August 2022

August 3, 2022, APSA Council Meeting

PRESENT:

John Ishiyama, University of North Texas, President

Janet Box-Steffensmeier, Ohio State University, Past-President

Lisa Martin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, President-Elect

Amrita Basu, Amherst College, Vice President

Juan “Carlos” Huerta, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Vice President

David Lublin, American University, Treasurer

Council members: Ben Ansell, University of Oxford; Erik Bleich, Middlebury College; Khalilah Brown-Dean, Quinnipiac University; Scott Desposato, University of California, San Diego; Alexandra Filindra, University of Illinois, Chicago; Rebecca Gill, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Terry Gilmour, Midland College; Terri Givens, McGill University; Catherine Guisan, University of Minnesota; Eileen Hunt, University of Notre Dame; Nahomi Ichino, Emory University; Sooyeon Kim, National University of Singapore; David Leal, University of Texas at Austin; Suzanna Linn, Pennsylvania State University; Sara Mitchell, University of Iowa; Mary McHugh, Merrimack College; Ido Oren, University of Florida; Costas Panagopoulos, Northeastern University

APSA Staff: Steven Rathgeb Smith, Michelle Allendoerfer, Dan Gibson, Kim Mealy, Ashley Vande Bunte, Nathan Bader, Sean Delehanty, Casey Harrigan, Jon Gurstelle, Meghan McConaughey

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Ishiyama provides an update to Council on recent association activities and accomplishments. He begins his report by updating the Council on the work of the two presidential task forces. The Task Force on Rethinking Political Science Education met in Washington, DC in June to outline efforts for the next two years. The Task Force on Promoting Responsible Political Party Behavior will focus on political party behavior in the United States and will include scholars of both American politics and comparative politics. The task force is partnered with Protect Democracy, which provides significant logistical and financial support for the work of the task force. Next, he highlights international initiatives undertaken by APSA, including two workshops held in July 2022 that provided opportunities for scholars from the Global South to present research. The first workshop was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in partnership with the Southeast Asian Research Group and Thammasat University. The second workshop was held in Amman, Jordan, in partnership with the Columbia Global Center. Next, Ishiyama notes the creation of a new data infrastructure by the APSA research department that will better permit members to obtain data on the discipline and profession. Finally, he notes that the Council will consider a proposal for a standing committee on civic education. This committee would explore and coordinate APSA’s engagement in civic education.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

APSA Executive Director Steven Rathgeb Smith introduces updates on association programming and operations. Smith reports that the renovation at the APSA headquarters is largely complete, with staff having returned to in-office work one day each week. APSA has resumed some in-person programming as well as increasing non-Annual Meeting virtual programming. The Ralph Bunche Summer Institute resumed in-person programming in 2022. Fourteen students participated in the six-week institute at Duke University, with six students attending the Annual Meeting in Montreal. Smith and Allendoerfer highlight teaching and learning programming, which includes both in-person and virtual teaching symposia and webinars on teaching strategies for breaking news topics. They also report that the 2023 Teaching and Learning Conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, from February 10-12. Smith continues by reporting that APSA has increased offerings for professional development workshops and will have more than 50 professional development-focused events at the Annual Meeting. Next, he reports that the Centennial Center has awarded nearly $500,000 in grant funds in 2022, with increases in both grant applications and total grants awarded. Smith notes that the Institute for Civically Engaged Research (ICER), with support from the Ivywood Foundation, returned to in-person programming at Tufts University and had 20 ICER fellows complete trainings and workshops over four days in summer 2022. He further reports the continued success of the NSF-funded Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIG). He notes that APSA is planning to submit a grant renewal proposal in late 2022 or early 2023. Smith concludes his report by outlining strategic issues facing APSA. He notes that similarly to other academic associations, APSA is facing pressure on traditional revenue sources such as membership, publishing, and the Annual Meeting, and that APSA will need to be flexible in terms of funding and programming models moving forward.

ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE

Vande Bunte introduces an update on the upcoming APSA Annual Meeting in Montreal. She reports that there will be more than 1,200 in-person panel and posters sessions, including 46 theme panels, 50 professional development panels, 30 short courses and research workshops, and nearly 180 business meetings and receptions. Additionally, there will be approximately 120 virtual sessions and 50 livestreaming sessions. Next, she provides an update on the current registration numbers of 5,302 in-person registrations and 274 virtual registrations. Finally, she notes that APSA is continuing to communicate regarding the evolving travel situation to Canada. Council discusses visa and travel difficulties. In response to questions about health and safety, Smith reports that attendees will be required to self-attest to their vaccination status and are required to be vaccinated to travel to Canada. Additionally, he notes that APSA staff are reviewing the masking policy.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Harrigan introduces an update on the APSA membership. She reports that individual membership as of July 31, 2022 was 11,306. She notes that this represents a 2.26 percent increase from the previous year and an 18 percent increase from July 2020. Next, she reports growth in multi-year memberships, representing approximately 24 percent of eligible members. Further, she reports that as of July 31, 2022, 63 percent of professional members and 70 percent of student members belonged to at least one organized section, for a total of 27,806 organized section memberships.

ORGANIZED SECTION POLICY PROPOSAL

Harrigan introduces an update to the organized section policy. She reports that in response to the increased number of organized section proposals the Committee on Organized Sections has received in the past couple of years, the committee has drafted additional language that would streamline the proposal process for new organized sections and allow the committee to more fully gauge and understand the potential impact of a new organized section on preexisting organized sections. Provisions of the proposal include language to all new organized section petition signees regarding the potential impact of a new organized section on panel allocations, a requirement for new organized section proposals to detail how their organized section’s content is not already covered by preexisting organized sections, and the circulation of all new organized section proposals to all current organized section committee chairs for a comment period. McHugh moves to accept proposed changes to the Organized Section Policy Guidelines; Panagopoulos seconds and the motion passes unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

Guisan inquires about the status of an orientation for Council members. Ishiyama and Smith notes that Council orientation is currently under discussion.

Ishiyama adjourns the meeting. ◼

September 2022

September 14, 2022

Le Westin Montreal

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

PRESENT:

John Ishiyama, University of North Texas, President

Janet Box-Steffensmeier, Ohio State University, Past-President

Lisa Martin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, President-Elect

Amrita Basu, Amherst College, Vice President

Juan “Carlos” Huerta, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Vice President

Mark Warren, University of British Columbia, Vice President

David Lublin, American University, Treasurer

Council members: Ben Ansell, University of Oxford; Erik Bleich, Middlebury College; Scott Desposato, University of California, San Diego; Alexandra Filindra, University of Illinois, Chicago; Raymond Foxworth, First Nations Development Institute; Rebecca Gill, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Terry Gilmour, Midland College; Terri Givens, McGill University; Catherine Guisan, University of Minnesota; Nancy Hirschmann, University of Pennsylvania; Eileen Hunt, University of Notre Dame; Nahomi Ichino, Emory University; Soo Yeon Kim, National University of Singapore; David Leal, University of Texas at Austin; Suzanna Linn, Pennsylvania State University; Sara Mitchell, University of Iowa; Mary McHugh, Merrimack College; Tamara Metz, Reed College; Ido Oren, University of Florida; Costas Panagopoulos, Northeastern University; Melanye Prince, Prairie View A&M University; Jillian Schwedler, Hunter College

APSA Staff: Steven Rathgeb Smith, Michelle Allendoerfer, Dan Gibson, Kim Mealy, Ashley Vande Bunte, Nathan Bader, Mellissa Bell, Casey Harrigan, Jon Gurstelle, Meghan McConaughey, Andrew Stinson, Dragana Svraka, Julia Walters

