The AASE Executive Board created an ad-hoc committee, the COVID-19 Task Force, to address our membership's changing needs as a result of the pandemic and to plan for any future disruptions.
During 2020-21, the Task Force will develop recommendations for the Executive Board to implement or charge to other committees. The committee will include the chair, Joni Wiredu, and five (5) members. Some members of this committee will be selected from members with an expressed interest in serving. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please fill out the interest form using this link.
Please see the attached charge for more information about the COVID-19 Task Force.
Covid-19 Task Force
(Ad Hoc Committee)
Charge:
The charge of the Covid-19 Task Force is to evaluate both short-term and long-term initiatives necessary to continue to serve the needs of AASE members. The committee will evaluate the long-term and short-term needs of AASE in light of Covid-19 and similar disruptions.
The task force should consider the following issues, gathering data, researching processes used by other organizations, and conducting other research to help inform its work.
- Long-Term Initiatives:
The National Conference is a fundamental aspect of AASE. Covid-19 caused the cancellation of the National Conference in 2020. To avoid or mitigate future disruptions, the committee is tasked with developing or identifying a committee to develop an emergency plan for continuing the conference in light of any future major disruptions. This includes, but is not limited to, developing a plan for converting to an online conference, plans for agreements with schools, vendors and hotels that contemplate disruptions, and to evaluate conditions needed to support members who may experience disruption to travel for years to come due to Covid-19 conditions.
- Short-Term Initiatives:
The ad hoc committee will evaluate short-term measures to address the changed needs of the membership and will develop or identify a committee to develop measures to address these short-term needs. This includes, but is not limited to, what follows: The committee will address ways to facilitate interactions between AASE members that the canceled conference displaced. The committee will address the changing methods of instruction or changing roles of academic support professionals (e.g., online courses and programming, longer support of bar takers, and additional duties imposed). The committee will address how to aid members in engaging in self-care to address the additional work and stress brought on by Covid-19.
- Related Initiatives:
The ad hoc committee has the authority to evaluate all other measures that arise because of Covid-19 or to plan for similar disruptions that may impede an AASE National Conference or change the nature of academic support or bar preparation work.
Task Force Membership:
The committee will be composed of five members (the composition of which will be determined by the board) and will be chaired by the Host School Representative.
Timeline:
This ad hoc committee will submit to the AASE board recommendations for actions and committee assignments related to each of these tasks. In addition to monthly updates, the ad hoc committee will prioritize initiatives as it finds suitable to the task and will create at least two reports to enable action on tasks at two points in the 2020-2021 year: November 20 (AASE Board Meeting) and April TBD. These reports will be submitted to the President to be presented to the Board for consideration of implementation.
