I-Schools Charter
Introduction
The I-Schools Project (ISP) consists of schools interested in the relationship between information, technology, and people. This is characterized by a commitment to learning and understanding of the role of information in human endeavors. The I-Schools take it as given that expertise in all forms of information is required for progress in science, business, education, and culture. This expertise must include understanding of the uses and users of information, as well as information technologies and their applications. The I-Schools have organized under the guidelines below to pursue common objectives with a collective commitment of resources.
Guiding Principles
Keep the group small and interactive to promote discussion.
Engage individuals and institutions with strategic skills and vision to find common solutions to the challenges faced by the I-Schools.
Work with existing organizations and activities where issues of interest to I-Schools are already being addressed.
Disseminate opinions and conclusions broadly for all that can benefit from them.
Organization
The ISP is administered by a Coordinator, a Treasurer, and one or more Agenda leaders appointed by the Coordinator. Together, these constitute the ISP Steering Committee.
Election Process
The Coordinator and Treasurer are elected on staggering years for two year terms. At the end of each calendar year, the Steering Committee appoints a Nominating Committee of two ISP participants who do not wish to stand for election that year. The Nominating Committee nominates individuals for the open position; election is by majority vote of ISP membership. The term of an outgoing ISP Coordinator normally ends with chairing the meeting of the deans that coincides with the annual conference, after which the incoming Coordinator takes over.
Membership
New members are elected by majority vote of existing members, based on a slate of candidates presented by a Membership Committee appointed by the Steering Committee to represent the different costituencies within the I-Schools Project. Membership will be withdrawn for members that fail to send appropriate representatives to three consecutive meetings, or that fail to pay assessed dues within three months. All members must materially contribute to at least one ISP Agenda activity each year.
Criteria for membership are not rigid, but members are expected to have substantial sponsored research activity (an average of $1 million in research expenditures or per year over three years), engagement in the training of future researchers (usually through an active, research-oriented doctoral program), and a commitment to progress in the information field.
Each institutional member will be represented in the ISP by its chief academic officer (e.g., dean). Each consortial member will be represented in the ISP by a chief academic officer from one of the consortial organizations, selected by its members. Each member may send one additional participant or a substitute participant to ISP meetings. On a case-by-case basis, the Steering Committee may invite other individuals from member or non-member organizations to speak, represent an interest or otherwise participate in part or all of an ISP meeting. The Steering Committee is responsible for monitoring membership issues.
Meeting Management
Meetings will be conducted to emphasize interactive discussion of issues. Presenters should endeavor to provide detailed information in electronic document form prior to meetings, and to use ISP time to present summaries and identify issues for discussion or decision. Meeting agendas will be constructed by the Steering Committee, and will be designed to be completed in a day and a half. Meeting location will be selected to minimize time lost to travel and encourage members participation.
Work Groups
Work will be accomplished by work groups constituted by the Steering Committee, under the coordination of Agenda leaders. Work groups will focus on a variety of tasks, including generation of quick reports and/or ongoing tracking of topics important to the group, arrangements of vendor briefings and demonstrations, and organizing of technical workshops for the membership. Work groups will also plan for major group projects to be undertaken after a majority vote of the membership.
Revenue and Funding
The ISP is funded by an annual $10,000 fee assessed of members. The ISP fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30th, and memberships begin and end with the fiscal year. The ISP Treasurer is responsible for ISP funds and will provide a status of those funds at each meeting. Participants normally pay all expenses of attending ISP meetings including travel, lodging, meals and sundry expenses. ISP on occasion will sponsor meals that occur as an integral part of the meetings. ISP members vote to fund particular ISP projects in units of $1,000 or $5,000 as appropriate. Additional project funding may be solicited from members; members are not obliged to provide such funding. Results of projects may or may not be differentially available depending on funding participation.
Adoption
This Charter was adopted by vote of the I-Schools Caucus, July 2005
Revision History: Revised October 17, 2006; Revised March 3, 2008
With thanks to the Common Solutions Group, on whose charter this document is based.