Other Attendees: Zoltán Búzás, University of Notre Dame; David Rasch, Ombuds

CONSENT AGENDA

Ishiyama introduces the consent agenda for Council approval. The consent agenda includes the February 2022 Council meeting minutes, Spring 2022 Council meeting minutes, and editorial board changes for the American Political Science Review, Journal of Political Science Education, and PS: Political Science and Politics. Hunt moves to approve the consent agenda; McHugh seconds and the motion passes unanimously.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Ishiyama provides an update to Council on recent association activities and accomplishments. He begins his report by thanking APSA staff, his presidential predecessors, Council, and volunteers for their guidance and commitment over the past year. He expresses excitement for the Annual Meeting and its theme, as well as appreciation for the program co-chairs. Next, Ishiyama reports that APSA co-organized two international workshops in July 2022, with conferences in Amman, Jordan, and Bangkok, Thailand, that built on APSA initiatives to promote scholarship in the Global South. Additionally, he reports that APSA is moving forward with providing grant funding to restart the African Association of Political Science, which has been dormant for fifteen years. He reports that APSA has also launched a new data infrastructure and dashboard that centralizes data on the profession. Next, Ishiyama provides updates on the work of the two presidential task forces. First, he reports that the Task Force on Rethinking Political Science Education has been studying the structure of undergraduate and graduate programs to better prepare political science students for the job market and to be engaged citizens. He thanks the task force members and co-chairs, and he notes that the task force will release a report in 2023. Ishiyama continues by reporting the work of the Task Force on Promoting Responsible Political Party Behavior. He notes that the task force, which is comprised of scholars of both American politics and comparative politics, seeks to synthesize and publicize scholarship on political parties so that practitioners can use it to promote responsible political party behavior. Lublin, one of the task force co-chairs, adds that the task force is examining the role of political parties in democracies, some of the sources of irresponsible political party behavior, and some of the potential means to resolve irresponsible political party behavior. The task force is partnered with Protect Democracy, a non-partisan organization that provides significant logistical and financial support for the work of the task force. Ishiyama concludes his updates by noting that the task force will issue a report in 2023.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer David Lublin introduces the treasurers’ report to update the Council on the Association’s financial position. He reports that, as of August 31, 2022, the total combined fair market value of APSA investments was $45.4 million, with total assets of $51.2 million. The most significant investment groups are the Congressional Fellowship Program trust portfolio which totaled $22.4 million and the Trust and Development portfolio which totaled $23 million. Lublin notes that this represents a decline in total value in line with the decline in the broader stock market in 2022; however, he notes that APSA is a long-term investor. Next, he reports that APSA is approximately $1 million over budget in the 2022 fiscal year. He notes that this deficit is mainly a result of the 2021 Annual Meeting being more expensive and less profitable than typical annual meetings as well as the substantial renovations of the APSA headquarters building in Washington, DC. Additionally, Lublin notes that APSA, similar to other associations, is experiencing pressures on traditional revenue sources. In response to Ansell, Smith notes that the amount for staff salaries has increased as the staff has grown. This staff growth is partially driven by the transition of managing editors of APSA journals to the APSA budget rather than institutional budgets. Smith reports that while total staff salaries have increased as a result, the transition saves APSA money in other areas. Additional staff investments have been made in the meetings and events and diversity and inclusion teams. Bell also reports a decline in rental income. Hunt raises a point about the financial implications of virtual and hybrid conferences or other events, and Leal expresses interest in further examining the financial impact of open access publications.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

APSA Executive Director Steven Rathgeb Smith introduces updates on association programming and operations. He begins his report by noting that the renovation to the APSA headquarters building was completed in April 2022, with continuing upgrades being made to systems, including telephone, security, computers, and networks. Smith indicates that staff have returned to the office one day per week and will move to two days per week in the fall. He reports that some in-person programming has resumed, while a simultaneous increase in virtual non-Annual Meeting programming has also taken place. Smith highlights APSA’s diversity and inclusion programs, including a successful return to in-person programming at Duke University for the Ralph Bunche Summer Institute and the growth of APSA’s diversity and inclusion grant initiatives.

Smith continues by updating the Council on APSA’s traditional sources of revenue. He begins by noting that APSA has not increased membership rates since 2016. Despite consistent membership numbers aside from the pandemic, the percent contribution of membership revenue to the total budget has been decreasing. This decrease has historically been offset by increased revenues from the annual meeting, publications, and other sources. However, these traditional revenue sources are also facing pressures. Smith reports that Annual Meeting revenue has declined in recent years across registrations, exhibitors, and advertising. He notes that annual meeting registration rates have not increased since 2016. He reports that royalty revenue from Cambridge University Press will decrease as a result of the contractual reset; however, Gurstelle notes that the transition to digital access rather than print significantly reduces costs, while the growth of open access will affect editorial support models. Smith reports that APSA has benefited from grant funding in recent years, that along with draws from restricted funds and the endowment have supported increased programming. Smith reports that APSA is in a healthy and fortunate financial position; however, similar to other academic associations, APSA faces pressure on traditional revenue sources. He notes that APSA will need to be prudent in fiscal management while seeking new sources of revenue to support members. In response to Ansell, Smith reports that APSA staff are also discussing additional development and fundraising opportunities to support programming.

