April 2023
April 21, 2023, APSA Council Meeting
PRESENT:
Lisa Martin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, President
John Ishiyama, University of North Texas, Past-President
Mark Warren, University of British Columbia, President-Elect
Andy Aoki, Augsberg University, Vice President
Maria Escobar-Lemmon, Texas A&M University, Vice President
Ashley Leeds, Rice University, Vice President
David Lublin, American University, Treasurer
Council members: Khalilah Brown-Dean, Quinnipiac Universi-ty; Jason Casellas, University of Houston; Scott Desposato, University of California, San Diego; Terry Gilmour, Midland College; Terri Givens, McGill University; Catherine Guisan, University of Minnesota; Nancy Hirschmann, University of Pennsylvania; Eileen Hunt, University of Notre Dame; Mary McHugh, Merrimack College; Susan McWilliams Barndt, Pomona College; Sara Mitchell, University of Iowa; Ido Oren, University of Florida; Aseem Prakash, University of Washington; Christina Schneider, University of California, San Diego; Erica Townsend-Bell, Oklahoma State University
APSA Staff: Steven Rathgeb Smith, Michelle Allendoerfer, Nathan Bader, Dan Gibson, Jon Gurstelle, Casey Harrigan, Meghan McConaughey, Kim Mealy, Karima Scott, India Simmons, Andrew Stinson, Steve Stoupa, Julia Walters
Other Attendees: Fotini Christia, Chair of the Perspectives on Politics Editorial Search Committee
INTRODUCTION
APSA President Lisa Martin calls the 2023 APSA Spring Council Meeting to order.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Martin provides an update to Council on recent association activities and accomplishments. Martin begins the report by remarking on the interconnectedness of the discipline through regional and global conferences. Next, she updates Council on the work of her presidential task force on mentoring, reporting that the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) is continuing its work to develop mentor training materials that are specifically tailored to political science. Finally, Martin offers an update on the upcoming Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. She notes that the conference theme is “Rights and Responsibilities in an Age of Mis- and Disinformation” with approximately 46 theme panels. Additionally, there will be two plenary panels, breaking news panels, and film screenings. She also notes that the Annual Meeting will have a record number of mini-conferences, with 11 total mini-conferences.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
APSA Executive Director Steven Rathgeb Smith introduces updates on association programming and operations. Smith notes that his report focuses primarily on the Council’s role in strategic planning. He notes that APSA is operating under the 2020-2022 strategic plan and is beginning work on a 2024-2026 strategic plan. Smith outlines the overarching goals that APSA hopes to achieve through its various programs and content areas. The plan is for Council to meet in early summer to discuss and identify perspectives on strategic priorities, environmental factors, and current strengths and weaknesses. By working in partnership with staff, the goal is to have a draft plan to discuss at the fall Council meeting held in conjunction with the 2023 Annual Meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer David Lublin introduces the treasurer’s report to update the Council on the Association’s financial position. Lublin provides an overview of the information contained in the budget review. He notes that the goal of the review was not to provide recommendations but to provide information on program spending and member participation. Next, he outlines various options for increases to registration rates and member dues and notes that members also face significant financial pressures. Escobar-Lemmon asks how previous increases in registration rates and member dues have affected the number of members and amount of people registering for the annual meeting. Smith, Harrigan, and Vande Bunte reply that previous increases, including the last increase in rates and dues in 2016, did not have a negative impact on membership or registration numbers. Council discusses the possible impacts of the progressive fee structure on the participation rates of senior faculty.
BUDGET DISCUSSION
Martin introduces a discussion of the FY2023 budget. She reports that the budget was provisionally approved at the December 2022 Council meeting, with the goal of fully approving the budget and any accompanying increases to member dues and registration rates at this meeting. Warren moves to approve the FY2023 budget, including a 7% increase to registration rates and an increase of member dues of 5-7%, depending on membership category; Brown-Dean seconds and Council discusses the motion. Martin notes that the proposed increases to member dues and registration rates would potentially create a small surplus; however, she expresses support for that due to certain pressures on the budget, particularly in traditional revenue sources such as publishing, and potential, unbudgeted costs later in FY2023. Council deliberates various percent increases to dues and rates. Lublin moves to amend the motion to increase individual professional member dues by 6% and registration rates by 6%; Hunt seconds and the motion is approved with 20 ayes, 2 nays, and 0 abstentions. Council continues deliberating the motion as amended, which is approved unanimously.
