Internal Interest Groups and External Affiliates

ISSOTL Policy Statement:
External Affiliates and Internal Interest Groups

 Goals
To create flexible, minimum guidelines that enable groups of ISSOTL members and related external groups to:

• have formal relationships with ISSOTL
• accomplish meaningful initiatives together
• share scholarship and learning across a broad network
• establish connections and conversations around the world
• provide to newcomers ways into the society
• support the organization of scholarship projects and other activities

Affiliate Groups

This status applies to organizations and groups that exist primarily external to ISSOTL.  Examples include disciplinary societies, project-based collaborations, and educational institutions. 

While such organizations and groups are considered affiliate members of ISSOTL, their members do not become members of ISSOTL automatically.  Rather, each individual must join ISSOTL to be considered among the Society's members and to receive discounts and other  benefits.

Affiliation must be approved by a subset of the membership committee, and renewed annually by the Board of Directors, based on a written application from the external group that describes:

• the goals and expected outcomes of the affiliation

• the mutual benefits of the affiliation

• the time frame of the affiliation

• the obligations of ISSOTL and the affiliate organization

• any resources needed (including funds and staff) and how they will be obtained

Interest Groups

This status applies to groups of ISSOTL members who wish to be recognized within ISSOTL.  Such groups are organized around shared interests such as discipline, pedagogy under study, nationality, region of residence, educational status, and institutional type.  The Society particularly encourages Interest Groups with international membership and non-traditional groupings based on research interests.

Interest Groups must maintain a minimum of ten ISSOTL members in good standing.

Interest Groups offer their members the opportunity to exchange information and ideas on specific topics related to scholarship of teaching and learning.  Interest Groups may propose symposia, forums, workshops, or special events at the annual conference. Among other activities, they may contribute articles to the ISSOTL newsletter and propose position and policy statements for consideration by the Board of Directors.

Interest Groups must be approved by a subset of the membership committee, and renewed annually by the Board of Directors, based on a written application that:

• provides the mission statement for the Interest Group

• describes how its mission is compatible with ISSOTL's goals

• lists a minimum of ten ISSOTL members in good standing who are committed to becoming members of the Interest Group

• provides a key person, and his or her contact information, who will email an annual report of the Interest Group's activities to the President at least fifteen days prior to the Board of Directors meeting at the annual face-to-face conference each year

Submit electronic applications to Lisa Kornetsky,
the Chair of the Membership and Communications Committee.