PROPOSED JOINT AWARD BETWEEN APSA AND THE POLITICAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION

Stinson introduces a proposal for a joint award between APSA and the Political Studies Association (PSA). He notes that APSA and PSA have a longstanding connection. The proposed award is meant to highlight collaborative partnerships, specifically partnerships with a scholarly output in the areas of teaching, research, or civic engagement by two or more scholars based in two or more different countries. Stinson notes that PSA is requiring that if at least one scholar is based in the United Kingdom, that individual must be member of either PSA or APSA. If no scholar is based in the United Kingdom, then there are no membership requirements. He reports that the award would be jointly funded by PSA and APSA in the amount of $2,000 annually. Finally, Stinson notes that the award proposal has been approved by the PSA Executive Committee. Price moves to approve the proposal for the joint award; Guisan seconds and the motion passes unanimously.

DISCUSSION ON PUBLICATIONS AND OPEN ACCESS PUBLISHING

Gurstelle introduces a discussion on APSA publications and open access publishing. He opens the discussion by updating Council on APSA publications. He reports that the American Political Science Review and Perspectives on Politics are anticipated to hit their largest ever page counts in 2022 at more than 1,500 pages. He also reports that new editorial teams for Journal of Political Science Education and PS: Political Science and Politics began their terms on August 1 and September 1, respectively. Gurstelle begins the discussion on open access by providing an overview the publications environment and the August 2022 memo from the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Next, Gurstelle notes that Cambridge University Press projects a significant increase of open access articles in the next three years. Smith reports that APSA intends to sign a comprehensive contract with Cambridge University Press in 2026 that will include APSA journals as well as organized section journals owned by APSA. Mitchell asks how increased open access may affect APSA’s revenue model. Gurstelle replies that open access’s effects on APSA’s revenue model are unknown. Smith adds that publishers, as a result of open access, are anticipating less revenue over time, which will result in lower revenues for scholarly societies. Council discusses the implications of various revenue models in the changing publications environment. Smith notes that APSA will work to influence federal policy. Additionally, he notes that APSA may begin to consider institutional support as a factor for decisions regarding editorial teams.

BEST BOOK AWARD RENAMING

Smith introduces an update and discussion on the renaming of the Best Book Award. He recaps the Best Book Award renaming process, noting that the Executive Committee and the Membership and Professional Development Committee did not support the initial recommendation from the Ad Hoc Best Book Award Renaming Committee. Oren reports that the Membership and Professional Development Committee referred the matter back to the Executive Committee with support for renaming the award the “Outstanding Book Award,” or renaming the award after a single individual that represents restorative justice who does not already have an APSA or organized section award named in their honor. Ishiyama reports that the Executive Committee expressed reservations regarding the “Outstanding Book Award” recommendation as it does not address the need for restorative justice. He informs Council that the Executive Committee will present a small list of possible names to be voted on by the Council at an upcoming meeting. Smith and Martin note that input from Council, status committees, and the membership is welcome. Council discusses possible award names.

ANNUAL MEETING DISCUSSION

Smith introduces a discussion on siting and format for annual meetings. He begins by updating the Council on the 2022 Annual Meeting and reviewing attendance and panel allocations at previous meetings. Vande Bunte reports on the siting policy and the sites for the 2023-2027 annual meetings. She adds that APSA utilizes a large amount of conference space as compared to room nights, which can be a limiting factor in sites that can host the annual meeting. Council members inquire about the possibility of increasing the acceptance rate for papers. Ansell notes that panel formats may limit the total number of papers that can be presented. Bleich suggests the creation of a selection committee for paper proposals that may not fit into a singular organized section. Some Council members express interest in holding a virtual conference in alternating years or as a separate conference. Council members express interest in hosting the annual meeting in more Midwest, South, and Southwestern cities. Ishiyama notes that the siting policy requires that all host cities must have a welcoming environment such that all members have a reasonable basis for feeling welcome to attend the meeting. Council discusses potential impacts of this siting policy, including unintentionally restricting APSA from hosting conferences and events in most majority-minority cities. Ishiyama reports that APSA staff and the Executive Committee will further discuss the siting policy.

