Annual Conference Invited and Plenary Sessions Chair

Period of Service and Position Overview:

The period of service for individuals appointed as SCUP’s international conference chair is two conference-planning years. The volunteer in this position serves as a plenary and invited session coordinator for one year on the conference committee before assuming the role as conference chair. This creates a succession plan for an existing conference chair, and gives an incoming chair significant experience on the committee before moving into the role of chair. This also allows the association to take a longer view toward the program planning of each year’s international conference.

The information below briefly describes the role of an incoming conference chair for their first and second year of service on the international conference planning committee.

Year One: Plenary and Invited Session Chair

• Serves as lead for planning plenary and invited sessions
➢ Researches and initiates conversation on potential plenary and invited session speakers to invite to the conference, with consideration for: committee interests, conference theme, budget, and conference timing
➢ Coordinates with conference chair and SCUP staff in the invitation of presenters to the conference
➢ Prepares update reports for conference planning committee members

Year Two: Conference Chair

• Facilitates international conference committee meetings toward the planning of the next year's conference
➢ Recommends individual to serve as Local Hosts Chair on the committee in conjunction with staff:
➢ Other committee positions are pre-established and include: four Planning Academy Conveners, Professional Development Committee workshop coordinator and committee chair, plenary and invited presenters coordinator, SCUP president and executive director, and SCUP staff
➢ Coordinates with SCUP international conference committee liaison in the development of meeting agenda and goals for each meeting
• Provides overall program direction to the international conference planning committee in the development of:
➢ Conference theme
➢ Topic emphasis for online session submission
➢ Final selection of juried concurrent session submissions submitted through the Call for Proposals
➢ Selection of plenary speakers and other invited presenters

• Assists in the promotion of the international conference, by:
➢ Encouraging peers and others to attend
➢ Creating a message of invitation for the conference website
➢ Formally inviting conferees to attend the next year's conference during the closing plenary session

Required Meetings

SCUP pays expenses to attend all committee-planning meetings, except for attending the international conference each July.

Required Meetings

Year One

Spring conference planning meeting the (toward the planning of the next year's conference), scheduled for Friday/Saturday, in February
Role: Plenary and Invited Session Coordinator

Attend International Conference
Role: Plenary and Invited Session Coordinator

Fall program planning meeting in Ann Arbor (toward the planning of the next year's conference), early November, on a Friday/Saturday
Role: Plenary and Invited Session Coordinator

Year Ywo

Lead spring conference planning meeting (toward the planning of the next year's conference), Friday/Saturday, mid-February
Role: Conference Chair

Attend that year's annual Conference, and facilitate the conference committee meeting on Monday, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Role: Conference Chair

Lead fall program planning meeting in Ann Arbor (toward the planning of the next year's conference), early November on a Friday/Saturday
Role: Conference Chair

Year Three

Attend Annual Conference
Role: Conference Chair

For questions regarding the responsibilities of this volunteer position, please contact: Kathleen Benton at Kathy.benton@scup.org, or 734.998.6966.

The annual conference program chair and the invited and plenary speaker chair must be a member-in-good-standing (dues paid), have excellent project management and organizational skills, and be able to work in an online environment.