BEST BOOK AWARD RENAMING
Smith introduces the discussion on the renaming of the Best Book Award by providing background on the award renaming process, noting that the Executive Committee was charged, at the Fall 2022 Council meeting, with providing a short list of suggested award names to the Council that are leaders in the discipline as well as representative of restorative justice. Martin reports that the Executive Committee unanimously recommends the award be renamed as the Merze Tate–Elinor Ostrom Award. Multiple Council members express support for the Executive Committee’s recommendation. Council deliberates about adding “Outstanding Book” or “Best Book” in the title of the award. Ishiyama moves to rename the Best Book Award as the Merze Tate–Elinor Ostrom Outstanding Book Award; Gilmour seconds and the motion is approved unanimously.
ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE
Vande Bunte introduces updates to the 2023 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles from August 31-September 3. She reports that submission numbers are comparable to previous years. She also reports that the 2023 meeting will include greater numbers of panels and participants than previous years due to additional space. She notes that the 2023 meeting will feature approximately 1,500 events, with prior years featuring 1,200-1,300 events.
PANEL ALLOCATION FORMULA REVISION PROPOSAL
McConaughey introduces the proposed revisions to the panel allocation formula. She notes that the purpose of the revision is to harmonize the panel allocation formula with other policies, such as the related group policy. She clarifies that the proposed revisions will not alter how panels are currently allocated but formalizes the existing allocation formula. Warren moves to approve the panel allocation revision proposal; Oren seconds and the motion is approved with 19 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention.
SOUTH ASIAN POLITICS ORGANIZED SECTION PROPOSAL
Harrigan introduces a proposal for a new South Asian Politics Organized Section. She reports that the proposal—the first proposal received under the new requirements passed by Council in August 2022—met all requirements and was reviewed by the Committee on Organized Sections and the Council Membership and Professional Development Committee. In response to Hirschmann, Harrigan and McConaughey report that all new organized sections receive three panels in the first year, with allocations for future years determined by the panel allocation formula. McConaughey and Smith note that panel allocations typically increase gradually, but allocations can increase more quickly depending on the number of submissions. Lublin moves to approve the creation of the South Asian Politics Organized Section; Oren seconds and the motion is approved with 20 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention.
COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF DISABILITY IN THE PROFESSION PROPOSAL
Mealy introduces a proposal for a new Committee on the Status of Disability in the Profession. She reports that APSA does have existing resources for scholars with a disability; however, in recognition of the additional resources and projects that could be undertaken by the association, members have proposed the creation of a Committee on the Status of Disability in the Profession. Hirschmann adds additional context to the proposal and remarks on the scholarly work in the emerging field of disability theory and disability politics. Warren moves to approve the creation of the Committee on the Status of Disability in the Profession; Oren seconds. Guisan explains a recommendation to direct the APSA staff to provide an orientation to the committee at its first meeting each year. Council discusses the germaneness of the recommendation, which is not adopted. Multiple Council members express support for including the recommendation on orientation to status committees as a general instruction to APSA staff rather than including it in the charge of a single status committee. Mealy provides additional details on existing status committee orientation resources. Hirschmann moves to amend the proposal’s language from “The committee will next translate these needs and experiences into a set of recommendations to the APSA about how to best improve on the existing support and accommodations for political scientists” to “The committee will next translate these needs and experiences into a set of recommendation to the APSA membership and/or its main decision-making institutions, the Council and the Executive Committee.” Escobar-Lemmon seconds, and the motion is approved unanimously. The Council votes on the motion to approve the proposal as amended; the motion is approved with 18 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 abstention. Council requests to review the orientation resources that are currently provided to status committees.
AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW EDITORIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
Smith introduces the discussion on the American Political Science Review editorial search committee. He reports that the current editorial team’s term will end on May 31, 2024, and that Council needs to approve the creation of an APSR editorial search committee. Ishiyama moves to approve the creation of an APSR editorial search committee; Gilmour seconds and the motion is approved unanimously.
ISHIYAMA PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE UPDATES
Ishiyama provides an update to Council on the work of two presidential task forces. He begins by updating Council on the work of the Presidential Task Force on Rethinking Political Science Education. Ishiyama and Mitchell report that the task force is continuing its work and is developing the report. Next, Ishiyama excitedly reports to Council that the final task force report of the Presidential Task Force on Responsible Political Party Behavior is completed and is an action item to be accepted by Council. Ishiyama asks Lublin, a task force co-chair, to provide additional information on the review process. Lublin notes the goals of the report that the peer-reviewed report is comparable to an edited volume and is meant to be accessible. Ishiyama, Lublin, and Smith express appreciation to Protect Democracy for their direct and in-kind contributions to the report. Smith reports that the report will be publicized widely. Casellas moves to accept the task force’s report; Aoki seconds and the motion passes unanimously.
PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICS EDITOR DECISION
Christia introduces the report and recommendation of the Perspectives on Politics editorial search committee. She begins her report by thanking the committee and updating Council on the search process. She reports that the committee is recommending the editorial team of Wendy Pearlman and Ana Arjona, both of Northwestern University. Christia expresses support for the proposal. She reports that the proposal notes an inability to also manage book reviews. Smith expresses support for the proposal. He reports that internal discussions have begun regarding the future management of book reviews, noting that a variety of options, plans, and interim solutions are being discussed. Council discusses the editorial proposal and the future management of book reviews. Ishiyama moves to approve the search committee’s recommendation; Warren seconds and the motion passes with 18 ayes, 1 nay, and 0 abstentions.
CONTINGENT FACULTY GUIDELINES PROPOSAL
Martin introduces the proposed contingent faculty guidelines. Oren reports that the Membership and Professional Development Committee has reviewed the proposed guidelines and enthusiastically supports it and recommend that it is incorporated into the APSA Ethics Guide. Mealy notes that the guidelines have been reviewed by the Ethics Committee, which supports their inclusion in the Ethics Guide if approved by Council. Oren and Guisan note that the guidelines are not legally binding but have the goal of creating best practices and standards to which contingent faculty and departments can seek to meet. Oren moves to approve the contingent faculty guidelines and include them as an addendum to the Ethics Guide; the motion is seconded and is approved with 17 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 abstention.
POLICY COMMITTEE REPORTS
On behalf of the Membership and Professional Development Policy Committee, Harrigan provides updates on the work of the committee. She reports that the committee reviewed the South Asian Politics Organized Section proposal and the Contingent Faculty Guidelines.
On behalf of the Publications Policy Committee, Gurstelle provides updates on the work of the committee. He reports that the committee discussed the implementation of more inclusive language in the APSA Style Guide. He notes the committee will discuss the future and management of book reviews as part of Perspectives on Politics.
The Public Engagement Policy Committee reports that the committee has no updates to provide.
Gilmour, chair of the Teaching and Learning Policy Committee, provides updates on the work of the committee. She reports that the teaching and learning department held the 2023 Teaching and Learning Conference in Baltimore, with more than 250 registrants. She reports that in a survey of attendees, 90% reported that the conference met or exceeded expectations, 97% would recommend the conference to a colleague, and 95% felt the conference was welcoming and inviting.
On behalf of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy Committee, Mealy provides updates on the work of the committee. She reports that the committee reviewed and recommended the proposal for the Committee on the Status of Disability in the Profession, discussed the progress made on the recommendations on addressing systemic racism in the profession, and discussed state-level legislation that contain anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion clauses.
The Conference and Meetings Policy Committee provides no updates.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council enters into an executive session, following which the meeting is adjourned. ■