PROGRAM PARTICIPANT REMOVAL POLICY

Linn introduces a discussion on a program participant removal policy. She reports that the Conference and Meetings Committee met in summer 2022 to discuss a recommendation from the Membership and Professional Development Committee to consider the development of a policy that would provide APSA the authority to have the final decision on panel participants, along with considerations that such a policy might include. She continues by reporting that legal counsel advised APSA that the association already maintains the authority to remove participants from the program at its sole discretion. Linn notes that most peer associations do not have a separate participant removal policy, and it is near impossible to comprehensively enumerate all possible actions that may merit the removal of a participant from the program. Linn reports that the Conference and Meetings Committee recommends not developing or adopting a formal policy for the removal of participants from the program. In conclusion, she notes that the committee seconds the recommendation of the Membership and Professional Development Committee that a process should be in place to handle decisions on program participation, which should be applied only in extraordinary circumstances. She notes that members who are concerned about the participation of individuals at APSA conferences and related functions should submit their concerns in writing through APSA’s EthicsPoint system or other previously established mechanisms to be reviewed by relevant staff and committees. Martin expresses interest in further examining criteria for removal and if those criteria may be different for virtual participation and in-person participation. Smith, Harrigan, and Oren note that APSA is in the process of converting most related groups that are 501(c)3 organizations to an MOU status.

WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY

Smith introduces the proposed update to the APSA Whistleblower Policy. He reports that all nonprofits of a certain size are mandated to have a whistleblower policy, and that APSA’s whistleblower policy was enacted in the early 2000s. In 2018, APSA implemented EthicsPoint, an online confidential reporting system, which was initially focused on professional misconduct. In addition, however, it can serve as a confidential whistleblower complaint system. Smith notes that the proposed updates to the Whistleblower Policy include harmonizing the policy with the updated APSA bylaws and including information about the EthicsPoint system. He reports that both the Audit Committee and the Executive Committee reviewed and recommended the policy. Warren moves to approve the updated Whistleblower Policy; Givens seconds and the motion passes unanimously.

CONTINGENT FACULTY GUIDELINES PROPOSAL

Guisan, on behalf of the Committee on the Status of Contingent Faculty in the Profession, introduces and provides background information on a proposal for suggested minimum standards for contingent faculty. Oren notes that some language appears in the APSA Ethics Guide, but the proposed contingent faculty guidelines proposal could be included as an appendix to the guide. Council expresses optimism for the guidelines as positive aspirations that the association should embrace. Council also expresses some concern about the current version of the proposal. After making suggestions to specific points, Council refers the proposal back to the status committee for additional edits.

POLICY COMMITTEE REPORTS

Linn, chair of the Conference and Meetings Policy Committee, reports that the committee has no additional updates to provide.

Oren, chair of the Membership and Professional Development Policy Committee, provides updates on the work of the committee. He reports that the committee reviewed updates to the organized section guidelines.

On behalf of the Publications Policy Committee, Gurstelle provides updates on the work of the committee. He reports that the committee approved changes to the APSA Style Guide in regard to age inclusive language. Additionally, he reports that the committee will consider proposed updates to the author demographic questionnaire for the American Political Science Review.

