Committee on Education
I. Purpose
The Committee on Education has three complementary purposes: 1) to assess
the profession's educational needs; 2) to prepare and promote standards for
archival education programs, those based in graduate schools as well as post-appointment
and continuing education and training programs; and 3) to provide advice to
the SAA Education Office.
The Committee on Education's work is based on the following assumptions:
- Education and professional development are essential to the continued advancement
of the profession;
- Graduate education and continuing education must be addressed in a coordinated
manner, ensuring that developments in both areas are based on a common understanding
of the needs of the profession at all levels;
- Education and professional development offerings must be responsive to
the forces and circumstances that could or should shape the profession; and
- Education and professional development should be a cooperative enterprise
involving various participants, including SAA; other national, regional,
and local archival organizations; graduate-level academic programs; employers;
and related professional associations.
II. Committee Selection, Size, and Length of Terms
The Committee on Education consists of two subcommittees of five members each
(including a chair or co-chairs) appointed by the SAA President for staggered
three-year terms. Members are appointed specifically to either the Subcommittee
on Graduate Archival Education or the Subcommittee on Continuing Education.
The co-chairs, one from each subcommittee, are appointed annually from among
committee members. The SAA Education Director serves as an ex officio member
of the committee.
The membership of each subcommittee
shall include a balanced mix of archival educators and of practicing archivists
with administrative or supervisory experience.
The co-chair of the Graduate
Education Subcommittee serves as an ex officio member
of the Theodore Calvin Pease Award Subcommittee of the SAA Awards Committee.
III. Reporting Procedures
The committee reports to Council, providing a formal written report in the
spring of each year and reporting on special initiatives as necessary or requested.
The committee works closely with the Education Director, serving in an advisory
capacity in education-related projects and programs operated out of the executive
office.
The committee maintains close liaison with the Archival Educators Roundtable,
using it as a means of informing and seeking comments from individual educators
related to committee initiatives.
IV. Duties and Responsibilities
The Subcommittee on Graduate Archival Education is charged with
reviewing needs for graduate archival education, drafting and promulgating
guidelines, and providing guidance to the Society in this area. The subcommittee
establishes its own agenda except as otherwise directed by Council to perform
specific tasks. Among the tasks or responsibilities that have been undertaken
on a recurring basis are the following:
- Regularly assess existing guidelines for educational programs and if necessary
propose appropriate revisions for Council approval;
- Review and assess information provided by the Education Office on the full
range of the profession's educational needs and the degree to which they
are being met by existing educational opportunities, and make recommendations
or undertake initiatives as appropriate;
- Advise Council on conditions and developments that affect educational program
needs;
- Maintain contact with educational offices/committees in related professions
and organizations to explore opportunities for cooperative and mutually beneficial
efforts:
- Assist the Education Office with developing and maintaining the Education
Directory;
- Assist the Education Office with issues relating to student chapters.
The Subcommittee on Continuing Education is charged with reviewing
needs for continuing education, assisting the SAA Education Office in developing
relevant programming, and providing guidance to the Society in this area. The
subcommittee establishes its own agenda except as otherwise directed by Council
to perform specific tasks. Among the tasks or responsibilities that have been
undertaken on a recurring basis are the following:
- Advise the SAA Education Director in establishing directions and priorities
for the Society's continuing education program, monitoring the effectiveness
of the offerings in light of professional needs and developments, ensuring
that the education programs are of high quality, coordinating the work of
the Education Office with other educational initiatives within SAA, and compiling
a directory of educational opportunities;
- Review educational initiatives proposed and/or undertaken by other SAA
committees and roundtables;
- Review and assess information provided by the Education Office on the full
range of the profession's educational needs and the degree to which they
are being met by existing educational opportunities, and make recommendations
or undertake initiatives as appropriate;
- Advise Council on conditions and developments that affect educational program
needs;
- Maintain contact with educational offices/committees in related professions
and organizations to explore opportunities for cooperative and mutually beneficial
efforts:
- Develop and revise professional guidelines for continuing education.
V. Meetings
The committee meets at the SAA annual meeting. Additional mid-year meetings
of the full committee or subcommittees are possible, depending upon
the availability of financial resources.
Approved by Council: February 1989
Revised: January 1992, January 1998, February 2005
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