Roles and responsibilities
The APAGS Convention Committee is responsible for planning the APAGS convention programs and activities for the annual c in conjunction with APAGS central office staff. Convention Committee members are fully funded to attend the APA conventions during their terms of service, and members participate in annual virtual planning meetings each winter during their terms of service.
Convention committee members:
- Review and rate between 70–100 convention program and poster proposal submissions (January).
- Attend a virtual (winter) team meeting to review all submissions and finalize convention programming (2 days in January or February, typically a half-day virtual meeting).
- Develop student-focused programming and activities.
- Create and develop materials for students to use at APA convention.
- Speak in small and large sessions at APA convention, providing highlights of APAGS convention programming.
- Monitor programs at APA convention.
- Collaborate with other APA divisions, boards, committees, and leaders to help make APA convention attractive and relevant to graduate students.
- Dedicate the necessary time to sufficiently prepare for attending monthly virtual meetings, convention, and follow-ups, including evaluating all systems/processes at the end of each convention.
- Note: APAGS Convention Committee members are very busy at the annual convention, overseeing and monitoring APAGS programs, assisting staff, helping at the APAGS booth, participating in APAGS dinners and social hours, and attending daily meetings. Convention committee members are expected to represent APAGS at the convention, which can be simultaneously exhausting and exhilarating.
In addition to all of the responsibilities listed above, Convention Committee chair and vice chair also:
- Coordinate the reviews of the members of the 5-member Convention Committee.
- Chair a virtual (winter) team meeting to review all submissions and finalize convention programming (2 days in January or February, typically a half-day virtual meeting).
- Collaborate with APAGS staff and Convention Committee members to lead the development of APAGS convention programs (January–March).
- Attend monthly informational meetings hosted by the APA Board of Convention Affairs.
- Coordinate convention-related activities, including (but not limited to) the APAGS Ambassador program, programming for the Emerging Leaders Network, special events for APAGS members attending APA convention, etc.
- Participate in the biannual APA Consolidated Meetings (virtually or in person), which usually occur in spring and fall of each year.
- Participate in bimonthly Full Committee Conference Calls as the Convention Committee representative.
- Work with the Convention Committee to update evaluation processes, update the call for proposals, and update review rubrics for the next year.
- Chair monthly internal subcommittee meetings (January–August).
- Respond to inquiries from presenters (March–August).
- Attend APA convention, monitor the execution of APAGS programs, lead APAGS programs as necessary, and attend social events (August). Note: Travel expenses are fully funded by APAGS.
- Grant convention-related APAGS awards, if available.
- Compile feedback from APA convention and make modifications/recommendations as appropriate.
- Work throughout the year to mentor the vice chair to take over as chair in the following year.
*Chair and vice chair roles will distribute the duties listed above in a way that is equitable and that helps to develop the vice chair’s ability to take over in the subsequent year or as required by APA internal guidelines.