinates
advertising of new titles, receives and reviews
statements of sales and inventory, monitors financial
performance of APA publications, advises Executive
Director as needed in applying Newsletter guidelines,
serves ex-officio on Scholars Press Board of Trustees
(meets twice yearly), serves ex-officio on APA Board of
Directors and reports regularly to the Board on
publications division activities, prepares agenda and
minutes for and chairs meeting of the Publications
Committee held during the Annual Meeting.
Research Division - Vice President
Description: Responsible for coordinating the
activities of the Committee on Research, TLL Fellowship
Committee, Classical Atlas Committee, Advisory Board to
the Database o~ Classical Bibliography, and representing
their interests to the Directors and members of the APA.
Normally, one meeting in conjunction with the annual
meeting of the Association.
Professional Matters - Vice President
Description: The Vice President chairs a committee of
six persons, including the President-Elect (a non-voting
participant), and votes only to break ties. He/she
receives complaints and grievances regarding matters of
professional conduct, communicates with disputants,
circulates material to committee members and assembles
their advice and suggestions, organizes conference calls
to review or adjudicate cases, mediates if possible, and,
where appropriate, recommends actions to the
Directors.
II: COMMITTEES
A. Governance Committees
Finance Committee. The Finance Committee is
responsible for establishing and overseeing the annual
budget of the Association, and supervising the invested
funds. The Committee meets at the Annual Meeting and one
or two other times each year. Committee members monthly
monitor the invested funds and participate on a regular
basis in conference calls to advise the Executive
Director on Association policy and practice.
Nominating Committee. This committee compiles a
slate of candidates for all elected positions of the APA.
It meets twice each year, once in the fall and again at
the Annual Meeting. The committee prepares a ranked list
of potential candidates for each office and committee
where vacancies are scheduled to occur. The co-chairs
then ask the preferred members listed whether they are
willing to run. The final slate is submitted to the
Executive Director to be the official ballot of the
Association. The committee seeks representatives of the
full range of the membership, aiming for a reasonable
balance of geography, gender, institutional diversity,
and field of scholarly interest.
Committee on the C.J. Goodwin Award of Merit.
This elected committee of three members, normally of
complementary scholarly interests, evaluates books,
monographs or articles by members published within a
period of three years before the end of the previous
calendar year, in order to identify an outstanding
contribution to classical scholarship worthy of the only
honor for scholarly achievement given by the Association,
the C.J. Goodwin Award of Merit. Books are sought out,
nominated by authors and other members, and nominated and
submitted by publishers. The committee, which may meet at
the APA but usually conducts its discussions by letter
and telephone, gradually establishes a short list, and
then elects the winner before the Directors' Fall
meeting.
B. Education Division Committees
Education Committee. This committee is
responsible for all activities of the Education Division.
The Committee advises the Vice-President of the Education
Division on the projects and activities of the six
standing committees of the division. The Committee meets
at the Annual Meeting each year.
Committee on Awards for Excellence in Teaching of
the Classics. It is the task of this committee
to select from those nominated the three annual
recipients for the Association's teaching awards. Letters
of nomination are read in the Spring, and the strongest
candidates are invited to submit full dossiers. Dossiers
are reviewed and final decisions are reached by
mid-September. All deliberations are conducted by mail
and conference call. Members write the citations and
present them at the annual meeting.
Committee on the Performance of Classical
Texts. The committee's purpose is to promote through
research and outreach the performance of classical texts,
both in the original and in translation. The committee
sponsors panels and workshops on new approaches to the
performance of classical texts. It also maintains a guide
to resources for the performance of classical texts and a
directory of consultants who can assist others seeking to
stage classical drama. The committee meets via e-mail and
at the Annual Meeting.
ACL/APA Joint Committee on the Classics in American
Education (JCCAE). The JCCAE grew out of an
NEH-sponsored conference on Classics in the American
Schools held at the University of Virginia in 1986. It
was founded as a committee for Classicists who define
their profession as broadly as possible. Classicists
comprise teachers at every level from Kindergarten to
Graduate School. Classicists are, in fact, a national
community that includes not just teachers and scholars,
but also interested laypeople and the parents of present
and future students of Classics. The JCCAE works to
improve communication and cooperation among all levels of
the Classics profession. It meets annually in conjunction
with the APA Annual Meeting.
