AAWCC Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain the organizational structure of AAWCC--national board, regions, state sections, local chapters.

AAWCC is a national membership-based organization and an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges. AAWCC memberships are annual and can be either Individual or Institutional memberships.

An elected board of directors (the Executive Committee, the Membership Team, and Members-at-large) represents national members. The Executive Committee consists of the President, President-elect, Vice President for Finances, Vice President for Communications, Vice President for Membership, Vice President for Professional Development, and Vice President for Resource Development. The Membership Team has 12 members; the Vice President for Membership, the 10 Regional Directors, and the National Membership Office representative. The NILD President is an ex-officio member of the AAWCC board and the AAWCC President may appoint members-at-large. For more information about the duties and responsibilities of these elected board members, go to the AAWCC website and click on “Job Descriptions.”

Each of the 50 states is assigned to one of ten regions and each region has an elected Regional Director who represents the national organization to members in her region and represents the members in her region to the national organization. Individual community colleges or community college districts can form an AAWCC local chapter. And some states have formed state sections. For more information about how to form and maintain either a local chapter or a state section, contact your Regional Director and/or go to the AAWCC website and click on “Local Chapter/State Section Information.”

2. I am a member of my college's chapter of AAWCC. Why should I become a national member? What does the national organization do?

National membership in AAWCC benefits individuals, community colleges, and the country. To begin, “the American Association for Women in Community Colleges is the leading national organization that champions women and maximizes their potential.”

AAWCC is guided in all of its endeavors by a firm commitment to equity and excellence in education and employment for women in community, junior and technical colleges.

That commitment is translated into action at the national, regional, state and local levels through AAWCC programs, activities and services developed and offered in accordance with the following principles:

•  The achievement of equity for women is critical to the wise and just development and use of valuable human resources.
  
  
• Equity is promoted through AAWCC's efforts to improve access to educational opportunities, employment at all levels, and policy-making and decision-making forums.
  
  
• Equity issues may include career upward-mobility, comparable pay for comparable work, increased involvement of women in governing bodies, and appropriate support services for adult women enrolled in two-year colleges.
  
  
• Commitment to equity must be matched by an equally strong commitment to educational and professional excellence.
  
  
• Excellence is promoted through AAWCC's efforts to encourage and reward educational achievement and professional endeavors, to provide opportunities for professional development, and to develop linkages and disseminate information pertaining to specific concerns.
  
  
• Both equity and excellence may be enhanced through a strong and effective network of women in community, junior and technical colleges - a network where a purposeful focus on tasks, issues and achievements is continually matched by a sensitive concern for people.

AAWCC is an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges and therefore each national member has “a seat at the table” where national, regional and local issues affecting all community college constituencies (students, faculty, staff, trustees, administrators, community members) are considered and where legislative agendas are proposed and advocated. The national AAWCC organization provides an “umbrella” of connection and credibility for members, chapters, and sections throughout the country.

National members of AAWCC receive a free membership pin, four on-line issues of the AAWCC Quarterly publication each year, can access the “members only” link on the AAWCC website, are eligible to apply for scholarships to attend NILD, and can network with AAWCC members, chapters, and sections through our membership database.

Participation in AAWCC activities, conferences, and chapters provides many opportunities for individuals to develop their leadership skills and professional portfolios through organizing, communicating, presenting, connecting, managing, cooperating, serving, etc.

3. What is a "qualified" local chapter? How do I know if my local chapter is "qualified"?

A qualified local chapter of AAWCC has at least 10 national AAWCC members, is approved by the AAWCC board of directors, and engages in activities that reflect the AAWCC vision statement. Local chapters complete and submit an annual fiscal and membership form to their Regional Director. This form confirms the chapter’s continuation as a qualified chapter and is an integral part of AAWCC’s annual tax report to the IRS and entitles the chapter to receive $100 from the national organization.

4. What is the relationship between AAWCC and NILD?

NILD, the National Institute for Leadership Development, was created by AAWCC to assist women in filling the leadership pipeline and to achieve AAWCC’s goal of equality, equity, and excellence for all women in community colleges. AAWCC and NILD work together and separately provide professional development and personal enrichment.

5. How do we form a local chapter?

Contact your Regional Director and the VP for Membership and ask for their assistance. Review the information about chapter and membership development available on the AAWCC website. Contact a local chapter or state section officer in your area.

You need at least 10 national members to start a local chapter. Have a meeting to organize your chapter. Write and approve your chapter bylaws (sample bylaws are available on the website). Elect officers. Conduct a ceremony to celebrate your new chapter and install the officers. Submit your petition for approval with your bylaws and officer’s contact information to your Regional Director. Your Regional Director will review the documentation, assist you in making any needed additions, and present your petition to the AAWCC board of directors at one of their two annual meetings (usually in April and October or November). When the board approves the chapter the Regional Director will contact the chapter officers and send them a $100 check from the AAWCC board.

6. My college used to have a local chapter but it's been idle for several years. What do we need to do to get started again?

Contact your Regional Director and the VP for Membership and ask for their assistance. Review the information about chapter and membership development available on the AAWCC website. Contact a local chapter or state section officer in your area. Locate, if possible, any former chapter members or officers to determine if chapter files or monies are available.

You need at least 10 national members to re-start a local chapter. Have a meeting to organize your chapter. Write and approve your chapter bylaws (you may be able to re-approve the existing chapter bylaws). Elect officers. Conduct a ceremony to celebrate your chapter’s renewal and install the officers.

Be sure to complete and submit the annual chapter fiscal and membership form in order to receive the annual $100 bonus from the AAWCC board.

7. I am hosting an AAWCC conference/event. Can I get AAWCC logo items to sell or giveaway? If so, how do I do that?

Contact your Regional Director to see if she has logo items to sell to you or to give to you. Go to the AAWC website and click on the “AAWCC Store” to view logo items that you can purchase from the VP for Membership. Be sure to allow enough lead time for mailing the logo items to you for a special event.

8. Where can I get help with membership and/or chapter development?

All the members of the AAWCC Membership Team are committed to assisting interested parties with membership and chapter development. Contact information for the Team can be found on the AAWCC website. That website is also a good source of information. The “Chapter Handbook” can be found under the “Regions/Chapters” link. In the handbook you will see ideas for chapter and membership development suggested by AAWCC board member and others. Under that section of the website, you will find also samples of flyers from actual AAWCC events and conferences. The website has links to the websites of several AAWCC chapters as a networking resource.