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 four teaching symposia in 2022. She notes that the committee is planning for the 2023 Teaching and Learning Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Council enters into an executive session, following which the meeting is adjourned. ◼

December 2022

December 12, 2022, 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, Augsburg 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 University; Menna Demessie, Universal Music Group; Scott Desposato, University of California, San Diego; Pearl Dowe, Emory University; Raymond Foxworth, First Nations Development Institute; Terry Gilmour, Midland College; Terri Givens, McGill University; Catherine Guisan, University of Minnesota; Nancy Hirschmann, University of Pennsylvania; Eileen Hunt, University of Notre Dame; Nahomi Ichino, Emory University; Leigh Jenco, London School of Economics; Mary McHugh, Merrimack College; Susan McWilliams; Pomona College; Tamara Metz, Reed College; Ido Oren, University of Florida; Costas Panagopoulos, Northeastern University; Aseem Prakash, University of Washington; Bassel Salloukh, Doha Institute; Christina Schneider, University of California, San Diego; Erica Townsend-Bell, Oklahoma State University

APSA Staff: Steven Rathgeb Smith, Dan Gibson, Jon Gurstelle, Kim Mealy, Ashley Vande Bunte, Nathan Bader, Mellissa Bell, Brenna Dames, Jess Okeze

CONSENT AGENDA

Smith introduces the consent agenda for Council approval. The consent agenda includes the 2023 record dates. McHugh moves to approve the consent agenda; the motion is seconded and passes unanimously.

PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE UPDATE

Ishiyama provides an update on the work of two presidential task forces, beginning with the Presidential Task Force on Rethinking Political Science Education. Co-chaired by David Lake, University of California, San Diego, and Michelle Deardorff, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the task force is focused on making recommendations on best practices regarding the curricular structure of undergraduate and graduate political science programs. He reports that the task force met at APSA headquarters in the summer of 2022. The task force expects to complete a rough draft of their report in early 2023, with a full report issued later in 2023.

The second task force, the Presidential Task Force on Responsible Political Party Behavior, launched in spring 2022. The task force is co-chaired by Liliana Mason, Johns Hopkins University, and David Lublin, American University. He reports that the task force expects to complete an edited volume in the first half of 2023.

CIVIC EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE PROPOSAL

Ishiyama introduces a proposal for establishing a new Civic Education Standing Committee. He reports that the committee would leverage the expertise and experience of political scientists to provide assistance to educators teaching advanced high school core civic studies and politics courses and engage with and develop guideline recommendations for the national advanced placement high school political science programs. Additionally, he notes that the committee would help coordinate with various civic education efforts across the nation. Ishiyama reports that the Teaching and Learning Policy Committee has endorsed this proposal. Martin notes that the Executive Committee has also discussed the proposal. Smith notes staff support for the committee. In response to Jenco and Prakash, Ishiyama notes that the primary focus of the committee would be in relation to the United States with an opportunity to expand the work of the committee to additional countries in the future. Gilmour moves to approve the proposal for the creation of a Civic Education Standing Committee; Panagopoulos seconds and the motion is approved with 26 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 abstentions.

FY2023 BUDGET PROPOSAL AND DISCUSSION

Smith introduces the FY2023 budget proposal for discussion by the Council. He begins the discussion by noting that at the previous Council meeting in September he reported that APSA was facing pressure on traditional revenue sources, including membership, the annual meeting, publications, rental income, and investments. The FY2023 budget development process began shortly after the 2022 Annual Meeting. He notes that greater costs for the 2023 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles and inflation are contributing to budgetary pressure. He indicates that staff have worked to reduce costs and identify areas to raise additional revenue. Smith reports that the proposed budget outlines a moderate increase in member dues and registration rates with two percent raises for staff. He reports that dues and registration rates have not been raised in seven years, and that a modest increase is in line with peer associations. He notes that a proposed increase in dues and registration rates are taken with great consideration for members. Martin notes that the stock market and performance of APSA’s investments do not directly contribute to the deficit but are a factor in the amount of the draw that can be taken. Lublin expresses caution about raising member dues or registration rates until a review of costs and programs is undertaken. Martin notes that due to increasing pressure on traditional revenue sources, she would support a program review to permit long-term fiscal planning. Other members of Council express support for a program review. Smith expresses support for a program review but notes that the timeline for such a review may be compressed due to the budget cycle. Jenco asks if there is data on the percentage of annual meeting attendees or members whose registration or dues are paid for by their institution or from personal funds. Council discusses the value of APSA membership and the structure and siting of the annual meeting. Prakash asks if peer associations are facing similar budgetary pressures. Smith replies that many peer associations are facing similar budgetary pressures, with many increasing registration rates and member dues. More broadly, he notes that the environment for academic associations is increasingly competitive, and although membership has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, only incremental growth is projected in the coming years. Next, Smith reports that membership revenue has declined as a share of total revenue for approximately two decades, with annual meeting revenue, publication revenue, and investment income comprising a greater percentage of total revenue; however, those revenue sources are under increased pressure. Martin notes that the proposed budget assumes that the proposed increases in member dues and registration rates would not have an impact on membership numbers or annual meeting attendance, but she expresses concern about that assumption.