Committee on Ancient History. Members of the
Committee on Ancient History have the opportunity to help
set the committee's agenda. Meetings take place when the
members can congregate as part of travel for other
purposes, such as to the APA Annual Meeting. The
Committee has in recent years striven to establish
cooperative relationships with other historical
associations and to provide opportunities for ancient
historians to present papers at the annual meeting and to
meet socially.
Committee on Computer Activities. This
committee is responsible for monitoring new developments
in the field of computer technology which are applicable
to pedagogy, research, and communication at all levels of
the Classics profession. As appropriate, the committee
acts both in an advisory capacity to the Association and
as an advocate of the use of computer technology. The
committee, whose members maintain ongoing contact via
electronic channels, normally meets each year at the
Annual Meeting. The committee frequently sponsors a panel
session or workshop.
Committee on the Classical Tradition. This
committee, created at the time of the Bicentennial in
1976, fosters research and teaching about the legacy of
classical culture not just in Europe but also in the
Americas. The committee has published a brochure about
teaching and research in the field, originated the idea
for A Biographical Dictionary of North American
Classicists, and sponsors a panel at the Annual
Meeting. It meets at the time of that meeting.
Committee on Scholarships for Minority
Students. This Committee oversees the annual
selection process and awarding of scholarship assistance
to undergraduate minority students and considers ways in
which more minorities can be brought into the field. The
committee also participates in fundraising activities.
The committee regularly meets on the first day of the
Annual Meeting.
C. Professional Matters Committee
Committee on Professional Matters. The
Committee considers matters brought to its attention by
any individual, group, or institution concerning conduce
relevant to the APA Statement on Professional
Ethics. It reviews grievances and complaints,
endeavors to mediate between disputants, adjudicates
cases, and, where appropriate, recommends sanctions to
the Board of Directors. The Committee seeks to promote
standards of professional ethics and to develop policies
and procedures for their implementation.
D. Program Committee
Program Committee. The APA Program Committee
holds weekend meetings in early April and late June for
discussion and selection of panels and papers, and a
short meeting at the December APA to discuss plans and
policies. Committee members currently read all proposals
and abstracts submitted by panel organizers, affiliated
groups and individual scholars. The committee also
decides on special sessions and events. Occasional
correspondence and/or conference calls on committee
business are expected. Four elected members.
E. Publications Division Committees
Publications Committee. This committee sets
editorial policy for the Association's publications
program, allocates the money budgeted for it, approves
publishing contracts with authors, sets the page limit of
Transactions, and monitors costs of all
publications. It also receives and supervises reports
from the Editorial Boards and the Editors of
Transactions and the Newsletter. The
committee meets each year at the Annual Meeting.
Editorial Board for Monographs. The Board
receives and actively solicits manuscripts on all areas
of classical studies, selects external referees and
decides on whether to accept, reject or return for
revision. The chair serves as editor for monographs,
communicating directly with authors and may work with
them to improve manuscripts. The editor also may provide
proofreading, though responsibility for the preparation
of camera ready copy rests solely with the authors (who
may contact Scholars Press for technical advice). The
board conducts its work by e-mail and meets at the Annual
Meeting.
Editorial Board for Textbooks. The EBT oversees
two series of publications: Classical Texts and
Commentaries (annotated classical texts for use in the
classroom) and Classical Resources (aids to study and
research such as reference works, bibliographies,
translations, casebooks, and reprints of out-of-print
standard works). The Board reviews all proposals,
evaluates samples, works with authors during composition,
engages expert readers, and oversees the preparation of
camera-ready copy. The committee conducts its work by
e-mail and meets formally at the APA Annual Meeting.
Editorial Board for Non-Print Publications. The
Chair of this committee monitors current and prospective
APA activities in supporting and producing electronic
resources. Committee also considers best ways and means
of integrating electronic with traditional means of
publication and works with the Publications Committee to
coordinate activities to best effect. The Editor of the
APA website is an ex officio member of the board.
