Home / About APS / APS Governance / Advisory Council
Advisory Council

AUTHORITY: The Advisory Council’s role is to provide counsel, recommend actions and facilitate communication, and act as a think tank for the Society. As such, it has broad influence but no specific authority. Decision-making authority lies with the APS Board of Directors, committees, interest groups and section steering committees, as defined in the bylaws and operations manual.

PURPOSE: The Advisory Council:

  • Serves in an advisory role and reports to the Board of Directors. 
  • Maintains lines of communication between members and the Board, and assists in the communication of strategic initiatives to membership.  
  • Serves as engagement and communication ambassadors for the Society’s mission.  
  • Provides advice, counsel, expertise and insight to the Board. on major initiatives and matters of strategic importance to the Society. 
  • Develops recommendations for policy changes.  
  • Advises on programs and supports organizational planning.  
  • Conveys members’ ideas and concerns to the Board. 
  • Facilitates communications and shares best practices across sections, committees and interest groups. 
  • Facilitates accomplishment of initiatives at the direction of the Board. 
  • Coordinates activities among sections, committees, interest groups and publications to further the Society’s strategic plan objectives.

MEETINGS: The Advisory Council meets before the Board of Directors meetings in the spring, summer and fall and can increase or decrease the number, breadth, and depth of the meeting schedule. Any Board member may attend Advisory Council meetings.

COMPOSITION:

The Advisory Council is chaired by the APS president-elect and is comprised of every section chair, committee chair and interest group chair, as well as one journal editor-in-chief representative. Three non-officer Board members, serving the second year of their term, and the APS CEO are nonvoting, ex officio members. The Advisory Council chair’s organizing team consists of one section chair, one committee chair and one interest group chair. One Advisory Council member will serve as a voting member on the Board of Directors. The APS Director of Governance & Leadership shall serve as staff liaison to the Advisory Council.

DUTIES:
  • Selects non-Board members to serve on the Leadership Development Committee.
  • Supports the communication of the strategic plan through the organization and to membership. 
  • Support and facilitate initiatives created by the Board, as well as topics of deliberation provided by the Board.
  • Ensures constant, open communication throughout the Society through living documents, educational content and tools for exchanging and disseminating information.