Core Committee Self Nominations & Election

The Core Committee is responsible for carrying out the mission of the organization by overseeing the activities, affairs, and finances of the POD Network. The committee is guided by the POD Network Governance Manual, and a commitment to decision-making through consensus. Core members act as fiduciaries of the organization and are legally and ethically bound by the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience, requiring them to act in the best interests of the POD Network.

The committee now includes up to 18 elected POD Network members, plus the three presidents (current, elect, past), the chair of the Finance Committee (voting, ex officio, if not an elected Core member), the editor of To Improve the Academy (non-voting, ex officio, if not an elected Core member), and the Executive Director (non-voting, ex officio).

A maximum of six new members will be elected every year for a three-year term by a vote of the POD Network membership. The number to be elected each year is determined to ensure the elected Core membership does not exceed 18.

The official work of the Core Committee is largely accomplished at two business meetings held in June and November, each scheduled over two days. Business meetings can be attended in person or remotely. In addition, members can expect to address emerging concerns over email or at shorter virtual meetings throughout the year. Additional professional development activities are held during Core meetings and/or online.

Core Committee members are expected to attend all six semi-annual business meetings during their three-year term plus the business meeting preceding their official term. Newly elected members become official Core members at the conclusion of this meeting. The Fall Core Business Meeting occurs onsite during the annual POD Network Conference.

In addition to meetings and online participation, Core Committee members are guided by the mission, purpose, and values of the POD Network. As members of a nonprofit board, Core Committee members engage in the following activities:

• Read the Governance Manual thoroughly and be aware of roles and responsibilities.
• Attend the entirety of June and November Core business meetings — as well as any interim meetings held over Zoom — and remain present the entire time unless prevented by unavoidable circumstances.
• Contribute to any discussion either electronically or in person requiring consensus, and vote on all measures submitted for a vote either electronically or in person.
• Authorize budgets in ways that are the most fiscally responsible to the POD Network.
• Participate in the election process for the incoming President-Elect.
• Encourage POD Network members to self-nominate for the Core Committee.
• Serve in leadership roles on Standing Committees or Special Interest Groups (SIGs), as a Core liaison to a committee or SIG.
  • • Engage in regular communications with those committees and/or SIGs that they represent.
    • Represent those committees and/or SIGs by presenting their key proposals and concerns and answering questions on behalf of those committees and/or SIGs during Core Committee meetings.
    • Proactively communicate with those committees and/or SIGs on behalf of the Core Committee, including questions, and decisions resulting from Core Committee meetings that are both specific to the committees and/or SIGs and broadly relevant to all POD Network members.
    • Engage in shaping, carrying out, and assessing POD Network strategic plans, broadly and with respect to those committees and/or SIGs that the Core Committee member serves on or chairs.
• Serve on and/or chair ad-hoc committees formed by the Core and/or Executive Committees.
• Serve as a mentor for the new POD Network members at the annual conference and to new Core Members.
• Participate in professional development activities for the Core Committee when they are made available

For the complete list of responsibilities, refer to the Governance Manual. New members are assigned a Core mentor for their first year to help them learn their new role.

Candidates must have been a POD Network member for a minimum of three years (consecutive or nonconsecutive). Previous Core Committee members must wait at least one year before self-nominating for another term.

The POD Network is committed to advancing equity in higher education through educational development. We especially encourage colleagues with demonstrated commitment to advancing equity to self-nominate. We welcome voices that broaden our understanding of educational development and the evolving needs of professionals in the field, allowing us to advance the POD Network’s mission and critically engage with our values in practice.

We seek candidates from diverse institutional and social contexts, including two-year and technical colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal colleges, as well as non-profit academic and professional associations and organizations.

To nominate yourself, please submit a PDF with the following elements to the POD Network office at [email protected] with “Core Self-Nomination” in the subject line by 11:59 pm PST on March 17, 2026.

Your nomination should include:

• Name, title, and institution/organization(s);
• A brief statement (up to 750 words, excluding CV) describing your background in educational development and how you will contribute to the POD Network’s vision and mission; and
• Current CV (five pages or less).

Excluding your CV, the nomination should not exceed 750 words.

Nomination documents will be posted on the members-only area of the POD Network website. A members-only election will be held online.

Please contact the POD Network Office with any questions at [email protected].