Lublin moves to provisionally adopt the proposed 2023 budget with the addition of several amendments and conditions, specifically: No increase in membership dues or conference fees; a two percent salary increase for non-newly hired staff members; a review of APSA programs and costs led by the President, Treasurer, and Executive Committee that shall consider both the cost of various programs as well as the benefit to a diverse and wide range of APSA’s membership among other factors; the Executive Director and staff shall work closely with the Executive Committee and provide information requested by either the President, Treasurer, or other members of the Executive Committee in a timely manner to facilitate the review; the Executive Committee shall report back to the Council at the Spring meeting with the expectation of budget modifications, including potential for further increases to staff salaries; that APSA shall not hire any new staff members until the completion of the review unless deemed urgent and previously approved by the executive committee; and approval of a temporary 5% draw, above the 4.5% limit, until the completion of the review, with the Executive Director working to identity opportunities for cost savings in the meantime.

Ichino seconds the motion. Warren asks about the feasibility of conducting a review by the Spring 2023 Council meeting. Smith expresses openness to the review but notes that a program review would expand upon a budget review to examine who certain programs are serving. In response to Leeds asking about the involvement of the President, Treasurer, and Executive Committee, Smith notes that he is committed to providing additional budget information to the Executive Committee. He reports that changing the fiscal year to align with the calendar year has had the unanticipated consequence of compressing budget development and review cycle. Oren expresses concern about the temporary 5% draw. Bell replies that the draw would be a temporary draw and notes that a draw of that amount is the only method by which the proposed amendments to the budget can be supported without increases to member dues or registration rates. Ishiyama expresses optimism due to APSA’s significant endowment and assets. The set of proposed amendments passes with 26 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 abstentions. Lublin moves to approve the budget as amended; Panagopoulos seconds and the motion passes with 26 ayes, 0 nays, and 3 abstentions.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO SUBMISSION SURVEY

Gurstelle introduces proposed changes to the author and co-author submission survey. He reports that in 2017 Council authorized the collection of demographic data of authors and co-authors for APSA’s three flagship journals. The editors of American Political Science Review have recommended changes to the submission survey to include language or questions regarding sexual identity, disability, and additional response categories relating to the existing gender identity question. In response to Jenco’s question about the definition ‘disability’ that is used, Ichino notes that since varied definitions exist, authors and co-authors can self-identify. Mealy and Gurstelle note that there may be additional work to ensure consistency across how data and responses are currently collected. Gurstelle expresses appreciation for the Council’s feedback and notes that the proposal will be sent back to the editors for review.

BEST BOOK AWARD RENAMING UPDATE

Martin introduces an update to the renaming of the Best Book Award. She reports that additional naming suggestions are being solicited. She notes that after the after additional suggestions are compiled, the Executive Committee will provide a short list of recommendations to be voted on by Council at the Spring Council meeting.

COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF DISABILITY IN THE PROFESSION DISCUSSION

Smith introduces a discussion on a proposed Committee on the Status of Disability in the Profession. Hirschmann reports that the proposed committee would seek to provide professional support to any political scientist confronting issues of discrimination related to their disability or role as a carer for those with a disability as well as to promote those studying disability politics. Hirschmann notes that a formal proposal is not yet submitted but will hopefully be submitted in time for review and vote by the Spring Council meeting. Martin expresses interest in the committee also advising APSA on topics relating to accessibility.

NEW BUSINESS

Hirschmann introduces the question of what APSA is doing or can do in regard to ameliorating the effects of climate change, particularly consideration of online conferences. Martin notes that the structure and format of the APSA Annual Meeting will continue to be discussed.

Martin adjourns the meeting.