Tag: Board of Directors

An Open Letter from the NORDP Board Regarding NORDP’s use of Basecamp

Dear colleagues:

As an organization, one of our shared goals is to create an environment where every member can feel heard, respected, and valued. Late last year, a NORDP member notified the board of directors about an article posted by the Duke University Libraries outlining their decision to terminate the use of Basecamp as a project management platform.

The decision at Duke was prompted by Basecamp leadership’s blatant criticism of diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice efforts. The NORDP member who reached out encouraged board members to review the Duke Libraries’ stance through the lens of NORDP’s goal to “foster a culture of inclusive excellence by actively promoting and supporting diversity, inclusion and equity in all its forms to expand our worldview, enrich our work, and elevate our profession.”

Diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging are cornerstones of our organization, and we took this call to action seriously. We began immediate discussions about Basecamp’s lack of inclusive culture and considered whether we wanted to continue to commit NORDP’s financial resources to a service provider that is not aligned with the organization’s central values.

Following careful consideration, we voted to discontinue the use of Basecamp as NORDP’s project management platform when the organization’s current contract for the tool expires on June 1, 2024. We encourage you to read the Duke University Libraries article, “Why We’re Dropping Basecamp,” which reinforces the importance of aligning our organizational investment in resources with our values.

We are in the process of selecting a new project management platform. If you have suggestions about alternatives, we welcome them. In the coming weeks, we will provide more information about the new platform we select as well as details and guidance about how we plan to shift NORDP’s work to the new platform while retaining the organization’s historical records. We appreciate your understanding and support during this period of change.

As always, we welcome your thoughts or suggestions. Please feel free to communicate directly with any member of the Board of Directors. Thank you for making NORDP the organization that it is and for raising concerns and challenging our professional community to do and be better.

Best regards,

NORDP Board of Directors

2020 Candidates for NORDP’s Board of Directors

Four NORDP members are seeking election to the organization’s Board of Directors in 2020. The candidates pursuing a seat on the Board are:

  • Eva Allen, Assistant Director, Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University
  • Anne Maglia, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Anne Pascucci, Director, Office of Sponsored Programs, Christopher Newport University
  • Michael Preuss, Executive Director, West Texas Office of Evaluation and Research, West Texas A&M University

You may learn more about the candidates’ interest in serving NORDP and their leadership capacity and qualifications for Board service by reviewing their candidate’s statements and CV’s at https://www.nordp.org/2020-board-candidate-profiles.

Be sure to register and plan to attend the first virtual NORDP Candidate Forum, Thursday, May 21 at 2:30pm EDT/ 11:30am PDT. The candidates will share their ideas and answer your questions. Can’t attend the Forum live? We’ll record it and post it on the Member Updates page online.ballot

The election will be held online from May 21 to June 11, 2020. Ballots will be released following the Candidates’ Forum on May 21, 2020. The ballot is an electronic ballot using rotating ballot positions and will be sent to all NORDP members in good standing.

Four Board positions are available to be filled in 2020, one of which is designated for a representative of a minority-serving and/or a regional institution, one of which is designated for a representative of a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI), and two at-large positions.

Contact the Nominating Committee (nomcom@nordp.org) if you have questions regarding the candidates or the NORDP Board election process.

2019 Candidates for NORDP’s Board of Directors

Four NORDP members are seeking election to the organization’s Board of Directors in ballot2019. The candidates pursuing a seat on the Board are:

  • Joanna Downer, Duke University
  • Faye Farmer, Arizona State University
  • Katie Howard, Appalachian State University
  • Jenna McGuire, Ohio State University

Learn about their interest in serving NORDP in a leadership capacity and their qualifications for Board service by reviewing the candidate profiles.

NORDP’s annual Board of Directors election will open on Monday, April 29, and close on Friday, May 31. Members who are in good standing will receive the ballot information via email from Election Runner. Please whitelist emails sent from “electionrunner.com” to help ensure you receive your ballot.

Contact the Nominating Committee (nomcom@nordp.org) if you have questions regarding the candidates or the NORDP Board election process.

NORDP Board of Directors: 2019 Call for Nominations and Applications

NORDP members are encouraged to submit nominations and applications for Board of Directors positions in advance of the 2019 election cycle. Nominations for Board positions are due March 15, and applications for Board positions are due April 1.

Three Board of Director positions are open for election in 2019. Two seats are open to all eligible NORDP members; one seat is designated for an eligible NORDP member affiliated with a minority-serving institution and/or a regional institution. New Board members are elected for four-year terms.

As a volunteer-led organization, NORDP’s momentum and mission are driven by its member leaders. Individuals elected to the Board of Directors have the primary responsibilities of ensuring the organization’s effective governance, fiscal responsibility, and strategic direction.

Board members also play a leading role in advancing the organization’s processes and priorities. These range from member services, mentoring, and strategic alliances to inclusive excellence and New Opportunities in Research Development (NORD). Individuals elected to serve on NORDP Board spend 10 to 12 hours per month fulfilling their duties.

According to current and past members of the Board, this service yields significant professional and personal gains. Examples include helping to organize and advance the research development community, strengthening professional networks, and building new friendships.

If you or someone you know is ready to contribute time and talent to the future of NORDP, consider submitting a Board application or nomination today. More information about these processes is available here.

Please contact Nathan Meier, Nominating Committee Chair (nmeier@uab.edu or 205-934-0934), if you have questions regarding the Board of Directors nomination, application, or election processes.