The board conducts its work by e-mail and meets each year
at the Annual Meeting.
F. Research Division - Committees
Research Committee. Responsible for supervising
and receiving reports from research-related committees of
the Association (e.g., Committee on the Classical Atlas,
TLL Fellowship Committee, Advisory Board to Database of
Classical Bibliography) and for initiating or responding
to other innovative research projects. Normally, one
meeting held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of
the Association.
Classical Atlas Committee. The Classical Atlas
Committee has been responsible for the development of the
Classical Atlas Project, which is currently proceeding
according to plan and expects to issue the Atlas of
the Greek and Roman World by the end of 1999. At this
advanced stage there is normally only one end-of-year
meeting to review overall progress. However, members
receive further interim reports from the Project
Director, and are in touch via e-mail.
Board of Advisers of the Database of Classical
Bibliography. The Board advises the DCB Director on
broad policy matters, especially financial, legal and
funding issues. Some members have special expertise
relevant to the project and their appointments may be
renewed in the project's interest. Generally, the Board
meets one time each year at the Association's Annual
Meeting. In addition, the Director communicates with
members by e-mail as necessary.
TLL Fellowship Committee. This committee meets
annually to select a candidate from the United States to
work at the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae project in
Munich. In late November and early December, committee
members review and rank all applications mailed to them
by the Executive Director of the APA. Applications
consist of a statement of interest in the fellowship,
résumé, and three letters of reference.
Committee members are expected to be present at the APA
meeting each December to interview 6-8 applicants and
make the final selection of a candidate.
G. Administrative Committees
Committee on the Status of Women and Minority
Groups. The CSW&MG serves as an advocate for the
inclusion of women, minority groups, and those with
physical disabilities in all aspects of the profession of
classics -- equal access to and support in undergraduate
and graduate education, employment, scholarship, and
professional service. The Committee also participates in
fundraising activities. The CSW&MG seeks where
appropriate to provide constructive remedies for the ills
resulting from historical patterns of discrimination. The
committee conducts three annual surveys to monitor the
experiences of women and members of minority groups in
the placement process, in faculty appointments and
promotions, and in publication as authors, book
reviewers, and referees. The chair organizes the annual
meeting at the December APA convention, and serves as a
liaison with the Committee on Placement and with the
Women's Classical Caucus.
Committee on Placement. The Committee on
Placement responds to suggestions for improved operation
of the Placement Service and to complaints lodged by
individuals or institutions. The chair receives, by
letter or telephone, such suggestions and complaints and
communicates them to the members of the Committee. After
investigation, urgent matters are settled by polling the
Committee, others at the annual December meeting. And,
finally, the chair, in close collaboration with the
Executive Director of the Association, prepares responses
to individuals and institutions or recommendations to the
Board of Directors.
Pearson Fellowship Committee. This committee
receives nominations of senior classics majors who wish
to study for a year in Great Britain before returning to
a North American classics program. Committee evaluates
nominations in November and selects up to five finalists
to be interviewed at the Annual Meeting, where Committee
meets for interviews, ranking of finalists, and other
necessary business. Members must be present. Chair works
with Executive Director in disseminating and gathering
information and acts as liaison with each Pearson
Fellow.
H. Other
TAPA Editor. The Editor's
responsibilities are to identify unpublished articles by
members of the Association or papers given by
participants at the Annual Meeting that deserve to be
made available to the scholarly community, to edit them,
and, in collaboration with Scholars Press, to see them
through all phases of preparation to final publication in
the journal. In addition, the Editor is empowered to
examine submitted manuscripts, to have them refereed, to
reject or publish them after weighing the recommendations
of referees, to edit and schedule submissions for
publication.
Classics Advisory Service Director. The
Director is responsible for the operation of the Classics
Advisory Service. This includes (a) assistance to
institutions conducting external program reviews
(primarily by providing names of potential outside
reviewers); (b) (in cooperation with the Executive
Director and other officers) timely support for
departments or programs whose future is threatened; (c)
general support and advice on strengthening programs, in
particular by (d) maintaining the CAS Web page as a
source of information for Classicists.
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