The APSA Council met April 17, 2004, at the Midwest Political Science Association's Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. The following are highlights from the meeting:

[bull ] Council approved with one abstention the proposed 2005 budget and noted that it included the notion of a third meeting, which Council supported in principle. Council also voted unanimously to accept the unqualified audit for FY'03.

[bull ] Council voted unanimously to delegate Susanne Rudolph, Margaret Levi, and Henry Brady to work with APSA staff to move forward with efforts to buy the neighboring building pending development of comprehensive cost estimates and full Council approval.

[bull ] In support of the initiative to increase the public presence of political science, Council voted unanimously to encourage the Association's reallocation of staff time with appropriate training to write press releases and carry out other public affairs tasks. Executive Director Michael Brintnall responded that APSA staff will develop an operating plan for Council review.

[bull ] In reference to the Task Force on Inequality and American Democracy, Council voted unanimously to accept and disseminate the task force's report.

[bull ] Council heard a report from Kirstie McClure, chair of the Elections Review Committee, on the committee's assessment of APSA elections with suggestions/recommendations for Council review. Council commented on both substantive issues and the committee's mission and asked the committee to prepare a final report that the Council can receive in a manner analogous to the previous election review committee's report. Council unanimously approved posting on the web site the data collected on APSA membership and governance and the memo regarding elections systems that were included in the report.

[bull ] APSR Editor Lee Sigelmn reported on the current state of the Review and Council applauded his renewal for two additional years. Council also supported his addition of a few more names to the APSR editorial board. During budget approval, Council authorized the hiring of an additional student editorial intern.

[bull ] Council unanimously approved incorporating a best article award for Perspectives into the Heinz Eulau Award. The amount for each award would be $750; APSA operating funds would make up deficiencies in funds generated by the endowment until a new endowment can be raised.

[bull ] Brintnall reported that a suggestion from Gary King and Greg Kasza on open-access journals will be referred to the publications committee. He also provided status reports on a project involving the Encyclopedia Society, a request to develop a taxonomy of political science, and the new web site for PROL, www.politicalscience.org.

[bull ] Chair of the Council Rules Committee Robert Axelrod outlined the By-laws changes aimed at clearing up and modernize items, such as the use of electronic mechanisms for voting, clarify that associate members are not voting members, and state Council guidance to the nominating committee. He also noted that additional By-laws changes relating to the Annual Meeting and educational programs are deferred until the fall meeting to allow further committee input. Council unanimously approved changes to the By-laws.

[bull ] Council heard a report from Kirsten Monroe about the progress of the Mentoring Task Force.

[bull ] Council voted unanimously to accept the report developed by the Task Force on Graduate Education and directed staff to devise an implementation strategy, including publication on the web and in PS.

[bull ] APSA is launching its first organized program review of the CFP program with a largely outside review committee. Council approved the next topic for review, APSA's minority programs.

[bull ] Linda Lopez reported on the success of the Teaching and Learning Conference. Council will receive names for the next conference's program committee shortly after the meeting.

[bull ] Council voted unanimously to endorse with enthusiasm the directions proposed by the International Committee. Specific actions included in the budget involve scaling back foreign postage subsidies and adding funds for Annual Meeting travel for scholars from non-OECD countries. The Council looks forward to working with the International Committee to achieve its proposed goals in ways that achieve maximum results from our commitments.

[bull ] Council unanimously approved the redesign of the associate membership category to include receipt of any one of the APSA journals—Perspectives, APSR, or PS—effectively allowing journal subscriptions by non-members.

[bull ] Council reviewed a request from the new status committee to incorporate Asian Pacific Americans into the Minority Fellowships and Bunche Institute programs. Council acted with one abstention to postpone the inclusion of Asian Pacific American Political Scientists into the minority fellowship programs until the program review committee has had an opportunity to review all APSA minority programs and objectives.

[bull ] Council unanimously approved a new section journal on teaching and learning and noted that Section #26 (Ecological and Transformational Politics) will terminate after a 3-year probationary period if membership does not reach minimum required levels by June.

[bull ] With the successful conclusion of the Centennial Campaign, the Development Committee is converting its efforts into a continuing annual campaign. The committee is meeting soon by conference call and will solicit priorities and look for help in providing funding leadership from the Council.

[bull ] Council unanimously approved the proposed 2005 program committee division chairs with the proviso that chairs have the ability to change and add names as necessary.

[bull ] The Council heard discussion that a few political science journals are rejecting some articles without review and asked that this issue be addressed by the combined journal editors when they meet at the APSA meeting.